Can kinship carers claim expenses separately from their allowance?

Kinship carers may be able to claim some costs separately from their regular allowance, but there is no single entitlement that applies to every arrangement. The answer depends mainly on whether you are an approved kinship foster carer, a special guardian, a holder of a child arrangements order or providing informal family care, as well as the support policy that applies to the child.

A fostering allowance is generally intended to contribute towards the ordinary costs of caring for a child, such as food, clothing, household expenses, personal items and activities. A separate payment may be considered where a cost is exceptional, directly connected with the child’s care or necessary to make the placement work. This does not usually mean that every additional cost is automatically reimbursed.

Examples of costs that may be considered, depending on the arrangement and local policy, include:

• essential furniture, bedding or safety equipment needed when the child moves in;
• school uniform, equipment or other education-related items;
• travel connected with contact, medical appointments or meetings about the child;
• specific costs arising from the child’s disability, health needs or specialist care;
• legal or assessment-related costs connected with a change in the child’s care arrangement; and
• one-off costs involved in preparing or adapting the household.

These are examples rather than automatic entitlements. Some costs may already be expected to come from the allowance, while others may be dealt with through a separate budget, a child-specific support plan or a one-off payment. A local authority may also apply different arrangements depending on whether the child is looked after, subject to a special guardianship order or living under another legal arrangement.

The legal status of the placement is particularly important. An approved kinship foster carer will normally have a fostering agreement and financial terms explaining how the allowance operates. A special guardian may instead receive support under a special guardianship support plan. Someone caring for a relative informally may not receive a fostering allowance at all, although the local authority could consider other forms of practical or financial assistance. Do not assume that an allowance available under one arrangement carries across to another.

Before paying for a significant item, ask the child’s social worker or the relevant finance team to confirm:

• whether the cost is eligible for separate support;
• which budget or scheme will deal with it;
• whether approval is needed before the purchase;
• what evidence is required, such as invoices, receipts or mileage details;
• how and when a claim should be submitted; and
• whether there are limits, exclusions or preferred suppliers.

It is sensible to request this information in writing. Keep receipts, quotations, invoices and a brief explanation of how the expense relates to the child’s needs. If an urgent purchase is unavoidable, record why it was necessary and notify the social worker as soon as possible. Retrospective claims may be considered in some circumstances, but they should not be assumed to qualify.

There is also an important difference between an expense and an increase in the regular allowance. A recurring need, such as additional transport or specialist equipment, may lead to a review of the child’s financial support rather than a series of individual reimbursements. Ask whether the support should be recorded in the fostering agreement, placement plan or another written plan, and check when it will be reviewed.

If a request is refused, ask for the decision and the reasons for it in writing. The next step may be to speak to the supervising social worker, the child’s social worker, the local authority’s fostering or kinship-care service, or the complaints team. An independent advice service, advocate or solicitor with experience in children’s social care may also help you understand the decision and any review or appeal route.

In short, separate expense payments are possible in some kinship-care arrangements, particularly for agreed one-off or child-specific costs, but they are not a universal addition to the allowance. Establish the financial arrangements before committing to substantial expenditure and make sure the agreed support is clearly recorded.