Chapter 7: Children living with kinship carers
This chapter covers:
1. What is kinship care (below)
2. Financial help from the local authority (
here)
3. Benefits and tax credits if a child is not looked after (
here)
4. Benefits and tax credits if a child is looked after (
here)
If a child is being cared for permanently, or for a considerable period, by extended family members or by friends, often called ‘kinship care’, issues about financial support can arise. Some kinship carers get financial support from the local authority, others do not. Kinship carers may be able to claim benefits and tax credits for the child for whom they care. Benefits and tax credits that a kinship carer claims for her/himself may also be affected by the care arrangements.