Benefits 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.
Benefits information is based on current DWP and HMRC rules. Entitlements depend on your personal circumstances. For free personalised help, contact Citizens Advice or call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
Contents
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 (eldest or only child)
£27.05/week (2026/27)
Rate (additional children)
£17.90/week (2026/27)
Can kinship carers claim?
Yes — if the child lives with you
Guardian’s Allowance
Additional £22.95/week (2026/27) if both parents have died
Universal Credit
Element
Amount (2026/27)
Child element per child
£303.94/month
Disabled child addition (lower rate)
£164.79/month
Disabled child addition (higher rate)
£514.71/month
Two-child limit
Removed from 6 April 2026 — the child element is now payable for every child you’re responsible for
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.
If Care Is Informal
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
Roughly £176-£309+ (varies by region/age)
£0-£300+ (varies by council)
£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.