Can kinship carers receive extra payments for a child’s additional needs?

Kinship carers may receive additional financial support where a child’s needs involve costs that are not covered by the standard kinship or fostering allowance. This support can take different forms, and it may come from the local authority, the Department for Work and Pensions or another public service rather than as a simple increase to the usual allowance.

Additional needs might include disabilities, significant health conditions, emotional or behavioural difficulties, communication needs, or support requirements linked to trauma and previous experiences. The relevant issue is how the child’s needs affect their day-to-day care and what extra costs or practical arrangements are necessary. A diagnosis is not always required, but the local authority will usually need information showing the child’s needs and the effect on the household.

Possible forms of support include:

• an enhanced or additional fostering payment where the child is placed under an approved kinship fostering arrangement;
• one-off help with specialist equipment, clothing, furniture, transport or adaptations, where the authority agrees that the item is necessary;
• funding for respite or other support services, subject to an assessment and the local authority’s policy;
• contributions towards activities, appointments or travel connected with the child’s care; and
• benefits or disability-related payments that are separate from the kinship allowance.

These are examples rather than guaranteed entitlements. The type of payment available will depend partly on the legal arrangement. An approved kinship foster carer is usually dealt with under the fostering allowance and payment policy. A kinship carer with a special guardianship order, child arrangements order or another arrangement may be assessed under different rules. Someone caring for a relative informally may not have access to the same fostering payments, although other benefits or children’s services support could still be relevant.

It is also important to distinguish a payment for the child’s additional needs from a standard allowance. A regular allowance is intended to contribute towards the ordinary costs of caring for a child. An enhanced payment or expense contribution is normally linked to a particular assessment, need or agreed service. It may be reviewed if the child’s circumstances change, and it may stop or change when the legal arrangement or placement ends.

Support that may be available separately

If a child has substantial care or mobility needs, the carer may be able to explore Disability Living Allowance for children. This is a benefit administered separately from the local authority and is based on the child’s care or mobility needs, not simply on whether they are in kinship care. The application should accurately describe the help the child needs compared with another child of the same age. A benefits adviser, social worker or welfare rights service can explain how this could interact with other household benefits.

Additional needs can also lead to non-financial support. For example, a child may need a review by education, health or social care professionals, an education support plan, therapeutic input, specialist training for the carer or a coordinated package of services. This support may reduce the costs or pressure on the household without being paid directly to the kinship carer.

How to ask for an assessment

• Ask the child’s social worker or the local authority’s kinship care team which financial and practical support routes apply to the child’s current legal arrangement.
• Request the relevant payment policy or written guidance, including how additional needs are assessed and which costs can be considered.
• Keep records of the child’s needs, appointments, travel, equipment, care arrangements and extra expenditure. Receipts can be useful where reimbursement is being requested.
• Provide reports or evidence from health, education or social care professionals where available. Explain the child’s day-to-day needs rather than relying only on a diagnostic label.
• Ask for the decision and reasons in writing, including the amount, start date, duration and any review date.

If the local authority refuses support or offers less than expected, ask how to challenge the decision through its complaints, review or appeals process. A kinship carer may also wish to obtain independent advice from a specialist kinship organisation, Citizens Advice or a welfare rights adviser before requesting a review. New needs should be reported promptly because a revised assessment may be possible when the child’s circumstances change.

Before accepting a payment, check whether it is recurring or one-off, whether it is restricted to particular costs, whether receipts are required and whether it affects another benefit or funding arrangement. Written clarification helps prevent misunderstandings and makes it easier to identify support that has not yet been considered.