Kinship Care Allowances

There is an agreement between the Scottish Government and local authorities that certain kinship carers should get financial support at the same level as the local authority’s fostering allowance rate (not including fostering fees). The agreement covers:

• Kinship carers of looked after children;
• Kinship carers where the child is subject to a kinship care order under section 11 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 or the carer is the child’s guardian under section 7 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, and
  • the child was previously looked after by the local authority, or
  • the child is at risk of becoming looked after, or
  • was placed with the kinship carer by the local authority.

Scottish Government guidance suggests that local authorities deduct any ‘child-related’ benefits to which the kinship carer is entitled, and that a foster carer would not get, from the amount of the allowance. For example, if a kinship carer gets the child element of universal credit, this would be deducted.

Each Local Authority should publish a revised Kinship and Fostering Allowances Policy which should include key details of entitlements, eligibility criteria, how it will be assessed, where more information can be found, where complaints can be made and any other relevant information.

If you are unsure what section to choose go through the link below to work that out:

What type of kinship carer are you?