A tax-free weekly payment if you're bringing up a child whose parents have died (in some cases one parent).
Many people who are entitled to support never claim it. Check who qualifies, how much you could get and how to make your claim through the official channel.
The rules depend on where you live in the UK and on your household’s circumstances.
What Guardian's Allowance offers
- Tax-free: Not taxed and not counted as income for most benefits.
- No benefit cap: Doesn't count towards the benefit cap.
- Not affected by HICBC: Not affected by the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
- Backdating: Can be backdated up to 3 months.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who can get it | People getting Child Benefit for a child whose parents have died, or one has died and the other is missing or in prison |
| How much | £22.95 a week per child |
| How it's paid | On top of Child Benefit, usually every 4 weeks |
| How to claim | Fill in form BG1 and send it to the Guardian's Allowance Unit |
Key points
Tax-free: Not taxed and not counted as income for most benefits.
No benefit cap: Doesn't count towards the benefit cap.
Not affected by HICBC: Not affected by the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
About HM Revenue & Customs
Guardian's Allowance is run by HM Revenue & Customs. Claims are made free of charge through the official government channel.
We explain the rules independently and then send you to the official page to claim. We are not a government website.
Amounts and rules can change. The decision on your claim is made by HM Revenue & Customs.