Family Rights Group | Kinship carers’ Forum

Hi there,

Previous to finalising my SGO in September, proceedings were very delayed and so the LA said that they would pay me a weekly allowance equal to the proposed SGO allowance in my support plan. I had this in writing in two emails by the SW and one email by the manager. The ‘pre SGO’ allowance was to be backdated to the previous November until the SGO was finalised ( which happened to be September)

Before the SGO we had an interim CAO.

The allowance that we received prior to the SGO finalising was said to be equal to the SGO allowance in my support plan, that had been calculated based on the SGO means test financial assessment ( I was awarded the full allowance with no deductions )

However, the means test calculation was wrong for two reasons: 1) it was using a Kinship rate of £223 when the fostering rate was £230 and 2) it was deducting the child benefit ( when it had been agreed in writing that no deductions were to be made. So the proposed SGO allowance in my support plan was £202, when it should have been £230- using the correct rate ( equal to fostering rate) and no deduction of child benefit.

It was not all sorted out until July ( before finalising in September) From July to September I was paid the correct amount of £230.

However from November to July I was paid £202 which was based on the incorrect rate and deduction in the means test.

I have asked for the difference to be backdated as if they had of applied the correct rate and no deductions I would have received £230 from November all the way through.

I have three emails stating in writing that I was to receive the full allowance, equal to the SGO allowance in my support plan with no deductions from November to when the SGO finalised ( the final Sept)

However, now that I have asked for the backdated correct amount the LA have said it was discretionary S17 payment even though that was never said and is not written. They said in their opinion we had enough for the child’s needs and they won’t backdate it.

It is so inconsistent as if they did not make mistakes we would have received the £230 from November and then they corrected it half way through so that from July to September we received the correct £230 yet they won’t correct retrospectively.

I know that S17 is discretionary but that is not what they described it as. No mention. It’s in writing, three times that it is equal to the SGO allowance in the support plan. No separate assessments were made under S17. The amounts were taken from the SGO financial assessments where they used the DFE means testing. As we are on income based benefits, we receive the full allowance with no deductions.

Any advice as to where we stand as I feel that they have changed the narrative to avoid paying. Thank you

I would have thought where you stand is perfectly clear and the council are wrong.

You need to attack this from several different angles in my opinion:
1. Put in a formal complaint using the Council complaints procedure. Details will be on their website. This is a three stage process and you have to start at stage 1. Likely not to be taken seriously at Stage 1, or 2, but may be listened too at Stage 3. Only after Stage 3 can you take the matter to the Local Government Ombudsman, so I suggest you start the process as soon as you can but would also ask that your complaints so far are treated as the Stage 1 and that they should go straight to Stage 2. They may or may not agree to that. More information at https://frg.org.uk/get-help-and-advice/what/complaints/
2. Contact your local councillor. Again details will be on the LA website along with details of how to contact them? Or use https://www.writetothem.com/?gad_source ... s8QAvD_BwE.
3. Contact your MP using https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP.
Under your circumstances, I would do the first two immediately and contact your MP in May or June if getting nowhere with the other routes. JHowever, you really need to do the latter before the long summer break when the Commons is not sitting.

Dear CY23

Welcome back to the kinship carers’ board and thank you for your post.

I am sorry to hear that you are still having difficulties with children’s services in relation to being paid backdated financial support. You have set out the situation very clearly.

I think it is correct that the ‘SGO equivalent’ allowance that you were paid was paid from children’s services’ section 17 budget as it could not have been paid from a fostering or special guardianship budget. However, that is not the main issue which is that children’s services confirmed in writing on several occasions the amount that they would pay you and they have failed to so for the period you set out. Their ‘discretion’ may have been to pay you the allowance which they agreed to do but the amount to be paid was based on the calculations you provide to which they are not adhering.

You have already had very helpful and informative advice from another kinship carer, Robin, and I agree with all the advice that he has provided. I would recommend that you start with a formal complaint, as suggested. As Robin has provided all the relevant links, I won’t send them again, but you will find all the information needed in our complaints and challenging decisions website pages.

I would only add that you emphasise in your complaint that you are on income-based benefits and therefore being paid the incorrect amount has caused you undue financial hardship.

I hope that this is helpful, and that children’s services respond positively to your complaint.

Best wishes

Suzie

Thank you both very much for your replies, info and links. Appreciated

I don't know how to post a new post, so please forgive me. I need clarification on Fostering allowances for the Local Authority? Their website and what they proposed to pay (Under reg 24 for 2 children 10 and 13 staying from 11th Aug 25 to 27th Aug 25) has left me without any clarity.
So, the remmitance (which was sent on 21 Aug and the money still has to arrive into my account ) reg 24 assessment for the duration was done on 4th Aug 25)

Remittance shows
13 Days connected persona allowance £199.24 (*weekly on their website for the 10.yo) = £370
then summer allowance 13 days @£66.41 = 123.33
total £493.35

13 days connected persons allowance £248 (*weekly ontheir website for thr 13.y.o) = £466.87
then summer allowance13 days @£82.72 = 153.62
total £614.49

I do not understand how they have calculated this, please help.

