What is kinship care?

Kinship care is when a child is raised by a relative or close family friend instead of their parents. This includes grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, and family friends. Kinship care can be informal (agreed between families) or formal (arranged through the local authority with legal orders). The type of arrangement significantly affects what financial support you can access.

Can kinship carers claim Child Benefit?

Yes. If the child lives with you and you're responsible for them, you can claim Child Benefit regardless of whether the arrangement is formal or informal. Only one person can claim for each child, so the biological parent would need to stop their claim. Child Benefit is £26.05/week for the first child and £17.25 for additional children.

Do kinship carers get a fostering allowance?

It depends on the legal arrangement. If the child is subject to a care order and the local authority has placed them with you as a 'connected person' foster carer, you receive a fostering allowance (same rates as other foster carers). If the arrangement is informal or under a Special Guardianship Order, allowances vary widely between councils and are often much lower.

Can I claim Universal Credit for a kinship child?

Yes, in most cases. If the child is living with you and you're responsible for them, they can be included in your UC claim. The child element (£287.92/month) is added to your UC. If the child was previously in local authority care before being placed with you, the two-child limit doesn't apply to that child.

Benefits for Kinship Carers — Financial Support for Family Carers | PocketWise

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.

By PocketWise · 8 April 2026 · 4 min read

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.

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.

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	£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.