Staying Put and Staying Close: Support After 18

Leaving care shouldn’t mean leaving support behind. In England, Staying Put and Staying Close are two routes designed to keep young people connected to the people and places that help them thrive as adults. This guide explains what each option is, who qualifies, how the money and housing work, and what foster carers and young people should do—ideally before a young person’s 18th birthday—to get the right plan in place.

What “Staying Put” and “Staying Close” actually mean

Clear definitions and why they matter

Staying Put lets a care-experienced young person who has been living with foster carers remain in that home after turning 18—usually until 21, sometimes longer—so they can continue building independence with familiar support. It sits on a statutory footing: the Children Act 1989 (as amended) places duties on local authorities where a Staying Put arrangement is agreed.

Staying Close is for young people leaving residential childcare (children’s homes). It creates a wrap-around offer—suitable move-on accommodation near their former home plus a trusted key-worker style relationship with staff they already know—so they aren’t stepping into adulthood alone. It has been funded and developed by the Department for Education and is intended to provide a comparable safety net to Staying Put.

Who is eligible—and when to start planning

Eligibility at a glance

A young person can Staying Put if they are in foster care immediately before their 18th birthday and both they and their foster carers want to continue the arrangement, with local authority support outlined in the pathway plan. The legal duty on councils to support Staying Put arises where an arrangement is made.

For Staying Close, the young person must be leaving a children’s home. Local offers vary, but the model typically includes move-on accommodation, ongoing practical and emotional support from a known adult, and help to sustain education, work, or training.

The pathway plan and personal adviser

From age 16, every looked-after child must have a pathway plan updated through to 21—and up to 25 on request—with a Personal Adviser (PA) involved. This is where Staying Put/Close is recorded, with specific housing, education, health, and finance actions. The PA duty to 25 (on request) is a key right for care leavers.

The legal and policy backdrop

Statutes and guidance to know

For Staying Put, the core references are the Children Act 1989 (s.23CZA) and DfE’s statutory guidance Staying Put: arrangements for care leavers aged 18 and above. These set out roles, planning, and how arrangements should be supported.

For Staying Close, the DfE launched and expanded the programme through guidance and funding rounds. Independent studies have examined feasibility and impact, and national bodies have called for a consistent, long-term offer. Funding timelines have been a live topic through 2025, with sector calls to secure Staying Close as a national entitlement beyond programme periods.

What support actually looks like in practice

Housing and day-to-day life

In Staying Put, the home becomes an adult living arrangement rather than a child’s foster placement. House rules, privacy, visitors, and finances are agreed in writing and reviewed regularly. Support should be tapered, not switched off on an “18th birthday cliff edge,” and should include help with budgeting, bills, education, and work. Local practice manuals translate national guidance into procedures you can expect to see.

In Staying Close, the priority is staying near familiar staff and community. Young people usually live in their own tenancy or supported accommodation with a named worker they already trust, who stays involved for practical problem-solving, emotional support, and advocacy with college, training, or employers. The intention is to replicate the protective “scaffolding” of a foster home for those from residential care.

How long support lasts

For Staying Put, the default expectation is up to age 21 when both sides agree, with some local authorities extending to 25 where the young person remains in education or training. Always check your local written policy for the exact offer and review points.

For Staying Close, local models typically commit to sustained support through the early years of independence—commonly into the early 20s—focusing on stability in accommodation, relationships, and work or study.

Money, tax and benefits: what changes at 18

Allowances, fees and contributions

Under Staying Put, payments are not identical to fostering allowances. Arrangements often look more like supported lodgings—with a blend of young person contributions and local authority support—rather than a full fostering fee/allowance package. Local policies should set out typical weekly amounts, what costs are covered, and when reviews happen. The DfE guidance also explains interactions with HMRC and DWP.

HMRC and record-keeping

Carers may be able to use Qualifying Care Relief when they continue to provide care under agreed arrangements, but it’s essential to follow the HMRC and DfE guidance on eligibility, record-keeping, and self-assessment. Keep copies of agreements, statements, and any rent-like contributions.

