Financial support and allowances for kinship carers

As a kinship carer, you might be able to get financial support or an allowance to help you with the day-to-day costs of caring for a child in your care. Support you receive can affect the benefits you may get.

Any financial support depends on the type of kinship arrangement you have. The amount you could get is also based on how many children you’re caring for, their age, any needs they have, and where you live.

Fostering care allowance

All foster parents receive a foster care allowance to cover the cost of caring for a child.

Find guidance on the current rates of fostering care allowance on GOV.UK.

Special Guardianship Order (SGO) or Child Arrangement Order (CAO) payments

These allowances give financial support for those taking care of a child under a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) or Child Arrangements Order (CAO).

The payments are means-tested so depend on your current financial situation.

There's a certain amount paid for the first 10 weeks, to give you time to make benefits applications. Once you have, child benefit and child tax credits are taken off the amount. IF you're on Universal Credit only, nothing will be taken off.

Age range Weekly allowance for first 10 weeks Amount removed after benefits (unless carer provides evidence of child benefit and tax credits) Final weekly allowance (after 10 weeks)
0 to 5 £250.32 £73.80 £176.52
5 to 10 £259.64 £73.80 £185.84
11 to 15 £339.32 £73.80 £265.52
16 to 18 £360.10 £73.80 £286

Child Benefit for Kinship Carers

You can get Child Benefit if you're living in the UK and caring for a child under 16, or under 20 if in approved education or training.

Child Benefit gives you an allowance every 4 weeks for each child and it is not means-tested, so you can get this regardless of your income.

You can get National Insurance credits with this, which can count towards your state pension.

Find more information about Child Benefit on GOV.UK.

Free childcare

You may be able to get 30 hours of free childcare a week through the Free Childcare for Working Parents scheme. The child must be aged 9 months to 4 years old. The childcare must be provided by a registered provider, such as a registered nursery, playscheme or school.

Universal Credit childcare costs

If you're on a low income, you may be eligible for Universal Credit. You could also get back up to 85% of the childcare costs, although this will only happen after the child has actually been in childcare.

Find out more about Universal Credit childcare costs on GOV.UK. If you're not able to pay for childcare costs upfront, you may be able to get help through the Flexible Support Fund.

Pension Credit

If you're over state pension age and on a low income, you may be able to get Pension Credit. This is extra money that can help with living costs. You cannot claim the child element if you get a foster carer's allowance.

Find out more about Pension Credits on GOV.UK.

Disability or long-term illness

You may be able to get financial help if you or the child you care for are disabled or have a long-term illness. This includes:

You can contact or visit one of our Children’s Centres and Family Hubs to find out what other support might be available.

Get in touch

If you have any questions about kinship care or would like support, contact the Family, Friends and Fostering Team: