Looked after children through theLA

Zosobobby

Hi we have been looking after our 2 grandchildren for the LA as they were taken from their mother in August 25. We have gone through all the process of assessments & we're told by the court they could stay with us. What financial support are we entitled to please

Jackie1813

A friend of mine took care of her grandson some years ago and was only entitled to the child benefit ,as a grandparent they were expected to want to look after their grandson. I am not sure whether this has changed over the years at all.

Savvy_Sue

I suspect it varies from one authority to another. I believe you'd benefit from the children remaining within the LA's 'looked after children' definition with you as Kinship Carers. That should make you eligible for some financial support along the same lines as foster parents, AND open up training and support for you, and longer term support for the children. 

I'd strongly recommend googling for local and national support organisations. 

Historically Jackie's friend's experience was common: if family stepped in, Social Services would breathe a huge sigh of relief and move on. No support, child benefit only. I think things have moved on since then.

swingaloo

I find it odd that you say you have been looking after your grandchildren 'for the LA' when they are family.

However you should be able to get the child benefit paid to you. Does the father contribute to his children's upkeep?

silvercar

https://www.gov.uk/looking-after-someone-elses-child

Savvy_Sue

swingaloo said:

I find it odd that you say you have been looking after your grandchildren 'for the LA' when they are family.

However you should be able to get the child benefit paid to you. Does the father contribute to his children's upkeep?

When children have to be removed from their parents, they become the responsibility of the local authority. Unsurprisingly, the LA will first look at family to see if there is a place where the children can live safely, and if there is, that's often the best place for them - being with people they know, in a familiar place. So it doesn't seem odd to me that grandparents might say they are looking after grandchildren 'for the LA', because initially there is no presumption that the children will be able to stay long-term, and in some cases (illness, extreme age, disability, unsuitable accommodation) it may be very clear that this is only a short-term option. 

There's increasingly a recognition that the unexpected addition of children to a household comes with increased - and unanticipated - expenditure, hence the possibility of claiming an allowance from the LA, because if the children were not in kinship care then they would need to be fostered - and foster parents are paid (probably not enough, but that's another story ...)

silvercar said:

https://www.gov.uk/looking-after-someone-elses-child

Some organisations listed there for the OP, very worthwhile reading up on the different ways of recognising the arrangement. NB if you decide to adopt, then I believe there is less financial support, although there may still be access to training and support.