Special guardianship allowance — financial support for special guardians

REVIEWED BY: Sean McNamara on 2026-09-01

What it is

A special guardianship allowance is regular financial support that a local authority can pay to a special guardian — most often a grandparent, other relative, or family friend raising a child under a Special Guardianship Order (SGO). It sits alongside the order itself: the order gives the special guardian parental responsibility for the child, and the allowance helps them afford to care for the child.

The legal basis is section 14A(8) of the Children Act 1989, which lets a local authority pay a special guardian a means-tested allowance. The detail is in the Special Guardianship Regulations 2005 (as amended in 2016) and the Department for Education's Special Guardianship Guidance (January 2017), which local authorities must have regard to:

Children Act 1989, s.14A: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1989/41/section/14A
DfE statutory guidance (PDF): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a8202c940f0b62305b92007/Special_guardianship_statutory_guidance.pdf

Who can ask for an allowance

Anyone who is (or is about to become) a special guardian under an SGO made by a family court in England, and in some cases those who were special guardians when the child was looked after by a local authority. Allowances are administered by the local authority, not the court or HMCTS — the court makes the order, but the money is dealt with by children's services.

How it works in practice

Means-tested: the local authority assesses your financial circumstances. The means-test rules broadly follow those used for adoption allowances.
Intended to cover the child's needs — not to replace your income. The guidance expects the authority to take account of the child's assessed needs and your resources.
Paid until the child is 18 in most cases, subject to annual review. Reviews look at your means and the child's circumstances.
Apply to the local authority that knows the child (usually the one that prepared the special guardianship report for the court). Ask for their special guardianship support services assessment, which should cover financial support.

Common realities for litigants in person

Amounts vary significantly between local authorities. There is no single national rate.
Some carers report having to chase assessments or ask for decisions in writing. Keep copies of everything you send, and ask for the decision and its reasons in writing.
If you disagree with the amount, you can ask the authority to review its decision and, ultimately, complain through the local government ombudsman (LGSCO): https://www.lgo.org.uk
If you are already a special guardian and were never assessed, you can still request a support services assessment — including for allowances — after the order is made.

Related support

Legal aid eligibility check: https://www.gov.uk/check-legal-aid
Find your local council (children's services): https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council
If a case is still live and you need help in court, see our guide to McKenzie Friends.

This page is general information, not legal advice. YourFamilyCase.co.uk is an independent information directory and is not affiliated with HMCTS, gov.uk or the Department for Education.

Content verified against the official HMCTS court directory, gov.uk forms and fees pages, and the professional body registers (SRA, FMC, Bar Council). Last reviewed September 2026.