Glossary · UK
What is Guardian's Allowance?
A tax-free benefit paid to someone bringing up a child whose parents have died, paid on top of Child Benefit.
Full Definition
Guardian's Allowance is a benefit paid to a person who is bringing up a child whose parents have died, and in certain cases where one parent has died and the whereabouts of the other is unknown or they cannot be traced. It is paid in addition to Child Benefit, so the carer must usually be entitled to and receiving Child Benefit for the child to qualify. The allowance is tax-free and is paid at a fixed weekly rate per child set by the government. The carer does not have to be the child's formal legal guardian, but specific conditions apply about the child's circumstances and the carer's relationship to them. Guardian's Allowance matters because it provides extra financial support to relatives, friends or others who step in to raise a bereaved child, recognising the additional cost. Because the weekly rate changes each year and is not in this rate card, check the current amount and eligibility rules on gov.uk before relying on a figure.