🧭 Wegweiser Care leavers

15 topic pages for young people leaving residential care or a foster family and moving into independent adult life – and for everyone who advises them. Each page first explains the topic briefly and clearly – and below that in detail, with deadlines, legal bases and figures.

How this page works. At the top you can search all topics by keyword. Each topic page begins with the section In brief in plain language. Below that you will find the most important deadlines, typical mistakes and a collapsible specialist section "In depth" for advisory work, with legal bases and figures.

As of September 2026. An important change in the law for this module: on 1 January 2023 the income-based cost contribution (Kostenheranziehung) charged to young people in youth welfare was abolished (see the topic "Cost contribution"). Where a statement could not be verified beyond doubt from official sources (e.g. exact file retention periods or the funding amounts of individual foundations), this is expressly noted on the relevant page instead of guessed. The information does not replace legal advice.

Frequently searched

🧭 Care leavers: overview and legal basics 📋 Support for young adults (§ 41 SGB VIII) 💶 Cost contribution: what you have to hand over from your own income 🏠 Housing after youth welfare 💶 BAföG and training funding without parental support ⚖️ Guardianship and assistance: what ends at the age of majority 📞 Advice and contact points for care leavers

All topic areas

🧭Overview and basicsGetting started: who counts as a care leaver and what happens automatically at 18.1 topic 📋Youth welfare beyond the age of majoritySupport for young adults, support planning, aftercare.3 topics 💶Money in detailCost contribution, basic income support, BAföG, start-up grants, debt.5 topics 🏠Housing after youth welfareYour own flat, supported housing, U25 assurance.1 topic ⚖️Legal independence and familyGuardianship, contact with your family of origin, your own file.3 topics 🩺HealthMental strain and finding counselling.1 topic 📞Advice and contact pointsWho helps with which concern.1 topic

🧭 Overview and basics

Getting started: who counts as a care leaver and what happens automatically at 18.

🧭Care leavers: overview and legal basicsWho counts as a care leaver, what ends automatically at the age of majority – and which youth welfare services can continue.

📋 Youth welfare beyond the age of majority

Support for young adults, support planning, aftercare.

📋Support for young adults (§ 41 SGB VIII)Youth welfare can continue after your 18th birthday – if you apply for it and your situation justifies it. 📋Becoming independent and support planning (§ 36 SGB VIII)The support plan also accompanies the transition to adulthood – with you now as the main person at the table. 📋Aftercare after the end of youth welfare (§ 41a SGB VIII)Even when support ends, you are entitled to advice and assistance for a reasonable transition period.

💶 Money in detail

Cost contribution, basic income support, BAföG, start-up grants, debt.

💶Cost contribution: what you have to hand over from your own incomeSince 2023, young people in youth welfare no longer have to hand over their own income (e.g. training allowance) to the Jugendamt. 💶Bürgergeld/basic income support (Grundsicherungsgeld) for care leavers without family supportIf you have to support yourself after youth welfare: the key special points on basic income support. 💶BAföG and training funding without parental supportIf parents do not cooperate on the BAföG application or cannot pay: advance payment under § 36 BAföG. 💶Financial start-up help: initial equipment, foundations, fundsIf savings and family support are missing: care-leaver-specific and general funding options for getting started. 💶Avoiding debt and financial education without a family networkWithout parents who would help out if needed: how to keep your first contract, phone plan and overdraft under control.

🏠 Housing after youth welfare

Your own flat, supported housing, U25 assurance.

🏠Housing after youth welfareYour own flat, supported housing or back to the family – and what the Jobcenter requires if you move before turning 25.

⚖️ Legal independence and family

Guardianship, contact with your family of origin, your own file.

⚖️Guardianship and assistance: what ends at the age of majorityGuardian and assistant (Beistand) automatically lose their role on your 18th birthday – what this means for you in practice. ⚖️Contact with your family of origin after youth welfareAt the age of majority, contact with your family of origin becomes a private matter, no longer regulated by the family court. ⚖️Securing certificates, documents and your own fileSchool certificates, birth certificate, support plans: what you should collect before youth welfare ends – and how to get access to your file later.

🩺 Health

Mental strain and finding counselling.

🩺Mental strain and after-effects of trauma: finding counsellingOut-of-home placement is often linked to distressing experiences – regular and care-leaver-specific contact points for psychological support.

📞 Advice and contact points

Who helps with which concern.

📞Advice and contact points for care leaversWho is responsible for what – and where can you get independent support if things are not going smoothly with the Jugendamt?

For reference

📕Keyword indexAll terms from A to Z, with links to the matching topic pages. 📜Sources and methodWhere the information comes from and what is expressly uncertain. 🏠Other target groupsTo the overview of all Wegweiser portals.

A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.