How is a special guardianship allowance assessed?

The assessment is not based on a single national rate. The local authority considers the child’s circumstances alongside the proposed special guardian’s income, outgoings, assets and other available resources, then decides what level and type of financial support is reasonable under its policy and the child’s support plan.

What the assessment considers

The financial assessment will usually look at the household’s overall circumstances, rather than salary alone. Information may include:

• employment income, self-employed earnings, pensions and regular benefits;
• rent or mortgage payments, council tax, utilities, loan repayments and ordinary household expenditure;
• savings, investments, property or other significant assets;
• the number of people in the household and their financial responsibilities;
• the child’s existing income, benefits or other financial resources; and
• additional costs connected with caring for the child, such as travel for contact, equipment, adaptations, childcare, education or health needs.

The authority may ask for evidence before reaching a decision. This can include payslips, benefit statements, bank statements, mortgage or tenancy details, bills and information about the child’s needs. It should explain which income and expenditure it has included and how these have affected the outcome.

The child’s needs are assessed separately from the guardian’s means

A child’s financial needs should not be overlooked simply because a prospective guardian has limited or substantial resources. The authority should consider the practical costs of providing care and whether the child has needs arising from their history, development, disability, health, education, identity or contact arrangements. A child who has been looked after may have a different support requirement from a child joining a special guardian from another care arrangement.

For example, the assessment may consider costs associated with maintaining important family relationships, travelling to school or appointments, providing specialist equipment, or meeting a need that was not present before the child moved into the guardian’s care. Evidence from social workers, schools or health professionals can help demonstrate why a cost is necessary.

How the amount may be worked out

Local authorities use their own published procedures within the legal framework for special guardianship support. Some begin with a fostering-related allowance or local tariff and then make adjustments. Others calculate the child’s identified costs and take account of the guardian’s assessed ability to contribute. An authority may also consider payments or resources available from another source, including benefits or maintenance arrangements.

There is therefore no universal amount that every special guardian receives for a child of the same age. The outcome can differ between authorities and between individual cases. A payment might be regular, one-off or a combination of both, depending on the purpose of the support. A lump sum could be considered for an identified item or exceptional cost, while a recurring allowance is more likely to relate to ongoing care.

When the assessment takes place

The local authority should assess financial support as part of considering the child’s support needs, rather than treating the allowance as an informal payment decided after the order has been made. A prospective guardian can ask for the assessment before applying for a special guardianship order, and the authority should explain what information it needs.

The assessment may be revisited if circumstances change. Relevant changes could include a change in household income, a new or increased disability-related cost, a change in the child’s needs, a move to a different area, or the end of another source of support. Any review should distinguish between a change in the child’s needs and a change in the guardian’s financial circumstances.

What the written decision should contain

Ask for the decision in writing. It should set out, in understandable terms:

• whether financial support is being offered;
• the amount, frequency and proposed start date of any payment;
• how the amount was calculated;
• any conditions attached to the support;
• when the arrangement will be reviewed; and
• how to request a reconsideration or make a complaint if the assessment appears incorrect.

If the authority has refused support, the written reasons are particularly important. Check whether it has used up-to-date financial information, considered all relevant costs and applied the correct policy. A social worker, supervising professional or independent adviser may help you identify missing evidence, but the local authority remains responsible for explaining its decision.

Can the decision be challenged?

If you believe the allowance has been calculated incorrectly, ask the authority to review the assessment and provide the evidence supporting your position. Explain which figures are wrong, which costs have been omitted, or why the child’s needs have not been properly considered. Use the authority’s complaints or review procedure if an informal correction does not resolve the issue. You can also obtain independent legal advice, particularly where the payment is central to whether the proposed care arrangement is financially sustainable.

An allowance assessment should be based on the real circumstances of the child and household, not on an assumption that a special guardian can absorb every additional cost. Keep copies of the financial information supplied, the calculation, the support plan and later review decisions so that changes can be discussed with clear evidence.