A £20m experiment offering a basic income to young people leaving care will launch in Wales on Friday.
From 1 July, the Welsh government will offer about 500 18-year-olds £19,200 a year before tax – no strings attached.
One care leaver said the cash would be a “safety blanket” and others hope it will help give the 18-year-olds a good start.
But the Welsh Conservatives feared the scheme could create more problems than it solves.
Officials plan to analyse the scheme to see if the money – roughly in line with the living wage – can help the youngsters settle into independent living.