Guardian's allowance

Guardian's allowance is a benefit paid to people looking after children who are effectively orphans. You do not have to be the child's legal guardian to get guardian's allowance. It is not necessary for both the child's parents to have died - guardian's allowance can be paid if one parent has died and the whereabouts of the other is not known, or they are in prison.

You do not have to have paid national insurance contributions to claim guardian's allowance and it is not affected by work, savings or income.

Claim on form BG1 available from the Child Benefit Office on 0845 302 1464 or at HM Revenue and Customs. You can also claim and report changes of circumstance online at www.hmrc.gov.uk.