Kinship carer payments

[Crystal]

Hi can anyone advise how long it is before kinship payments start?

[Robin D]

Hi Crystal and welcome.

Not enough information to give a definitive answer I am afraid. If you have been approved as foster parents for a "looked after" child, the it will be whatever the payment cycle is for that local authority. Going back a few years it was usually fortnightly but may well have changed. If you missed the cut-off date for a payment cycle and had significant needs, there was always the option of an emergency payment, but you had to have a social worker prepared to fight your corner.

If the child came to you other than brought by a social worker, they are likely to say it is a private arrangement and no allowance is due.

If I could suggest that you post back with information on how the child(ren) came onto your care, we can help with better targeted advice.

Best wishes.... Robin

[Crystal]

Granddaughter was placed with me by social services on a section 20. Have been temporarily approved as kinship carer. She has been with us 6 weeks and we haven’t received any financial support yet. Was told they would date it from when first assessment form was filled in 17/12/24 not by date she came into our care.

[Robin D]

Hi again Crystal and thank you for the clarification. I suspect that with the Christmas break, you probably missed getting into the system assuming they pay out at the end of the month. (that may not be true)

In your shoes I would ring the Finance department and enquire if you are a) in the system?, and b) when is the payment date. If they cannot help you, you have to go back to the social worker to get answers.

Robin

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Granddaughter was placed with me by social services on a section 20. Have been temporarily approved as kinship carer. She has been with us 6 weeks and we haven’t received any financial support yet. Was told they would date it from when first assessment form was filled in 17/12/24 not by date she came into our care.

Dear Crystal,

Thank you for your posts on the kinship carers’ forum. My name is Suzie, an online adviser, and I will respond to both of your posts here. I see you have had helpful advice and support from another forum user already.

If children’s services were involved in placing your granddaughter in your care the kinship fostering allowance should be payable to you from the time that she first came into your care.

Family Rights Group have template letters here detailing relevant laws, statutory guidance, court rulings and local government ombudsman decisions that will help you make your argument for the back payment to children’s services, but you would have to adapt the template to your specific circumstances.

Letter 4 helps kinship carers apply for assessment as a kinship foster parent. You do not need to make the argument for assessment as you have already been temporarily approved – but you could use the more relevant part of the letter, and the guidance quoted to make your argument for the back payment of the kinship fostering allowance. Letter 6 helps kinship foster carer argue that they are paid at least the national minimum fostering allowance rate and it is also worth you looking at this template in case it is also useful.

Fostering Network have a useful page on fostering allowances and rates here which you can use to check on the amount being offered by the local authority.

You may find the Family Rights Group pages for kinship carers here.
An advice sheet on becoming a kinship foster carer may be useful here.
Information on welfare benefits for kinship carers is here.

Turn2Us here are an organisation that helps people find out about their benefit and grant entitlements

I hope this information was useful to you. Please feel free to come back to us for further support by posting again or contacting us in one of the other ways shown below.

• A free telephone advice line open Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 3pm (excluding Bank Holidays) on 0808 801 0366
• Easy-to-follow online information. Features include an A-Z, FAQs, films, ‘top tips’ and legal advice sheets;
• A webchat service where you can message an adviser online, who will help you find information and advice to support you.
• A web enquiry form – to help you submit an email and receive a reply within five working days.

Best wishes,
Suzie