Kinship care
If a child cannot live with their parents, we try to keep them within their family or community whenever possible. This is called kinship care. You may be able to receive financial help and practical support if you are looking after a child in this situation.
What kinship care means
Kinship care covers both:
- formal arrangements, where a child is looked after by us and placed with relatives or close family friends
- informal arrangements, where a child lives with relatives through a private agreement or a Section 11 Order
Allowances for kinship carers
Some kinship carers can receive a weekly allowance. Current rates are:
| Age bands | Weekly allowance |
|---|---|
| 0-4 | £171.17 |
| 5-10 | £199.14 |
| 11-15 | £199.14 |
| 16-18 | £272.97 |
The Scottish Government has asked councils to bring formal and some informal kinship allowances in line with foster care allowances. We are working towards this and will update this page when rates change.
Support you may receive
Under the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, you may get help if you have, or are applying for, a Kinship Care Order. Support can include:
- advice and information for carers
- advice and information for eligible children
- a financial allowance
- help with the cost of applying for an order
If you already receive kinship payments from us, a social worker will contact you to check your entitlement. If you have a Section 11 Order for a child who was previously looked after, we will make sure you are receiving the correct support.
Get in touch
If you are caring for a child and want to ask about kinship support, phone 0303 123 1008 and ask for the duty worker at your local office.
You can also get independent advice from:
- Citizens Advice Bureau
- Kinship Care Advice Service for Scotland (KCASS)
- ParentLine Scotland: 0800 028 2233
You can download a copy of our Kinship Care Guidance.