Dependent on your household’s circumstances, you may be able to claim Social Security benefits, such as child benefit, universal credit, guardians allowance, pension credit and Scottish child payment, provided you meet the qualifying criteria.
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.
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 include an amount for the child you are caring for. 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)
Carer Support Payment – Where a child is entitled to child disability payment care component at the middle or higher rate (or adult disability payment daily living component) you may be entitled to carer support payment. See www.mygov.scot/carer-support-payment for more information.
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 08000 28 22 33 or email advice@kinshipscot.org.
