Guardian's Allowance is a weekly payment for someone bringing up a child whose parents have died, paid on top of Child Benefit and worth £22.95 a week per child. It is tax-free and does not count as income when other means-tested benefits are worked out. This checker walks through the main eligibility rules and, if they are met, adds up the weekly and yearly total for the children in your care.
Guardian's Allowance Eligibility & Amount Checker
Answer the questions below. The tool works out whether you meet the core rules and totals the payment for eligible children.
What Guardian's Allowance Is
Guardian's Allowance helps people raising a child who is not their own because the child's parents have died. You do not have to be the child's legal guardian to claim, and you do not have to be related to them.
The allowance is £22.95 a week for each eligible child. It is always paid alongside Child Benefit, so you must be receiving Child Benefit for the child to get it. Because it is ignored as income for means-tested benefits, it does not reduce Universal Credit, Pension Credit or Housing Benefit, and it is not affected by the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
You can usually claim if both of the child's parents have died. In some cases you can claim when only one parent has died, for example where the surviving parent cannot be found, is serving a long prison sentence, or is subject to a hospital order under mental health law. Where the surviving parent is bringing the child up, Guardian's Allowance is not normally payable.
How Much You Get
The rate is a flat weekly amount for each qualifying child, added to your Child Benefit payments.
| Children | Per week | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 child | £22.95 | £1,193.40 |
| 2 children | £45.90 | £2,386.80 |
| 3 children | £68.85 | £3,580.20 |
Rate of £22.95 per week per child from GOV.UK. Yearly figures use 52 weeks. This is separate from and paid on top of Child Benefit.
Common Guardian's Allowance Questions
Because it is a less well-known benefit, people are often unsure whether their situation qualifies.
Do I need to be the child's legal guardian? No. You can claim even without a legal guardianship order, as long as you are bringing the child up and the eligibility rules on the parents are met.
Does adoption affect it? If you adopt the child, Guardian's Allowance normally stops, because the child then legally becomes yours. Fostering and kinship care arrangements do not automatically rule it out.
Is it means-tested? No. Your income and savings do not affect Guardian's Allowance, and receiving it does not reduce your other benefits, as it is ignored as income.
Can I backdate a claim? Claims can usually be backdated by up to three months, so it is worth claiming as soon as you can and asking about backdating on the form.
How to Claim and What You Need
Claiming is done through HM Revenue and Customs, and having a few documents ready makes it quicker.
Get Child Benefit first. Because Guardian's Allowance sits on top of Child Benefit, you generally need a Child Benefit claim in place for the child. If you have not claimed Child Benefit yet, do that at the same time.
Complete the Guardian's Allowance claim form. You send the form to the Guardian's Allowance Unit. You will usually need the death certificate of the parent or parents, and the child's birth or adoption certificate. If the surviving parent is in prison or cannot be found, be ready to explain the circumstances.
One further rule. At least one of the child's parents must normally have been born in the United Kingdom, or have lived in the UK for at least 52 weeks in any two-year period since turning 16. The claim form covers this, and the Unit can advise if you are unsure.
How It Fits With Other Support
Guardian's Allowance rarely stands alone. Families raising a bereaved child often qualify for several forms of help at once, and because this payment is ignored as income, claiming it does not put the rest at risk.
Child Benefit. This is the foundation, currently the standard weekly rate for an eldest child and a lower rate for each additional child. Guardian's Allowance is added on top of whatever Child Benefit you receive for the same child.
Universal Credit and Pension Credit. Taking on a child usually increases a Universal Credit award through the child element, or can affect Pension Credit for older carers. Guardian's Allowance itself is not counted when these are worked out, so you keep the full amount.
Kinship care support. If you are caring for a relative's child, your local council may offer a kinship care allowance or practical help. This is separate from Guardian's Allowance, and you can often receive both. Ask your local authority's kinship or fostering team what is available in your area, as the rules differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Official Sources
- GOV.UK — Guardian's Allowance: What You'll Get (£22.95/week)
- GOV.UK — Guardian's Allowance: Eligibility
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Rate of £22.95 per week per child as published by GOV.UK, reviewed each April. This tool checks the core rules only; the final decision is made by the Guardian's Allowance Unit. Last checked August 2026.