Allowances paid to kinship carers in Dundee are set to double.
Kinship carers are relatives who step in when a parent cannot look after their child and take on the responsibility of looking after them.
However, they receive less financial support from local authorities than foster carers do, despite carrying out the same role.
In Dundee, kinship carers receive £66.90 a week, plus a family premium of £17.45, from the council.
But a plan to go before Dundee City Council’s social work and health committee next week could see their payments brought in line with foster parents, which would see weekly support double.
Foster carers’ allowances are paid on a sliding scale, from £133.84 per week for children up to the age of four to £230.01 a week for children aged 16 to 18.
At the lowest weekly rate of £133.84, the annual allowance paid to a kinship carer would be £6,959.68.
A report to Dundee City Council’s social work and health committee makes the recommendation that Scottish Government cash for the scheme is topped up by a local contribution.
Committee convener Ken Lynn said the increase would not be a significant drain on council resources.
He said: “Considering that in a full financial year it will cost the council just over £140,000, the significant difference it will make to people’s lives means it is well worthwhile doing.
“Kinship care is one of the most positive types of placement where children consistently report that they feel safe so it is only fair to recognise the contribution being made by the people who deliver this type of care.”
Myra Orr from Grandparents Parenting Again said the money allowance increase would be welcome and that the more support there is for kinship carers, the better.
“Just because the child is with family doesn’t mean their needs are any less,” she said.
“Some kinship carers don’t get any allowance at all it all depends on the different legal orders that are on the children.”
The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) and the Scottish Government have recommended to councils that kinship carers should receive an allowance which when combined with state benefits brings them into line with foster carers.
If the committee agrees the move the council will use £357,502 of Scottish Government money topped up with its own contribution of £142,500 to pay the allowances in a full financial year.
Plans will then be made for financial assessments of kinship carers and any backdated payments from October 2015 will be made to bring them in line with foster carers.
The social work and health committee meets on Monday.