Looked after children?

Spacker

I came back from working abroad as a tech dive instructor, planning on crashing at my parents until I retrained in my field.

They had taken in their brothers twins, due to my parents age I started helping out - taking kids to nursery etc. They're now ten and I spend all my time looking after them, playdates, homework, after school activities, mma classes, water sports, camping trips. I'm currently applying for an SGO.

I've just read on a friends facebook that they received child care vouchers which helped send their kids to a PGL camp. I, and my folks have been paying for everything out of our own pockets, their wages, my savings. Are we missing out on something?

glentoran99

Spacker wrote: »

I came back from working abroad as a tech dive instructor, planning on crashing at my parents until I retrained in my field.

They had taken in their brothers twins, due to my parents age I started helping out - taking kids to nursery etc. They're now ten and I spend all my time looking after them, playdates, homework, after school activities, mma classes, water sports, camping trips. I'm currently applying for an SGO.

I've just read on a friends facebook that they received child care vouchers which helped send their kids to a PGL camp. I, and my folks have been paying for everything out of our own pockets, their wages, my savings. Are we missing out on something?

Childcare vouchers come out of the person wages, its beneficial as its before tax


http://www.childcarevouchers.co.uk/

marliepanda

Spacker wrote: »

I came back from working abroad as a tech dive instructor, planning on crashing at my parents until I retrained in my field.

They had taken in their brothers twins, due to my parents age I started helping out - taking kids to nursery etc. They're now ten and I spend all my time looking after them, playdates, homework, after school activities, mma classes, water sports, camping trips. I'm currently applying for an SGO.

I've just read on a friends facebook that they received child care vouchers which helped send their kids to a PGL camp. I, and my folks have been paying for everything out of our own pockets, their wages, my savings. Are we missing out on something?

Does your friend have LAC or is this just a general question?

There are various childcare voucher/discount options available to working parents at the moment.

Does your family claim child benefit/CTC for the child? There are also sometimes grants for families looking after children (who are not the parents)

Spacker

marliepanda wrote: »

Does your friend have LAC or is this just a general question?

There are various childcare voucher/discount options available to working parents at the moment.

Does your family claim child benefit/CTC for the child? There are also sometimes grants for families looking after children (who are not the parents)

I have no idea what their circumstances actually are I'm afraid. The post just made me aware of the existance of childcare vouchers outside of nursery.

I believe we receive child benefit of about £30 per week for them. Which is a fairly recent thing. I'm entirely ignorant of the benefit system. I just googled CTC!

marliepanda

Spacker wrote: »

I have no idea what their circumstances actually are I'm afraid. The post just made me aware of the existance of childcare vouchers outside of nursery.

I believe we receive child benefit of about £30 per week for them. Which is a fairly recent thing. I'm entirely ignorant of the benefit system. I just googled CTC!

Childcare vouchers can be redeemable against many different childcare type things, not just traditional nurseries.

I'm assuming your parents still have some contact with social services so they could contact them to see what is available.

Mojisola

Spacker wrote: »

I have no idea what their circumstances actually are I'm afraid.

Time for a chat with your parents so that the exact situation can be explained and you can then investigate whether they - or you - can claim anything else.

If your parents are needing help with looking after the children, maybe you should discuss becoming the children's legal carer with their Social Worker.

marliepanda

Mojisola wrote: »

Time for a chat with your parents so that the exact situation can be explained and you can then investigate whether they - or you - can claim anything else.

If your parents are needing help with looking after the children, maybe you should discuss becoming the children's legal carer with their Social Worker.

I think this post means that he isnt sure what the circumstances of the friends on FB with vouchers is, rather than that of his parents and his nieces/nephews.

TBagpuss

You / They may be entitled to receive money similar to a fostering allowance, or if you do get a SGO, to a SG Allowance.

Eligibility may depend on you / your parents financial situation as well as the basis on which the children are being looked after.

The local authority should have a policy about what can be paid and how it is worked out.