Soon after the Reg24 meeting, I sought clarity as I had been told I would receive £900 and I emailed: ...." I did want to check whether the £107 weekly fostering fee for carers has been included, your website states a fostering fee.
If there’s any part of the Reg 24 assessment that was not up to the required standard or something that has not been signed off or logged? I just want to be sure I’m meeting all criteria.
As I mentioned before, I live in a different LA; where living costs are higher than in the children's LA and this is clearly highlighted by the differences in allowances for fostering.
While I’m not making this about money, having access to the full fee helps provide adequately during the children’s time with me."

This is an example on their website: Example: Mr Smith fosters 9 year old Theo, and his 15 year old sister, Anna. He receives a weekly payment of £661.40 (made up of £447.40 per week in allowances and £214 per week in fees). He also receives additional payments for holidays, birthdays, Christmas and mileage.

They never came back to me with any response. Just the remittance.
I need the calculation to see how much out of pocket I am under this arrangemnt as I was told that I cannot go to work during this time, neither can I leave the children in holiday clubs or with childminders

As I am under assessment for SGO, the only reason they agreed to a reg24 is after I had cried out loud for support as I am a single mum, work 2 jobs (one full time, one weekends only) and about to take on a 13 and 10 year old.

If you can please provide clarity on how this was calculated, I will be grateful. I can then work out how much I earn and by not working the 13 days (and not sure I can just have a 13 and 10 year old at home 24/7 with no holiday clubs can work). Is this the normal expectation? No one told me.

Also, the money only hit my bank account on 23rd Aug, with the kids supposed to go back on 27th? Is that the norm?

Hi @AuntieO. Welcome here.

I cannot separate out your query into a new thread, but the site moderator and FRG advisor probably can.

Could I ask that as soon as you are able you go into your post and remove the Council name please? That is to ensure no case posted here can be tied back to any particular person and avoid any potential backlash or breach of confidentiality. If you look at the top right hand corner of you post you will see four squares with symbols, the first of which looks like a pencil. If you click on that it will open the post allowing you to delete the name please? Thank you.

I suggest you contact the social worker and ask them for an explanation of how they have calculated the remittance and how that relates to what is on their website.
Good luck and I hope it all works out to your satisfaction.
Best wishes ... Robin

Robin D wrote: Tue Aug 26, 2025 8:12 pm Hi @AuntieO. Welcome here.

I cannot separate out your query into a new thread, but the site moderator and FRG advisor probably can.

Could I ask that as soon as you are able you go into your post and remove the Council name please? That is to ensure no case posted here can be tied back to any particular person and avoid any potential backlash or breach of confidentiality. If you look at the top right hand corner of you post you will see four squares with symbols, the first of which looks like a pencil. If you click on that it will open the post allowing you to delete the name please? Thank you.

I suggest you contact the social worker and ask them for an explanation of how they have calculated the remittance and how that relates to what is on their website.
Good luck and I hope it all works out to your satisfaction.
Best wishes ... Robin

Dear Auntie O,

Thank you for your post and welcome to the kinship carers’ forum.
I am Suzie, an online adviser responding to your enquiry today.

It sounds like you have agreed to take on a great deal of responsibility for the benefit of the children you are looking after and have been left uncertain about the amount of financial and practical support you can expect as a kinship carer both in the short term and the longer term.

I cannot comment on how the specific amount recently paid to you; how it was calculated and the date it arrived in your account. Local rates and financial policy and processes differ. However, you may find the information from Fostering Network on national fostering allowance minimum, regional variations and other factors in calculating the amounts paid useful. You can link to it here.

You should repeat your request (in writing) to children’s services for a detailed breakdown as to how the amounts recently paid to you were arrived at. Also, you should ask for a copy of the local authority children’s services friends and family policy which may give some insight into the factors considered in calculating fostering allowances.

I also cannot answer your question ‘If there’s any part of the Reg 24 assessment that was not up to the required standard or something that has not been signed off or logged?’ However, the guide here to kinship foster care assessment may help you to find answers. More generally you can read about what is good practice when doing initial kinship care assessments here.

You ask whether it is the norm for a carer to be asked to give up employment. I am not sure whether the temporary summer arrangement requested of you by children’s services was due to a specific set of circumstances for the children. Obviously, in the longer term you would need to ensure that you are earning or receiving enough to meet your family’s needs. If children’s services are asking you to alter your working arrangements, they would need to look at how your family’s livelihood can be sustained and what they are prepared to contribute.

You explain that you are currently being assessed as a special guardian. The following information on practical and financial support to special guardians may be useful to you here. Special Guardianship Allowances are means tested and are usually reviewed each year. Kinship Foster Carer allowances are not means tested and national minimum rates have to be observed.

I wanted to make you aware of the different types of kinship care arrangements here, so that you can consider which kinship care arrangement would provide you with the right support and be in the best interests of the children. It may help you to discuss this with an adviser on the advice line if you have follow up questions when you have read the information.

The Family Rights Group advice sheet on welfare benefits for kinship carers may also be of assistance here.

I hope this information was useful to you. You can post again here if you would like further advice or peer support from other forum users.
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Best wishes,
Suzie