Housing costs and joint protocols

Young people’s access to Universal Credit or Housing Benefit depends on the specific arrangement and tenancy type. That’s why councils are expected to operate joint housing protocols with housing authorities to prevent homelessness and set out how the offer will work locally for care leavers. Ask your PA for the latest written local protocol and how it applies to you.

Getting ready before the 18th birthday

The timeline that avoids last-minute panic

Strong pathway planning starts by 16½–17. The young person, carers, PA and supervising social worker should agree a Staying Put or Staying Close plan in writing, including finances, house rules, study/work plans, and a back-up option if things change. Try short “trial” periods during college breaks to practise adult routines—paying a small contribution, managing food shopping, and doing utility meter readings—so there are no surprises at 18.

The agreement you should see in writing

Expect a document setting out who does what (including out-of-hours support), how often reviews will happen, and how disagreements are sorted. It should cover safeguarding and visitors, transport and ID documents, and who’s responsible for rent, bills, and council tax. Carers should confirm how their status, insurance, and training/supervision change after 18.

If the plan wobbles—or isn’t the right fit

Alternatives and safety nets

Not every young person will want to stay; not every household can continue. If Staying Put isn’t right, options include supported lodgings, semi-independent accommodation with visiting support, or student halls with wrap-around help. If the young person is leaving a children’s home, Staying Close may be the stronger fit because it anchors support to known adults and local networks. PAs should remain active and available to 25 on request, even if living arrangements change.

Escalation and advocacy

If there’s a dispute about the plan, the young person can ask for a review of their pathway plan, request advocacy, and use the complaints process. Councils—as corporate parents—have duties to publish clear information about support for care leavers and to make sure housing pathways don’t put them at risk of homelessness.

Why this matters now

The wider system picture

Recent data show rising numbers of looked-after children and persistent challenges in outcomes after leaving care, which is why programmes like Staying Put and Staying Close are so important. Sector bodies have urged government to secure and extend the Staying Close model as funding cycles end, to avoid postcode variation. Keeping relationships and support stable into adulthood improves education and work chances and reduces homelessness risk.

Action checklists

For young people (start at 16–17)

Ask your PA to add Staying Put/Close to your pathway plan with specific housing and money details. Request copies of your ID and important documents, practise budgeting with real bills, and agree how you’ll get help during nights or weekends if something goes wrong. Keep phone numbers for your PA, out-of-hours duty team, and trusted adults handy.

For foster carers and residential staff

Ask for the local Staying Put policy or Staying Close offer in writing and confirm how your role, supervision, payments, insurance and tax treatment will change after 18. Schedule a household meeting to refresh safer-caring expectations for an adult living at home and clarify boundaries around guests, social life, and study/work routines. Keep records as advised in DfE guidance and diarise review dates.

FAQs

How long can a young person “Staying Put”?

The usual expectation is up to age 21 where both sides agree. Some local authorities offer extension to 25 for those in education or training—check your local policy.

What’s the difference between Staying Put and Staying Close?

Staying Put is for young people leaving foster care to remain with their carers; Staying Close is for those leaving residential care, offering nearby accommodation and a trusted key relationship with known staff.

Will carers get the same money as before?

Usually not. Post-18 arrangements often resemble supported lodgings rather than fostering fees/allowances. Local policies set rates and contributions, and DfE guidance explains tax/benefits implications.

What if the arrangement breaks down?

The local authority should act quickly to review the pathway plan, secure alternative accommodation, and keep the PA involved to 25 on request. Ask for advocacy if you need help being heard.

Bottom line

Staying Put and Staying Close keep relationships at the centre of leaving care. Start planning early, get the agreement in writing, and keep reviews regular. Whether you’re in foster care or a children’s home, there is a route to stay connected to the people and places that help you succeed after 18—and the system has duties to make that happen.