Kinship Carer First Week: What to Claim When a Child Moves In

A child has just arrived in your home. Maybe you got a phone call from a social worker yesterday, maybe your daughter dropped off the children this morning. Either way, you are suddenly feeding, clothing and housing a child you were not financially prepared for, and you need to know what to do right now — not in six weeks when the benefits finally kick in.

Here is the order that matters.

Day 1–2: Emergency Money

Call your council's children's services. Ask for a Section 17 assessment for a child in need. Explain the child has just moved in, you have immediate costs, and you need emergency support. In urgent cases, councils can authorise cash payments, vouchers or essential goods (beds, car seats, clothing) before the full assessment is complete. Follow up in writing — email the request with the heading "Request for Discretionary Support under Section 17 Children Act 1989."

Check your Universal Credit journal. If you already claim UC, report the change immediately under "People who live with you." Adding the child may increase your maximum UC award by £303.94 per month (or £351.88 for a first child born before 6 April 2017), subject to the other UC calculations and limits. The sooner you report it, the sooner the calculation can change.

If you do not already claim UC and you are under State Pension age, start a new claim at gov.uk/apply-universal-credit. You will not receive your first payment for about five weeks, which is why the Section 17 request matters.

Day 3–5: Child Benefit

Claim Child Benefit online at gov.uk/child-benefit or by posting Form CH2. This is the single most important claim to get in early because:

• It pays £27.05 per week for the first child (£117 per month)
• It can only be backdated three months
• It proves to DWP that you have main responsibility for the child
• It generates National Insurance credits toward your State Pension

If the birth parent is still receiving Child Benefit, submit your claim anyway. HMRC will investigate and the person the child lives with takes legal priority. Keep proof of when the child moved in — school registration, a GP letter, a social worker's confirmation.

Week 1–2: Register the Child

Register the child at a local GP and enrol them in school. Both generate paper trails that strengthen every benefit claim. If the school needs proof of your authority, ask what evidence it requires; a letter from children's services or a copy of any court order may help.

Apply for free school meals if your household receives UC (from the 2026/27 academic year, regardless of earnings) or you receive the Guarantee element of Pension Credit. Most councils have an online form.

Week 2–4: Longer-Term Claims

Guardian's Allowance: If both parents have died, or the surviving parent meets a qualifying exception such as serving a prison sentence of two or more years, claim using Form BG1. Worth £22.95 per week, tax-free, and fully disregarded for UC.

Disability Living Allowance: If the child has a physical or mental health condition that means they need more care or supervision than other children their age, apply for DLA. This unlocks the UC Disabled Child Addition (£164.79 or £514.71 per month) and can trigger the UC Carer Element (£209.34 per month) if you provide 35+ hours of care per week.

Council SGO/CAO allowance: If you already hold a court order, contact children's services to request an assessment for financial support. If you do not have an order yet but plan to apply for one, the financial assessment runs alongside the court process.

The Order Matters

Claim Child Benefit promptly. It can help prove responsibility, provides NI credits, and is required before you can claim Guardian's Allowance. You can report the child to UC separately without waiting for the Child Benefit decision. Council support can be requested alongside these national claims.

Our kinship financial help guide includes a printable first-week checklist with every form number, agency phone number and evidence requirement, designed to be worked through in order during the most chaotic week of your life.

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