Not sure where to post this: re kinship care

Mojisola

teabag29 wrote: »

He’s now outgrown his clothes and needs the next size up and his bouncer chair is dangerously too small. He needs a cot and soon a high chair as well as nappies milk etc.

It's a very difficult situation - I know a couple of grandparents who have had to raise their grandchildren and it's not an easy life.

Don't try to get all new stuff for him - there is plenty of good quality baby/toddler stuff going cheap or even for free - look on the Freegle sites and Facebook selling pages for your area as well as the charity shops.

dawyldthing

You can get some good offers on eBay, esp the local deals

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/local-ebay-deals/

Even more so with bundles of clothes. I got 20 items for less than a tenner including postage. Takes a bit of time as some go bidding mad, but if your patient it’s worth the time

Chooser

'especially now I’ve lost around £800 a month being out on universal credit.'

I saw your post earlier, when I saw how many threads you'd started I read back over a few years. You have certainly had a hell of a time with this girl! And I do not envy you your life. As far as I can see you've never worked and you've had six children. Just as a matter of interest, for those of us not familiar with the benefits lifestyle, how much were you getting before you dropped £800/ month?

teabag29

Chooser wrote: »

'especially now I’ve lost around £800 a month being out on universal credit.'

I saw your post earlier, when I saw how many threads you'd started I read back over a few years. You have certainly had a hell of a time with this girl! And I do not envy you your life. As far as I can see you've never worked and you've had six children. Just as a matter of interest, for those of us not familiar with the benefits lifestyle, how much were you getting before you dropped £800/ month?

You seem to know my life very well however you’re wrong, firstly I have 5 children not 6 and a degree. I’ve worked most of my life (including for youth offending team and in court) whether it be part time whilst studying or around childcare or full time before the children. My eldest daughter had severe mental health and has been very hard, after she left home a few years ago (into specialist care) I was diagnosed with MS and other health problems. As for my finances I don’t see how that’s your business but a lot of it WAS made up of disability premiums as I and my son have disabilities. Didn’t ask advice to be judged by someone who has made their opinion of me who has never even met me. Think yourself lucky for your life, not everyone has been dealt the same hand and I would trade my Illness in a flash to go back to work this is not a preference!

Chooser

If you post details of your family and your life on the internet presumably you expect people to read all about it. I have read it ( quiet afternoon) and I know what a tough time you've had with your daughter, would not wish this on anyone. Or illness, obviously. However my question was how much were you entitled to before you 'lost' £800/ month? This is a genuine question.

teabag29

What does that have to do with this post? I was (Between benefits and disability premiums) on around £400 a week (family of 5, 3 disabled people) We are now on £920 a month but has absolutely nothing to do with the post and the advice I asked for

teabag29

Chooser wrote: »

' for those of us not familiar with the benefits lifestyle

This sentence alone speaks volumes on your judgement, it’s not a life style, there are no fancy holidays and none of us can afford to drive. The lifestyle you talk of consists of coping with a mentally ill young woman who regularly feels suicidal due to not fitting in society and a little boy with development delay that needs help with every area of his life and has regular melt downs when faced with sensory overload and too many people. A mother who suffers nerve pain daily and aching muscles so bad that even brushing her hair some days can leave her in tears but she can nolonger afford massage therapy, not to mention the overwhelming fatigue doing the most simple of tasks and pain when walking that means I can only leave the house if I can afford a taxi or deal with days/weeks of pain .... that’s without even taking into account my other health issues (tumours, thyroid, heart). You seem to have it in your head that because I claim benefits I’m living some sort of nice life style, your very wrong. I can’t remember the last time I went out socially or bought myself anything nice. And as for not working anymore.... come spend s day in my shoes, you’ll see my job is a lot harder and longer than any 9-5 paid employment. Don’t judge, not everyone on benefits are on them to fund some sort of life style you talk of or because they’re lazy. It’s hard enough being stuck in this position without people making judgements that you’re in it for financial reasons or laziness. This is far from the life style I want for myself or my children

Chooser

Just having a bit of trouble with the arithmetic ( no degree!) but £400 x 4 = £1600/month, less £800 = ....£920? Still not bad. Good luck with it all.

teabag29

There are more than 4 weeks in a month... 4 and a half... UC is paid monthly so my old monthly allowance was around £1700/1800 so I’m around £800 down however I still don’t see why your asking about my finances or making judgements, this post was about me asking advice regarding my grandson

Savvy_Sue

it may be worth speaking to your / little one's Health Visitor to see what there is locally in terms of baby banks, extra help etc. Other than that, I can only suggest keeping on at the Social Worker to make it clear that you need the financial support NOW and not in a year's time! The suggestion re SW writing a letter about the claim for Child Benefit is definitely a good one.