who's responsible?

BlueAngelCV

I just wanted to say that it's a really nice thing you've done.

MrsE_2

tori.k wrote: »

we have had her son for almost 6 weeks and other than 3 phone calls (2 that i made to them) havent seen sight or sound, its a joke, they are not interested as he is 16 this year, i spent alot of time worrying that he would not be allowed to stay with us....turns out it be more a issue if i didnt want him to stay, they know he is safe with us as both hubby and me have regular CRB check's with our job's,but its a disgrace that no-one has bother to check on him. it is classed as a private fostering so foster payments dont apply to us (not that it matter's) the catalogue company say's its sorted as long as they get a copy of the death certificate (we can only hope) British gas wont even deal with me as in not next of kin, but the landlord is trying to sort that for me....thanks to all for all the advice

Seriously go back to social services, DEMAND the services of a social worker & make them work to help you. Its a wonderful thing you've done, BUT GET THE HELP YOU ARE ENTITLED TOO;)

Newly_retired

Agree. Get hold of Social Services before the lad is 16.

Floss

Have you applied for Guardian's Allowance on top of the child benefit?

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/guard-allowance.htm

Also, this web-page has some more useful links:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_4017278

gizmo111

Social Services are not obliged to do anything financially but as this a private fostering arrangment they should do an assesment for the fostering. They should also get their own CRB check.

gizmo111

Social Services are not obliged to do anything financially but as this a private fostering arrangment they should do an assesment for the fostering. They should also get their own CRB check. You should be able to claim tax credits and CB.
The benefits of going through the assessment will mean that you are officially an approved private foster carer and your income will not be taken into account when it comes to applying for EMA and higher education grants if applicable. SS can also help if you need the servies of a bereavement counsellor.
Best wishes in what must be a difficult time for the young man and your family.
And to repeat what the others have said, you nor the son are responsible for the debts. I would just write to all concerned with a copy of the death cert and end it there. Who arranged and paid for the funeral?
Regards the catologue debt, it may be that the agent is responsible for the whole debt if it was jsut clothes and the such like and there was no seperate redit account, but again that is not your problem it is the other persons. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty about your freinds debts and dont pay them under any circumstances, no matter how many threat o grams you get,

RAS

Ditto onthis.

ALL debt died with the lad's mother.
You need to get Social Services to recognise the arrangement.

In fact they have a recent campaign advising that if you do not register a private fostering arrangement, you can be fined!

gong forward, if this lad needs support after his 18th birthday, the fact that he is classed as a care leaver opens up a number of avenues.

You might well find the Children's Society very useful.

gizmo111

gong forward, if this lad needs support after his 18th birthday, the fact that he is classed as a care leaver opens up a number of avenues.

Private fostering doesn't give him any rights under the leaving care legislation.

tori.k

The lad im private fostering has Aspergers so we sign for him till he is 18, tho he will be with us for as long as he needs,our issue with social sevices is not with money but the lack of care that they have shown, the care service is dismal in Cornwall, we are quite lucky as the head coroner has taken a interest in my friends case (hospitals lack of care) and the local MP is already on board, heavy case load or not, they should have popped round for a chat and placed eyes on the lad, the funeral was/will be paid for by the goverment Gizmo, the undertaker has been wonderful and a great help...i cant bring my friend back and can only hope she's found some peace,but i can do my hardest to see that this doesnt happen so someone else...because her death was a mental health issue i feel that the system wants to brush it under the carpet,this whole mess should never of happened in the first place....

tori.k

P.S Gizmo, i just assumed(and hope) that social sevices had already kinda checked us out when they first rang to say they knew that we had the lad....have no faith in the system as it is,but can only hope that they cared enough to check we were not on their books as child beaters or worse.....