Temporary informal foster care arrangement

[Carolina99]

Could do with some guidance around the temporary informal foster care arrangement with my DD staying with grandparents during the week (school there, home with mum and brother at the weekends)
This is for a period of a maximum 4 months whilst I am dealing with MH and extenuating life challenges and pregnancy (as well as DS)
What do we do about child benefit? CTC/WTC or UC if we are eligible? Who's responsible for her costs? I would retain PR (father not on BC).

Any advice gratefully received. This is a very difficult time and I have no idea how this works. Thanks

Anyone?

I don’t think it would count as fostering would it if she was coming home every weekend? As far as I know it would only tip into an informal fostering kind of arrangement if she was with grandparents for a certain amount of consecutive days (21, possibly?). So if she’s only there for 5 days at a time I don’t think it would count and it would just be up to the mum and grandparents to decide amongst themselves who pays for what. And child benefit etc would just stay going to mum. However, I could be wrong!

Surely she's just staying with your parents for a bit? Why does there need to be anything formal in place?

Thanks, I have looked into it and although she is with me because she is sleeping there more nights I would have to change the financial situation,
Otherwise it is an informal arrangement that can stop/start at any time but I believe the money has to be changed even in the (fairly) short term
Thanks for the replies

I would imagine you would claim any benefits then give your parents money to support your daughter.
There would be no need to enter into any fostering agreement.
It would be hard and cost too much money/ time for benefit agencies to question your claim I think.

I would keep it informal. Pay your parents some keep for her.

Keep it informal but keep records of all money paid.