Guardian's Allowance · UK guide

Raising a child whose parents have died? There’s extra money for that.

Last verified 18 Jun 2026 · Source GOV.UK Guardian’s Allowance + Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Order 2026

Guardian’s Allowance is a quiet, under-claimed benefit: £22.95 a week (2026/27), tax-free, for someone bringing up a child whose parents have died. It is paid on top of Child Benefit, and it does not count as income for Universal Credit or other means-tested benefits. You do not have to be the child’s legal guardian — or even related to them. If you’re raising a bereaved child, this is money you’re owed.

£22.95/wk2026/27 rate, per child
On topPaid with Child Benefit
Tax-freeIgnored for means-tested benefits
0300 322 9080Guardian’s Allowance Unit
Do I qualify? → Child Benefit guide

What it is

When a child loses their parents, the relatives, friends or carers who step in to raise them often have no idea there is a specific benefit to help. Guardian’s Allowance is exactly that — a small, steady, tax-free weekly payment for bringing up a child whose parents have died.

It is one of the most under-claimed payments in the UK precisely because of its name: people assume you have to be a court-appointed "guardian". You don’t. If you are responsible for the child and getting Child Benefit for them, you should check it.

Who qualifies

You can usually get Guardian’s Allowance if you are bringing up a child and one of these is true:

  • Both of the child’s parents have died; or
  • One parent has died and, at the time of the death, you did not know where the surviving parent was; or
  • One parent has died and the surviving parent is serving a long prison sentence (broadly two years or more from the date of the death) or is detained in hospital by a court order.

On top of that:

  • You must be getting (or entitled to) Child Benefit for the child.
  • There are UK residence conditions about the child’s parents (broadly, that a parent was born in the UK or lived here for long enough). GOV.UK has the exact tests.
  • You do not need to be the child’s legal guardian, and you do not need to be related to them.
Adopted a child whose parents had died?

You can still get Guardian’s Allowance if you adopt a child whose parents have died, as long as you continue to qualify for Child Benefit for them. If you are unsure whether your situation fits, the Guardian’s Allowance Unit (0300 322 9080) will check — it is worth a call.

How much you get

WhatRate (2026/27)How it’s paid
Guardian’s Allowance£22.95 a week, for each child you qualify forTax-free, usually every 4 weeks (weekly if you’re a single parent or on certain benefits)

It is paid on top of Child Benefit — you get both. Crucially, Guardian’s Allowance does not count as income for Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, so it won’t reduce those.

The High Income Child Benefit Charge note

Because it is paid with Child Benefit, very high earners should be aware of the separate High Income Child Benefit Charge on the Child Benefit part — but Guardian’s Allowance itself is tax-free and not part of that charge.

How to claim

Claiming is straightforward and free:

  1. Make sure you’re claiming Child Benefit for the child first — Guardian’s Allowance is paid alongside it.
  2. Fill in the Guardian’s Allowance claim form (BG1), or call the Guardian’s Allowance Unit on 0300 322 9080 (textphone via Relay UK).
  3. Send the documents — the child’s birth or adoption certificate and the parents’ death certificate(s). The unit will tell you exactly what they need.

A claim can be backdated up to 3 months, so claim as soon as you can — don’t lose weeks you were entitled to.

Do this now
  1. Check you have Child Benefit set up for the child — if not, start that claim too.
  2. Call the Guardian’s Allowance Unit on 0300 322 9080 and ask them to check your situation and send form BG1.
  3. Gather the certificates (child’s birth certificate, parents’ death certificate(s)) ready to send.

Free, compassionate help: Citizens Advice (0800 144 8848); Cruse Bereavement Support (0808 808 1677) if the family is grieving.

Source verification Primary source: GOV.UK — Guardian’s Allowance (overview, eligibility and what you get) and the Child Benefit and Guardian’s Allowance Up-rating Order 2026. Last verified 18 June 2026 against live GOV.UK. Confidence: High. Key facts: 2026/27 rate £22.95/week per child (up from £22.10 on 6 April 2026); tax-free; paid on top of Child Benefit; ignored as income for Universal Credit, Income Support, income-based JSA and income-related ESA; claimed via form BG1 / the Guardian’s Allowance Unit (0300 322 9080); backdatable up to 3 months. The precise residence conditions about the child’s parents are set out on the GOV.UK eligibility page. SortedUK is independent — not a government service, and this is general information, not legal advice.

Guardian’s Allowance — common questions

How much is Guardian’s Allowance?

£22.95 a week for 2026/27 (up from £22.10), for each child you qualify for. It is tax-free, paid on top of Child Benefit (usually every 4 weeks), and does not count as income for Universal Credit or other means-tested benefits.

Do I have to be the child’s legal guardian?

No. Despite the name you do not need to be a court-appointed guardian, and you don’t have to be related to the child. What matters is that you are responsible for bringing them up, you get Child Benefit for them, and the rules about the parents are met.

What if only one parent has died?

You may still qualify if one parent has died and the surviving parent cannot be found, is serving a long prison sentence (broadly two years or more from the date of the death), or is detained in hospital by a court order. If you’re unsure, call the Guardian’s Allowance Unit on 0300 322 9080.

How do I claim it?

Make sure you’re getting Child Benefit for the child, then complete form BG1 or call the Guardian’s Allowance Unit on 0300 322 9080. Send the child’s birth certificate and the parents’ death certificate(s). A claim can be backdated up to 3 months.

You stepped up for them. This is yours to claim.

£22.95 a week, tax-free, on top of Child Benefit — and it backdates 3 months. One phone call to 0300 322 9080 starts it.

Sort Child Benefit first → Check what else you can get