Kinship care is when a relative or close family friend looks after a child who cannot live with their parents. In the United Kingdom, many kinship carers provide vital care and emotional support to children, often without the same financial backing that foster carers receive. As a result, many families and carers wonder how much is kinship care allowance in the UK and what kind of financial support is available. The answer is not straightforward, as there is no single nationwide kinship care allowance in England and Wales, but there are various schemes, pilot programs, and typical local authority practices that determine payment amounts. The system differs across regions such as Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland, and eligibility can depend on legal orders, the child’s status, and local policies.
What Is Kinship Care Allowance?
A kinship care allowance is financial support provided to a carer who is raising a child related to them when the child cannot live with their parent or parents. In some areas of the UK, local councils offer kinship allowances to help cover the cost of raising the child. These allowances aim to help with food, clothing, housing, and other daily expenses. The amount and eligibility criteria vary depending on whether the child is looked after’ by the local authority or has a legal order such as a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) or Child Arrangements Order (CAO).
National Minimum Allowance (Pilot in England)
In England, the government has introduced a pilot scheme for financial support to kinship carers in up to 10 local authority areas. This pilot aims to provide regular weekly payments to eligible kinship carers who look after children who would otherwise be in care. The allowance is set to be at least in line with the National Minimum Allowance (NMA) used for foster carers. The NMA ranges roughly from £170 to £299 per week depending on the age of the child, though exact figures can vary by area and year. These payments are designed to be weekly allowances to help with the costs of caregiving over time rather than a oneoff benefit.
Typical Allowance Rates Across the UK
While not all local authorities pay kinship carers the same amounts, several examples show the range of weekly support available. In Scotland, for example, a standard national kinship allowance has been introduced following agreements with local authorities, and these rates are aligned with recommended fostering allowances. Scotland’s recommended weekly rates (before deductions for any childrelated benefits) are approximately
- Age 0-4 years around £168-£171 per week
- Age 5-10 years around £195-£199 per week
- Age 11-15 years around £195-£201 per week
- Age 16-21 years around £268-£273 per week
These figures reflect typical payment amounts before any adjustment for benefits such as Child Benefit or Child Tax Credits. Payments such as birthday, summer holiday, or festival allowances may also be available on top of these weekly rates.
Variations by Council and Region
Because there is no single universal kinship care allowance in England or Wales outside of specific pilots, many local councils set their own rates and eligibility rules. In some areas, payments are tied closely to fostering allowances and may be meanstested, especially for kinship carers who look after children under a Child Arrangements Order (CAO) or Special Guardianship Order (SGO). This means that carers’ income and financial situation can affect the amount they receive. In other cases, local authorities may choose not to provide a regular allowance at all, instead encouraging carers to claim universal benefits like Child Benefit or Universal Credit.
Eligibility for Kinship Care Allowances
Not all kinship carers automatically receive an allowance. Eligibility typically depends on the legal basis of the care arrangement and the involvement of the local authority.
Looked After Children
If the child is legally looked after’ by the local authority and placed with a kinship carer, then the carer is often eligible for an allowance similar to a fostering payment. These payments are intended to support the child’s daytoday care, and councils may top them up to match fostering rates, though deductions may apply for Child Benefit or other entitlements.
Special Guardianship or Child Arrangements Orders
For children living with kinship carers under a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) or Child Arrangements Order (CAO), some councils provide allowances or support, but this is usually subject to financial assessment. Income, savings, and other benefits may be taken into account to decide the final amount, and in some places this support can be meanstested.
Informal Kinship Care
Kinship carers looking after children informally without any legal order may receive little or no council support, though they can claim universal benefits such as Child Benefit. This form of care is often unpaid and depends more on welfare benefits available to carers raising children in their household.
Other Financial Support Available to Kinship Carers
In addition to kinship care allowances, carers can often access a range of other financial support measures to help with raising children
Child Benefit
Child Benefit is a universal payment available to the primary carer responsible for a child. The current rates are approximately £26.05 per week for the eldest or only child, and £17.25 per week for each additional child. This benefit is separate from kinship care allowances and can often be claimed by carers who are responsible for a child living with them.
Universal Credit and Tax Credits
Kinship carers who are on a low income or out of work may qualify for Universal Credit, which includes extra amounts for children and childcare costs. Claiming Universal Credit can help with living costs, though the exact amount depends on household income and circumstances.
Guardian’s Allowance
If the child has lost one or both parents, carers may be eligible to claim Guardian’s Allowance, which is a weekly payment to help with the costs of caring for a child who has lost a parent. This allowance can be claimed in addition to Child Benefit and does not depend on income.
Challenges and the Need for Reform
Many kinship carers and advocacy groups argue that financial support for kinship care in the UK is inconsistent and often insufficient. Because local authorities set their own rules and rates, carers in different regions can receive very different levels of support even when caring for children with similar needs. Efforts to introduce a national kinship care allowance or to expand pilot programs aim to reduce these discrepancies and provide carers with a more reliable and fair financial safety net.
Understanding how much kinship care allowance in the UK is can be complex because it varies by region, local authority policy, legal status of the care arrangement, and other benefits claimed. In Scotland, standard recommended weekly rates similar to fostering allowances provide a useful benchmark, while in England a pilot scheme aims to introduce allowances aligned with national minimum fostering rates. Local councils in England and Wales may also offer allowances that are meanstested or based on financial assessments. In all cases, kinship carers should explore local authority policies, universal benefits such as Child Benefit and Universal Credit, and legal support to ensure they receive all the financial help available. While the system continues to evolve, awareness of current practices and support options helps carers manage the costs of raising children in kinship care.