Benefits for Specific Situations — Students, Carers, Veterans and MoreBenefits for Kinship Carers — Financial Support for Family Carers
Guide to benefits and financial support for kinship carers in the UK in 2026. Covers kinship care allowances, Child Benefit, UC, local authority support, and the difference between formal and informal kinship care.
Kinship carers — grandparents, aunts, uncles, and family friends raising children — often struggle to access the same financial support as foster carers. Here’s what you’re entitled to.
For the wider overview of carers’ support, disability benefits and related family caring routes, use the main Carers & Disability Benefits hub.
Types of Kinship Care
| Type | Legal Status | Financial Support |
|---|
| Informal kinship care | Private family arrangement, no court orders | Child Benefit, UC child element, but limited council support |
| Connected person foster carer | Child subject to care order, placed by LA | Fostering allowance (same as foster carers) |
| Special Guardianship Order (SGO) | Court order transferring parental responsibility | SGO allowance from council (varies), Child Benefit, UC |
| Child Arrangements Order (CAO) | Court order for child to live with you | Child Benefit, UC, possibly council allowance |
| Adoption | You legally adopt the child | Adoption support allowance, Child Benefit, UC |
Benefits You Can Claim
Child Benefit
| Feature | Detail |
|---|
| Rate (first child) | £26.05/week |
| Rate (additional children) | £17.25/week |
| Can kinship carers claim? | Yes — if the child lives with you |
| Guardian’s Allowance | Additional £21.75/week if both parents have died |
Universal Credit
| Element | Amount |
|---|
| Child element per child | £287.92/month |
| Disabled child addition | £156.11/month |
| Severely disabled child addition | £487.58/month |
| Two-child limit exemption | Children previously in LA care are exempt |
Other Benefits
| Benefit | Available? |
|---|
| Council Tax Reduction | Yes — apply through your council |
| Free school meals | If on qualifying benefit |
| Healthy Start vouchers | If pregnant or child under 4 |
| Childcare support | UC childcare element, Tax-Free Childcare |
| Carer’s Allowance | If child receives DLA middle/highest care |
Local Authority Support
If You’re a Connected Person Foster Carer
| Support | Detail |
|---|
| Fostering allowance | Same minimum rates as other foster carers |
| Training | Provided by the local authority |
| Social worker | Allocated to support you |
| Respite care | Should be offered |
| Review process | Regular reviews of the placement |
If You Have a Special Guardianship Order (SGO)
| Support | Detail |
|---|
| SGO allowance | From your local authority — amount varies widely |
| Legal costs | Council should have contributed to SGO legal costs |
| Support plan | Assessed needs with support services |
| Therapy/counselling | For the child if needed |
| Review | SGO support plan reviewed periodically |
Key issue: SGO allowances vary enormously between councils. Some pay the equivalent of a fostering allowance; others pay much less. You can challenge inadequate allowances.
| Support | Detail |
|---|
| Council allowance | Usually none — informal arrangements get least financial support |
| Child Benefit | Yes — you can claim |
| UC child element | Yes |
| Council advice | You can ask your council’s children’s services for an assessment |
| Financial hardship | Contact the special guardianship/kinship team |
The Financial Gap
Kinship carers often face a significant financial gap compared to foster carers:
| Payment Type | Foster Carer | SGO Carer | Informal Kinship Carer |
|---|
| Weekly allowance per child | £157-£234+ | £0-£234 (varies) | £0 |
| Training and support | Provided | Some | Limited |
| Respite | Provided | Sometimes | Rarely |
| Child Benefit | Cannot claim | Can claim | Can claim |
| UC child element | Cannot claim | Can claim | Can claim |
Note: While foster carers receive higher allowances, kinship carers can claim Child Benefit and UC child element that foster carers cannot. However, the net financial position usually still favours foster carers significantly.
Financial Help from Organisations
| Organisation | What They Provide |
|---|
| Kinship (formerly Grandparents Plus) | Grants, advice, advocacy |
| Family Rights Group | Legal advice on kinship care |
| Citizens Advice | Benefits and legal advice |
| Turn2us | Searchable grants database |
| Buttle UK | Grants for children and families |
| Local kinship support groups | Peer support and information |
Kinship (Charity)
Kinship is the main UK charity for kinship carers:
- Advice line: 0300 123 7015
- Financial grants: Emergency and ongoing support
- Legal advice: On SGOs, care orders, benefits
- Peer support: Local groups across the UK
- Campaign work: Advocating for better kinship carer support
Scotland: Kinship Care Assistance
Scotland provides additional support:
| Support | Detail |
|---|
| Kinship Care Allowance | Scottish local authorities must provide |
| Scottish Child Payment | Available for kinship children |
| Best Start Grant | Available for kinship families |
| School Clothing Grant | Available |
Scottish Kinship Care Allowance
Scottish councils must provide a kinship care allowance to eligible kinship carers. The rate should be at least equivalent to the fostering allowance. This is significantly more generous than the English system.
Legal Options
| Order | What It Does | Council Support |
|---|
| No order (informal) | No legal changes | Minimal |
| Child Arrangements Order | Child lives with you (parental responsibility shared) | Usually minimal allowance |
| Special Guardianship Order | Parental responsibility transfers to you | SGO allowance (varies) |
| Adoption Order | You become the legal parent | Adoption support (if assessed) |
| Care Order (connected foster) | Child in LA care, placed with you | Full fostering allowance |
Tip: If you’re caring for a child informally, consider whether an SGO or other legal order would give you better financial support and legal security.