Foster Child's DLA

[mumtosome]

Hi Everyone,

Can anyone give me some guidance here please. How do you organise your FC DLA? DOes it al go straight to savings to be used for equipment etc? If yes how does that work. Can you access it or do you have to beg SW for access to the ££ needed for pieces of equipment?

If not how do you organise it and are there any guidelines?

Thanks

[HarriettJones]

Families I have worked with have put it in a child's account & used it for stuff for the child as needed.

[cazboldy]

yes my mum gets it for the child she has, and she outs it into his account, but he is older, so has some access to it.

[cazboldy]

puts it into his account

[mumtosome]

Thanks. Seems everybody does it differently. Often it goes into a separate account in carer's name and regularly just goes into the pot and child get what they need from that.

Seems you are not allowed to save it extensively and it should be being used to help and support the child and also to cover other 'hidden' expenses like extra heating/washing clothing etc.

Thanks for your input. x

[therapymumsy]

Hi there, I have just claimed DLA for the first time . Its for my Lo who has severe autism. Its going to be paid into my own account and then split into two.....half to pay weekly to childminder for days respite (much needed) and other £ to put into online account i manage for Lo to buy special clothes (Lo is a houdini) etc I intend to make sure all monies that i need to spend is documeneted for Sw etc. Hope this helps. x

[mumtosome]

Thanks x

[caringcarer]

1/3 used for everday living expenses above what average child his age would need e.g. extra washing and drying for incontinence, lost PE kits and clothes most weeks at school and minor deliberate damage to household items as agreed with SW. 1/3 used for after school activities, treats such as theme park annual pass as needs constantly entertaining, tutor when needed for school work and special sensory equipment he needs and 1/3 saved for larger items and if not all needed then to be saved in a savings account for child for his future needs. We keep receipts for any purchase over £50 as agreed with SW and also keep a detailed spreadsheet showing how any monies are spent. We are aware that in future DLA may be decreased and so try to build up a buzzer for if that day comes. We were told by SW it can be used for meals out if drained after difficult day and too tired to cook or for paid cleaner so child can have more intensive care if going through bad patch. We pay for swimming, and holidays etc out of his fostering allowance but we could probably use DLA for this if we needed to. Talk to SW and try to get something in writing as a change in SW may make things difficult in future.

[plainjayne123]

We have a seperate account for DLA and I use it all to pay for a day a week at nursery, he's 19 months.