Support for kinship carers

Which arrangement do you have?

• Special guardianship order (SGO): you have parental responsibility until the child is 18. You can ask for a support assessment, and an SGO allowance may be paid (means-tested, depending on the council's policy).
• Child arrangements order: says who the child lives with. Councils may pay an allowance under their own policy.
• Kinship foster care: the child is looked after by the council and you're an approved foster carer, paid fostering allowances.
• Informal arrangement: no order in place. Support is more limited, so get advice before agreeing to anything long-term.

Support to ask about

• The kinship local offer: councils are expected to publish what they offer kinship families (DfE kinship care statutory guidance, 2024).
• Therapy through the ASF: for children who left care under an SGO or child arrangements order. See the ASF funding guide.
• Pupil Premium Plus and priority school admission for previously looked-after children. See the Pupil Premium Plus letters.
• The Virtual School Head: advice for you and the school about the child's education.
• Benefits: Child Benefit and, if both parents have died (or in some other cases), Guardian's Allowance (£22.95 a week in 2026/27). If the child is disabled, DLA and Carer's Allowance.
• Legal costs: if the council asks you to take on an SGO, ask whether it will fund independent legal advice.

If the child has special educational needs

Kinship children often have needs linked to early trauma and loss. You have the same rights as any parent to ask for an EHC needs assessment and to appeal. Read our guide to showing trauma-related needs.

Free advice: Kinship (kinship.org.uk), Family Rights Group, and your council's kinship or special guardianship support team. Figures checked November 2026.