Bedroom tax - what happens when children come into care

[bottersnike]

Obviously there is lots in the media about this at the moment, and this scenario may already have been mentioned, but does anyone know:

What happens when a child is taken into care and the birth parent(s) is/are then seen to temporarily not "need" that child's bedroom, if they have their own room? Would they have to pay the extra HB for that room? Under those circumstances, would they qualify for the discretionary housing payment until the child's case is resolved?

[expatinscotland]

My guess is that they would then be subject to the reduction in housing benefit. AND, something people need to realise is that the discretionary housing payment is a finite fund. Once it is gone, it is gone and there is no guarantee you will qualify for it.

[scarlet5tyger]

I'd like to know what happens to foster carers who get housing benefit (ie me!) when there is a gap between placements. I could have a spare room for a couple of hours, or a Couple of weeks. Is it different because I own my house and don't rent, and is it different because I'm a foster carer?? So much is unclear with all these benefit changes! The sooner the government pays foster carers the minimum wage the better...!

[scarlet5tyger]

As for birth parents, their child benefit and any income support attached to the child is meant to stop from the minute the child comes into care, but very often doesn't. I Imagine the same will be true for HB once the changes come into effect.

[NanaNina]

I've been wondering about this too. This spare bedroom tax is appalling but there is no way we can stop it (other than to make sure we get these posh boys out in 2015) I think it's something the LA needs to get sorted so that carers know where they are. Scarlet there is NO chance of this govt paying the minimum wage. They are heartless greedy blokes - most of the cabinet aremillionaires. They have no idea how ordinary people live.

I think Child Poverty Action Group are NO. 1. on welfare rights. If you're lucky the local library nay have a current copy , cus it's over £40 to buy! CAB might have some answers, but I honestly don't think it's fair for fcs to have to find this info for themselves - I would put your queries to the LA and ask them to clarify these new Regs asap as they come into effect in April.

[LaurieBlueBell]

I think foster carers are going to be exempt from the bedroom tax. I'm not getting HB so haven't looked into it much. However, I did see a e mail from my LA recently asking all carers who were receiving HB to let them know as a list was being compiled for the relevant authority.

[bottersnike]

My questions wasn't so much with respect to foster carers, but rather:
In a situation when a child is taken into care and that leaves an empty bedroom in the birth parents' home, who has the responsibility of informing the benefit authorities that the parent is no longer entitled to the same level of housing benefit?
Who is going to cover the administration of children coming into and leaving care, and therefore moving in and out of housing association accommodation?
Social workers who already have far too much to do?

[expatinscotland]

'I think foster carers are going to be exempt from the bedroom tax.'

No, they aren't. Nor are the disabled.

[floatyjosmum]

Birth parents can legally claim cb for 8 weeks - most la's inform DWP at the 8 week mark

[BetterThanChocolate]

Foster carers are going to be exempt as long as they have a placement or have had a placement within 12 months :)

[fostermumtomany]

foster carers are exempt as better says. as the spare room is being held for placements if not currently in use.