HELPLINE 0808 800 0006 advice@kinshipscot.org
The helpline is open Mon–Fri, 10am-2.30pm and please leave a message if you require a call back outside of these hours.

Welfare benefits

Dependent on your household’s circumstances, you may be able to claim Social Security benefits, such as Universal Credit, Guardians Allowance and Pension Credit, provided you meet the qualifying criteria.

The Child Poverty Action group in Scotland (CPAG in Scotland) have a number of factsheets on their website which relate to the benefit entitlement of Kinship Carers. CPAG Kinship Care and Benefits the essentials can be accessed here: Kinship Care and Benefits – The essentials

Universal Credit (UC) – can be claimed if you are on a low income, either working or not working, UC can include amounts for dependent children (child element), an amount to help with rent (housing costs element), an amount to help people in paid work with the cost of child-care (childcare costs element) as well as additional elements if you are caring for a disabled person or you are unwell. If you are caring for a child who is not looked after by the local authority you should be able to get the child element in your UC. You should always inform the DWP of the legal status of the child in your care (see the section here) failure to do so may result in an overpayment of benefit which you will be liable to repay.

Depending on the way in which your local authority pays Kinship Care Allowance (called the “legal mechanism) where the child in your care is over the age of 5 years old and is a “Non Looked After” child you may be subject to the work-related requirements, you can check this out with your local jobcentre.

A factsheet developed by CPAG on Kinship Carers and Universal Credit can be viewed here: Kinship Carers and Universal Credit

You can listen to the podcast Universal credit and Kinship Care by clicking on the link: https://kinship.scot/news-events-training/podcasts/

Pension credit – Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges and can also include an amount for the child you are looking after. For further information  see the Government information page here: Pension Credit: Overview – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Guardians Allowance – You could get Guardian’s Allowance if you’re bringing up a child whose parents have died. You may also be eligible if there’s one surviving parent. Further information can be found here:  Guardian’s Allowance: Overview – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Carers Allowance – Where the child in your care is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance or Child disability payment you may be entitled to Carers Allowance, further information can be accessed here: Carer’s Allowance: How it works – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

If you wish to find out if you are entitled to any benefits KCASS can undertake a benefits assessment to determine what you may be entitled to, you can phone the helpline to enquire on 0808 800 0006 or email advice@kinshipscot.org.