Allowance

[chocaholic2011]

Hi all

Still waiting for first placement - getting very impatient now! Although obv pleased there are no lo's needing our care at the moment it does feel like forever (3m since approved).

Was wonderering if you knowledgeable people could advise me how the allowance has to be spent/accounted for.

We are not in it for the money, but I will be giving up my job in childcare to foster, so couldn't do it without the fee and allowance unfortunately.

I know it has to cover all the childs expenses such as outings clothes etc but do you have some to contribute to heating/food etc. Just a bit concerned as we have an expensive heating system and our costs will increase alot if its on 24/7 with a young baby at home.

thanks in advance x

You should ask your support social worker as all las and ifa have their own ideas about what and how they Monet should be spent

For instance we are required to save for the child, also any pocket that is allocated to the child but not acually given to the child must be put in to their savings

As long as lo has what she needs and has savings then we are allowed to spend the allowance how we see fit.

Hi Chocoholic - are you with LA or agency? If LA I wouldn't worry too much about excess fee/allowance because there won't be any!!!

As Maypole said, we're allowed to spend the allowance as we see fit. I'd say keeping a child warm enough is pretty essential so there should be no problem with it coming out of their allowance but as mine (£100 per week) is usually pretty much used up on baby milk/nappies/petrol for contact etc then in all honesty my bills usually end up coming out of my fee.