Child arrangements order allowance

What is a child arrangements order allowance?

A child arrangements order allowance is a type of financial help. Children’s services can provide this for a child who is being cared for by someone who:

• Has a ‘lives with’ child arrangements order which says the child should live with them and
• Is not the child’s parent or step-parent (whether by marriage or civil partnership).

What do kinship carers need to know about child arrangements order allowance?

Child arrangements order allowance:

• Is a discretionary allowance. This means children’s services have the power to pay it, but they don’t have to. This is all set out in the Children Act 1989 at schedule 1, paragraph 15
• Can be paid where children’s services think this is ‘the most appropriate way to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare.’ This is set out at page 15 of kinship care statutory guidance. Children’s services must have regard to statutory guidance. The courts have said this means statutory guidance should be followed unless there is good reason not to (case of R v Islington LBC ex p Rixon [1998] 1)
• Can be applied for by a kinship carer at any time (see R (H) v Essex CC (2009) EWHC 353 (Admin)).

Children’s services should provide information about the financial help that may be available for kinship carers in their local area. This should be published in their kinship local offer. Anyone can ask to see a copy of their kinship local offer.