grandchildren living with you

Errata

In addition to child benefit, is your daughter getting child support from the children's father ?

evermore

no he doesnt, he sees them a few times a year and will buy them a few clothes and maybe a birthday present if lucky.

Errata

I'm sorry, the only thing I can offer is that it seems your daughter and the childrens father appear to put their needs above those of their children. which is unfair to the children and to you.
Can you sit down with your daughter and have a quiet discussion about how much it costs you to care for the children and that the children will have to go without a lot of things if she and the father won't help out financially more than they do now ? It would be worth pointing out to your daughter that if she has all the children back with her she will have far less money to spend on herself anyway.

evermore

thanks for the replies, children now at home so cant discuss anymore at the moment

Loopy_Girl

If this was a CSA case (I saw someone mention phoning them) then, if the mother is on benefits, she would be expected to contribute £5pw - and that's for all 3 children.

Is she also claiming CTC for all 3 as well as her own benefits plus the 3 lots of CB?

If so then of course she should be paying ALL the CTC for the 1st 2, 3/7 of it for the 3rd and the same criteria for the CB she receives for them.

Reading between the lines this isn't going to happen and I am picking up that if you ask then she will take them back and their safety could be compromised.

I don't know what else to offer (except I think you are wonderful for stepping in) but I thought I would answer the CSA question and save you a call.

renegade

I agree with Loopy girl.
She will be claiming so she should give you the money she gets from whatever agency pays her.

Norman-B

Not sure I can offer any help but here goes.
Are you in receipt of Child Benefit for the two children living with you? If not, you should be! If not, ask your daughter to arrange, via the Benefits Agency, for the CB to be paid direct to you and your husband. Then, apply for Child and Working Tax Credits.

Contact your local Kinship Care support worker!!! Ask for advice from Grandparents Plus. They have a website and offer help. website.

I'm no expert but I hope the above is of some help.

catch22

I'm sorry I can't help you in advice, but your doing great being there for the kids. It seems so many grandparents these days see the children more than the children see their parents. Don't get me wrong, in many cases this is due to circumstances, costs of nurseries, providing a roof and food etc.

It's a pity your daughter and their father, are not more active and take on the responsibility they themselves chose by having children in the first place.

Sorry if the last paragraph sounds nagging but children are born into this world through no choice of their own.

I wish you and your family happiness in the future.

evermore

thanks for you replies,it was nice to hear outside views on this.
catch 22 i agree with you nobody asks to be born do they.

Errata

It doesn't need to be Catch 22 if you ask Social Services for help, but clearly you have your own reasons for not trusting them.