Published March 2024

Oranga Tamariki – The Ministry for Chi ldren (Oranga Tamariki) and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) provide support to caregivers in the care system who care for children and young people who cannot be cared for by their parents. The Orphan’s Benefit (OB) and Unsupported Child’s Benefit (UCB) offer financial assistance to caregivers when the child’s parent cannot provide a home. These caregivers are often relatives, whānau, or family friends. While MSD manages the payments, Oranga Tamariki has responsibility for driving policy changes about how OB/UCB caregivers of children are being supported.

Eligible caregivers receiving the OB or UCB are also entitled to receive a weekly clothing allowance, an annual Birthday Allowance and Holiday Allowance, an Establishment Grant
(when they enter into an OB/UCB care arrangement) an annual School and Year Start Up payment (on application), and are able to apply to the Extraordinary Care Fund (a
contestable fund with no guarantee of funding) where they are experiencing difficulties in a particularly area or showing promise.

In 2019, Oranga Tamariki commissioned a benchmark survey to gather information about OB and UCB caregivers; this survey was repeated in 2021 and 2023. This report presents
the results of the 2023 survey and, where applicable, compares this to previous years. The objective of this survey is to gain insight into the experiences of OB and UCB caregivers and understand how Oranga Tamariki can continue to support these caregivers in their important role. (From the Background). Record #8567