LA Allowance

[HelloGoodbye86]

Hi, I am yet to start the fostering process and I am very much in the research stages, we are moving house in the summer so will be waiting till this is done and we are settled etc before taking our interest any further.

Recently I have been looking at information on both LA and IFA and after much reading and seeing peoples comments on various forums etc I feel that LA fostering will be the most suitable route for us to take (however I will still arrange visits from both when the time comes) I was just wondering really how much different LA allowances are as I have come across various older posts through googling / searching fostering topics etc where people have stated they have got 200-300 for 1 child, I have checked my local LA and my neighbouring one as I am right on the border of the two and one is 136 per week and the other was 122 (I think?) I was quite surprised due to what I had seen other people say they were receiving. I'm guessing it varies dependent on LA and age of the child and needs? does personal training, length of service, qualifications etc determine it too? I am just curious really :)

Thanks

Oh and in addition, does the allowance affect any child tax credits that you receive or your own children - thanks again x

In my LA you get £140 a week for the child and £100 a week as a carers fee.
When you have completed 11 core training courses and ensure you go to 6 support groups a year you get moved up to tier 2 which pays £150 a week carers fee.

It doesn't affect child tax credits as its not taxable income, but you do have to register as self employed

We get £125 a week for babies and no allowance, mum2tots yours sounds fantastic!! ??

Our LA allowances are £120 per week for a primary school age child to £160 a week for a senior school age one. This is the total for everything, no extras and no possibility for progressing (we are fully experienced carers for over 20 years and have the most difficult young people). In the past other expenses were available (petrol etc) but not in the past few years. The only way we are able to afford to foster is by living on our savings, and now these have dwindled we are facing the very sad decision that we will soon have to give up.

For the past year I have looked after a sibling pair now aged 6 and 12 for which we have received £120 for the younger and £160 for the elder. They have two other siblings that are placed with carers from an IFA, and their carers receive £500 for each child. Obviously there is a huge difference between £1000 a week and £280 a week, so although in the past I would have encouraged you to go with your LA, in reality now I would advise differently. However, your LA may not be as "mean" as ours, in which case I wish you good luck.

WOW mums2tots your LA sounds great. Wish I lived in your area, ours just pays the standard allowance whether you are new carers or experienced ones.

I am with IFA and get £350 for 7 year old. Child we have does have high needs but other carers have children with no issues.
Riveravon I know it might be going against your principles but would you not consider moving to IFA. A few carers in our agency have moved from LA. It would be a shame for you to waste all your experience. Also the extra money provided means that these children who have been placed into care can have the luxuries such as nice holidays, opportunities and material things that they may not have had at home.

I know that this doesn't make up for what they have lost but I think it helps.

Wish we all got paid too look after our children , Think they would be saying only had us for the money no doubt some Foster Children will feel the same.
Afraid its a them and us monopoly situation, with the Tax payer picking up the bill no Doubt the NHS will go the same way.
Been a Carer for 38 year's doubt if I would do the same again, every one can not have luxuries , holiday allowances are paid, birthdays etc., on top of allowances. Sad different breed these days.

My LA had a big meeting and restructure in 2012 where they addressed the amount of money spent on IFA's and did a big recruitment drive and brought LA payments up to ensure they had more LA carers. We feel very lucky with our LA, support is great as well. I love fostering but we couldn't afford to do it for free. Petrol costs would bankrupt us for a start.

I find it completely shocking that there are some authorities out there that expect carers to work 24/7 without paying them a fee for their time and expertise! No wonder there is a recruitment crisis. Those carers who get nothing, how does that make you feel? I would feel completely undervalued. How sad that they expect carers to do so much without even a token payment as thanks.

My LA pays £140 carers fee, and after 5 years goes up to £220 per week I think. I foster for a big city though, so maybe it depends on where you are I don't know? Those who get nothing are you in smaller/rural areas?

It's about time there was some standardisation across the country for all carers who are doing such a valuable job.

I think my LA must be one of the better paying ones. It's not fair there is such a difference in payments between LAs.
I get £150 allowance for my under 11s and £200 for the over 11s. I also get £296 carers payment per child.

I agree LadyPenny, they should all follow the direction of The Fostering Networks suggested allowances. Our LA pays £127 a week for child 0-5, we also get £90 allowance a week 1st year, and subject to completing required training that goes up to £180 a week + child's allowance. You can also choose to study for a diploma, and if you pass that, you would get £270 a week, plus the £127 child's allowance. Also, if you are personally on a low income (discounting the fostering allowances) you can also claim working tax credit. Bear in mind you need to save for a rainy day, as no placement, no payment. I am sorry to say, that if I didn't get paid, I wouldn't work for such a LA. Its a 24/7 job, plus they sell fostering now as a "career choice", so they should pay you. As you are probably aware, all children come into LA care first, and if they cant place them with their carers, then they find placements with IFA. So you may wait less in-between placements with a LA. Depends what age group you are considering.

With our la we get 0-4 £140, 5-11 £160, 12 - 16 £200, 16-18 £225.
We get skills level payments per household after completing training etc level 1 - £37, level 2 - £69, level 3 £123. Some of yours sound amazing!