Informal Kinship Care in Alberta: Financial Help Without a Court Order

What Informal Kinship Care Means in Alberta

You are raising a relative's child through a private family arrangement. There is no Children and Family Services involvement, no court order, and no formal kinship placement. Maybe a parent asked you to take their child while they deal with a crisis. Maybe the child simply showed up and stayed.

This is the most common kinship arrangement in Alberta, and it is the least financially supported. You cannot access provincial kinship care per diems. You are not eligible for the Supports for Permanency program. Since September 2025, the Child and Youth Support Program — which used to pay $105–$148/month to informal relative caregivers — no longer exists.

What You Can Claim

Canada Child Benefit: Your strongest financial route. File CRA Form RC66 to register as the child's primarily responsible caregiver. You do not need a court order — the CRA accepts third-party evidence of care, such as a school enrollment letter or a note from the child's doctor. Maximum payments for 2026–2027 are $8,157/year for a child under 6 and $6,883/year for ages 6–17. The CRA can backdate up to 11 months if evidence confirms you cared for the child throughout that period.

Alberta Child and Family Benefit: Arrives automatically once the CCB is active. Up to $1,529/year for one child (base component), paid quarterly.

Alberta Income Support: Available only if your total household income falls below the means test. The province evaluates all adult income in the household, including CPP, OAS, GIS, and savings. There is no separate child-only grant.

Emergency Needs Allowance: For urgent, immediate needs — food, shelter, utilities — call Alberta Supports at 1-877-644-9992 or the 24/7 emergency line at 1-866-644-5135.

Child support from biological parents: You can apply for a child support order under the Family Law Act even without a guardianship order, though enforcement is more straightforward with one.

Practical Barriers to Watch For

School enrollment: Contact your local school authority to ask what proof of residence or authority it requires. A signed letter from the parent or other evidence of care may help.

Medical coverage: AHCIP covers eligible Alberta residents for medically necessary physician and hospital services. Dependent children include children under 21 who are wholly dependent on a parent, foster children if an income-tax deduction was claimed, and wards of the court. If you are an informal caregiver without a court order, contact AHCIP or a registry agent to confirm the child's registration route and required documents.

CRA disputes: If the biological parent is still claiming the CCB and refuses to stop, the CRA will review both claims. Having school, medical, and community documentation on your side makes the difference. Gather evidence early.

Should You Formalise the Arrangement?

Some informal caregivers choose to apply for a Private Guardianship Order through the Family Law Act. This gives you legal decision-making authority, simplifies school and medical enrollment, and strengthens your CCB claim. It does not, on its own, open the door to SFP or kinship per diems — those require the child to have been in government care first.

Others report their situation to Children and Family Services, which can lead to a formal kinship placement with per diems but also means the child enters government care.

The decision is personal and depends on your circumstances. The Alberta kinship financial help guide compares the financial outcomes of all three tracks — informal, formal, and private guardianship — so you can see what each path costs and what it pays before making a move.

See more Alberta guides →