Problems with child services

tony0806

Hi all was wondering if anyone can give us any advice or has been in the same position as we are in at the moment before. Myself and me partner have taken in our 2 nephews as my brother in law and his partner have got themselves into a lot of trouble and don't deserve to be parents at the moment. However we have been told by child services that we will be keeping the children until further notice and this is where the problem has started. We raised the question as too what about financial support? The answer we got back from them was you are family.
If i'm not mistaken on this if we had not taken the children in then they would have had to go into care and i'm sure that would not be cheap. We have asked the question as we have our own 3 children and with our 2 nephews we now have 5 boys under the same roof so if its long term we are going to have to rent a bigger property and buy a larger car as well as the up keep of the children.
Was just wondering if anybody knew what we would be able to do in regards to financial support or as too why child services are not willing to help us. All we are trying to do if give the children the life they deserve and surely we have saved them a lot of problems by agreeing to take on the children. Feeling really let down at the moment and cant believe how little support we are been offered.

aqua111

Sorry no advice but someone on the Forum will help you obtain the help you deserve!
Best wishes to you and your Partner.

pinkcheshirecat

There is a thread on a similar topic here. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4820321


A lot of the info on that thread will be relevant to you

Well done for stepping in for the boys.

rogerblack

tony0806 wrote: »

Hi all was wondering if anyone can give us any advice or has been in the same position as we are in at the moment before. Myself and me partner have taken in our 2 nephews as my brother in law and his partner have got themselves into a lot of trouble and don't deserve to be parents at the moment. However we have been told by child services that we will be keeping the children until further notice and this is where the problem has started.

If you are caring for them full-time, you are eligible for most of the benefits that go to parents.
Child benefit / child tax credit - for a start.

paddedjohn

You need to get the boys parents to give up their right to child benefit, this would make it easier for you to claim any other relevant benefits, as far as a car goes that's down to you.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Did Social Services place them with you and have Social Services had any prior involvement with the family?

tony0806

Housing_Benefit_Officer wrote: »

Did Social Services place them with you and have Social Services had any prior involvement with the family?

Yes we was told to take the children by child services and social services have been involved with them before. Just don't know what way to turn at the moment.

kelpie35

Ask to speak to a duty social worker in your town today.

Let them know you are desperate for help.

That should set the ball rolling.

You and your partner are to be admired for taking this on.

I wish you and your family a happy christmas and a bright new year.

tony0806

kelpie35 wrote: »

Ask to speak to a duty social worker in your town today.

Let them know you are desperate for help.

That should set the ball rolling.

You and your partner are to be admired for taking this on.

I wish you and your family a happy christmas and a bright new year.

We spoke with the child services/social services on Thursday and said because we are family basically its tough and to get on with it, but they would see if there manager could do anything. We just feel like they are laughing at us at the moment and just see us as a way of saving money for them and one less worry for them and more for us.

HoneyNutLoop

I don't know how feasible this is given what you have said about the parents, but you can claim child support from both the biological parents in addition to the benefits mentioned above.

Also I have found this document and there appears to be a catch 22: http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/f/family%20and%20friends%20care.pdf

Reading the descriptions I would guess you could either be classed as informal family carers, in which case you can claim child benefit and tax credits for the children, and claim maintenance from their parents but funding from the LA is limited to: "LA has discretion to make one-off or regular payments under section 17 Children Act";
Or you're classed as family and friends foster carers so are entitled to a "weekly allowance to meet the costs of caring for the child. This should meet at least the national minimum rate set by DCSF" but you would not be entitled to claim child benefit, tax credits or child maintenance from the parents.

Vomityspice

The local authority is being 'shifty' by pretending the children's placement is nothing to do with them!

In simple terms if it was the local authority that requested the placement then they should have a) completed a viability assessment to ensure that you were likely to pass a formal assessment (i.e. Local checks with police etc) and then b) started a 'connected persons assessment' (kinship).

During the 16wk assessment you would be paid at your LA fostering rate ( should be on their website). This can be extended to 24wk if they are struggling to obtain the information they need (usually medicals).At the end you then go to the fostering panel for a recommendation to be sent to the 'Decision Maker', who makes the decision if you are to be approved. Assuming you are approved, payments continue.

On Monday, ask the social worker who made the placement to start the process or remove the children. Whilst this may seem harsh, it will concentrate the SWs next move.

The LA also have powers under S17 to provide financial assistance.