Kinship Allowances and Fees

In October 2015 the Scottish Government clarified the new situation in relation to kinship care allowances, agreed with COSLA and provided some additional funding to Councils.

This agreement will not apply to all kinship carers. It applies to:

• all formal kinship carers where the child has a looked after status; and
• some informal kinship carers, where the child is not a looked after child but is subject to a section 11 Order (to be known as a Kinship Care Order), and is or was

o    previously looked after;

o    placed with involvement from the local authority; or

o    at risk of becoming looked after.

Kinship carers covered by this agreement should receive an allowance at a minimum of the same rate as foster carers in their local authority area.

Some kinship carers will be eligible for child-related benefits, which are intended to cover accommodation and maintenance. If a kinship carer is in receipt of any child-related benefits, then the local authority may deduct these from the amount of allowance that it pays to the kinship carer. In this situation, any additional payment to bring the allowance rate up to that of a foster carer is to be considered a wellbeing payment – the kinship carer is already receiving payment from the state for accommodation and maintenance and the additional money is to ensure that the kinship child is able to benefit from opportunities that many children have but that they would otherwise be unable to access. 

The table below provides an overview by age group of the West Dunbartonshire allowances which will be payable.  Kinship Carers may also be eligible for certain child-related benefits which are deducted from the Kinship Allowance.  To ensure that you are fully aware of your entitlement, and to receive any support if required in submitting any relevant applications, then contact can be made with our Working4U Service via either of the following to discuss:

Email: working4u@west-dunbarton.gov.uk

Telephone: 01389 738296