Children been taken into care what now!!!!

boo666

My friend has just had her children taken into care on a voluntary care order (section 20), she did not really have a choice as they would get a emergency order if she did not sign.

I belive at the moment SS are looking to have the children for around 6 months and look to let her have them back at home after all assesments are carried out, but they will look to change the section 20 to a interim care order next week when they go to court.

Now what happens to her money? Eg tax credits, child benefit, income support and housing benefit?

She cant go on jobseekers because she will not be avalible for work because of contact with the children in a contact centre.

She is so worried that housing benefit will end her claim on her home because of the children not living with her, and then she will be homeless and will have no chance of the children coming back to her, her home is also private rented.

She does not want to get into trouble for benefit fraud but does not know what to do????

Any advice would be great...

whitewing

I can't help on specifics but this website may be helpful: http://www.matchmothers.org/

Mothers Apart from Their CHildren.

Oldernotwiser

boo666 wrote: »

She cant go on jobseekers because she will not be avalible for work because of contact with the children in a contact centre.

.

You don't have to be available for full time work to claim JSA if you are a lone parent.

ErisBadb

Hi - sorry to hear of your friend's situation:(.

If a child is being accommodated by the local authority, this may affect the benefits to which a parent is entitled, as the child will no longer be treated as a member of the household for benefit purposes. It is advisable to notify the relevant benefits agencies to avoid overpayments and accusations of fraudulent claims.

CB will be payable for 8wks after the child has gone into care. ( If the child comes home for 7 consecutive nights the 8 wk period will restart ). CB can also be paid after the 8wk period if your friend's child stays with her for 2 nights.
Your friend will no longer be entitled to CTC while her child is in care. She must report this within 1 month. I cannot find any info to say if she'll receive CTC for a time after being eligible

Unless your friend fits into another another category that is eligible for IS then she will not be entitled to IS anymore. She needs to notify the job centre plus office immediately as failure to let them know can be a criminal offence - ( She can apply for JSA )

The HB will be dependant on whether she is in receipt of the local housing allowance. If so then her room entitlement may go down and consequently her rent entitlement. ( It is possible that she could apply for a discretionary housing allowance to top the rent up and keep the home on for the return of her children )

If the children come home for a part of any week then you should be able to claim some extra benefit for them.

All the best

Hammyman

boo666 wrote: »

Now what happens to her money? Eg tax credits, child benefit, income support and housing benefit?

She cant go on jobseekers because she will not be avalible for work because of contact with the children in a contact centre.

She is so worried that housing benefit will end her claim on her home because of the children not living with her, and then she will be homeless and will have no chance of the children coming back to her, her home is also private rented.

She does not want to get into trouble for benefit fraud but does not know what to do????

Any advice would be great...

In short, she'll lose them all. She will be expected to claim JSA. She will have to notify the council in regards to the changes for HB and CTB and submit a new claim. If she doesn't, DWP will inform the council, the HB and CTB claims would close and they'd pursue her for overpayment for the period between her losing IS and the date they end the claim.

sassy_one

Dear oh dear, Social Services up to there old tricks again, breaking families up!

And for anyone thinking or about to say, you know nothing, they don't take children away for no reason, I have been just where the OP's friend has been, a number of times and had years of dealings with the scum.

I would advise your friend if they have not already to seek and appoint a Family Law Solicitor, one whom is trained at dealing with Social Services and that can represent in County Court.
Make sure they carry the Family Law logo!

I am very sorry to hear about your friends latest issue with Social Services, I sincerely hope her children are returned promptly, no one here knows the reasons as to why they have removed them by rest assured, Social Services do go out there way to break families up, that have no problems, just because they don't 'like the looks of you'.

As regards benefits, yes she'll lose them all!
Child Tax Credit and Child Benefit Office will most likely be informed by the local authority (Social Services) so it is in your friends best interests to contact them and declare the change in circumstances as it will look better for her in the long run.

Regards her home, she will be able to claim Housing Benefit still, although this will need to be reviewed.
Should her payments not meet the monthly rent, she could ask the landlord for a decrease on grounds she is only living their, or if that fails, contact her local CAB office ASAP.

I wish her all the very best

dmg24

sassy-one wrote: »

Dear oh dear, Social Services up to there old tricks again, breaking families up!

And for anyone thinking or about to say, you know nothing, they don't take children away for no reason, I have been just where the OP's friend has been, a number of times and had years of dealings with the scum.

I would advise your friend if they have not already to seek and appoint a Family Law Solicitor, one whom is trained at dealing with Social Services and that can represent in County Court.
Make sure they carry the Family Law logo!

I am very sorry to hear about your friends latest issue with Social Services, I sincerely hope her children are returned promptly, no one here knows the reasons as to why they have removed them by rest assured, Social Services do go out there way to break families up, that have no problems, just because they don't 'like the looks of you'.

As regards benefits, yes she'll lose them all!
Child Tax Credit and Child Benefit Office will most likely be informed by the local authority (Social Services) so it is in your friends best interests to contact them and declare the change in circumstances as it will look better for her in the long run.

Regards her home, she will be able to claim Housing Benefit still, although this will need to be reviewed.
Should her payments not meet the monthly rent, she could ask the landlord for a decrease on grounds she is only living their, or if that fails, contact her local CAB office ASAP.

I wish her all the very best

You know as much as anyone else on this thread, yet you seem to think you know better. Who is to say that the children have not been removed from an abusive situation*? You seem to think they should be returned no matter what. That is incredibly naive.

* I am not implying that they are, just illustrating how sassy-one is none too sassy!

justjohn

sassy-one wrote: »

Dear oh dear, Social Services up to there old tricks again, breaking families up!

And for anyone thinking or about to say, you know nothing, they don't take children away for no reason, I have been just where the OP's friend has been, a number of times and had years of dealings with the scum.

Ye bit like everyone in prison is innocent

sassy_one

dmg24 wrote: »

You know as much as anyone else on this thread, yet you seem to think you know better. Who is to say that the children have not been removed from an abusive situation*? You seem to think they should be returned no matter what. That is incredibly naive.

* I am not implying that they are, just illustrating how sassy-one is none too sassy!

I have not made any comments whatsoever about the children being returned, only hoping they are, on grounds they would be safe.

I know a lot more than most people here regards Social Services, I have had 20 years of dealings with them so I think I am in perfect mind to state my option, if you don't agree but fine, no need to result to picking holes in my comment.

Social Services enjoy breaking families up, they always have and love doing it more so.
They do not go by the book many times and in cases I have seen and read about, in real life, they remove prefect safe happy children from there families and leave children in dangerous places with danagerous people (Baby P case) as one example.

I would hope the OP's friend was not abusive towards her children or visa versa however I made no attempt to engage in any questions regards the 'why's' as the OP came here for advice, I was giving her that, unlike your post directed at me!


If you agree with Social Services actions and what they get up to, thats your option and I accept that, so accept mine and please don't question my comment, thank you!

justjohn

She could try to get a job??

sassy_one

justjohn wrote: »

Ye bit like everyone in prison is innocent

Is anyone in this thread asking about prisons?!

No........


I haven't said EVERY child taken into care isn't at risk, but there are serious failings within most Social Services departments.

I refuse to engage in a debate or argument therefore I'm standing back from this thread, I have given the OP my advice and he/she is welcome to PM me should she wish me to provide her with any more details/advice and people her friend can contact for advice and support regards her current circumstances.