Information on special guardianship orders for kinship carers, including how they work and available support.
Special guardians financial support and benefits
Information and advice on the types of financial support available to kinship carers with a special guardianship order.
This advice applies to: England and Wales
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Overview
A special guardianship order (SGO) is made by a family court and states where a child will live to give them security and a permeant home until they are 18 years old.
The most common ways to get financial help include:
- a special guardian allowance from children’s services
- other support from children’s services
- government benefits
- the adoption and special guardianship support fund
- support from the child’s parents
Support from children’s services
If you are a special guardian, you can ask for support from children’s services in two ways:
- a special guardian allowance
- under Section 17 of The Children Act 1989 if a child is assessed as in need
Special guardian allowance
If you are a special guardian, you may be able to get a special guardian allowance from your local authority.
Special guardian allowance is:
- discretionary, which means children’s services don’t have to pay it to you
- means-tested, which means if you get it and how much you get will depend on your financial situation
A social worker can assess your circumstances, decide what support you should get and review that support every year.
Children’s services will use foster allowance rates as a guide when assessing your financial situation.
You can ask to see your local authority’s family and friends care policy, which will include information about special guardian allowances.
Search for your local authority using Kinship Compass
Section 17 support
Under Section 17 of the Children’s Act 1989, every council has to provide a range of family support services, which includes financial support.
That means you may be able to claim one-off payments to help pay for items such as bedroom furniture and nursery costs. If you are a low-income family, you may be able to get regular payments to help pay for the cost of caring for the child.
All support from children’s services will depend on your specific situation. A social worker from children’s services will assess the child and decide if they are a ‘child in need’. They will then make a decision about what support you should get.
Any financial support you receive from children’s services gets reviewed every year.
Government benefits
You may be able to claim one of the following government benefits to help you with day-to-day living costs and the cost of caring for a child.
Universal Credit
Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit for people of working age who are on a low-income. You can be working, looking for work, sick or disabled, or caring a child or disabled person.
Learn more about Universal Credit for kinship carers
Child Benefit
Child Benefit is paid to anyone bringing up a child under 16 years of age or a young person under 20 years of age who is in approved education or training. Only one person can get child benefit and there is no limit to how many children you can claim for.
Learn more about Child Benefit for kinship carers
Pension Credit
If you are over State Pension age, you may be able to get Pension Credit, which is separate to your State Pension. It gives you extra money to help pay for day-to-day living costs, which will include looking after a child if you are a kinship carer.
Learn more about Pension Credit for kinship carers
Guardian’s Allowance
If you are bringing up a child whose parents have died, you could be able to get a Guardian’s Allowance. You may also be eligible if there is one surviving parent. Guardian’s Allowance is tax-free and you can get it on top of any Child Benefit you receive.
Adoption and special guardianship support fund
Some kinship carers can get financial support from the adoption and special guardianship support fund.
The fund can help you pay for essential therapeutic services, such as creative therapies or life story work.
If you are eligible, children’s services can apply to the adoption support fund for you.
Read more about the adoption and special guardianship support fund
Support from the child’s parents
If you have an SGO, the child’s parents must help pay for the cost of caring for them. However, you need to agree this together and we often find that a child’s parents are not able to provide financial support.
If the child’s parents are not able or refuse to help pay for the child’s care, you can contact the Child Maintenance Service (GOV.UK) for advice and support. You will usually have to pay a fee.
Support from Kinship
Here at Kinship, we offer a range of free support for all kinship carers, including workshops, online advice and information, and support groups.
To find services, information and support in your local area, including information about your local children’s services, use our Kinship Compass tool.
You can also contact the Kinship advice team for free, non-judgmental advice and information if you live in England or Wales.
Related advice and information
Stepping up to raise a child can be expensive, and money worries are common for kinship carers. Find out what financial support and benefits are available to you.
There are a number of benefits you may be eligible for if you, or someone you care for, is disabled or has a long-term illness.
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