Governments should help children’s families if they cannot afford all the things they need to meet their mental and physical needs.

Article 26 of the UNCRC says that children and young people should get financial support from the government when their parents or guardians are unable to provide them with a good enough standard of living by themselves.

Some of the reasons this might be the case include:

• illness
• disability
• old age.

Getting financial support

While in most cases financial support for children and young people will be given to a parent or guardian, in some cases they can access benefits directly. Parents or guardians shouldn’t be able to prevent a child or young person from getting the support they need.