Fostering allowance

[Janepear]

We are at the initial stages of application. Our LA allowance is £140 a week for the age range we can care for. This is quite a bit lower than what I currently earn working part time. We’ve wanted to do this for years but I am worried we just aren’t going to be able to afford to do it. Are there ways to increase income eg any benefits?

I may be biased but apply
To an IFA it's
One wage but a lot more that you have stated 300-400 per child.
The only disadvantage is you do not get paid whilst working but this just needs
A proportion of your wage saved.

It's all UC now. The allowance will likely be considered income and you won't get much if anything. It's a shitstorm.

Taken from Universal Credit Policy Briefing Note - foster carers

"a) The treatment of foster carers in the benefit system is complex. Foster
carers can choose:
i) Either to be treated as self-employed and claim Working Tax
Credits, generally until their youngest foster child reaches the age
of 18. Any income paid in respect of fostering (up to a maximum of
£10,000 per residence, plus £200 a week for each child under 11
and £250 a week for each child aged 11 or over) is disregarded for
the purposes of calculating entitlement, and claimants need not fulfil
any work-related conditions.
ii) Or; to claim out-of-work benefits paid by DWP. Again any income
paid in respect of fostering is disregarded. However, depending on
their circumstances and the age of the child they are caring for, a
foster carer may be entitled to Income Support, Employment and
Support Allowance, or Jobseeker’s Allowance – each of which has
a different conditionality regime.
b) Lone foster carers may claim Income Support, but are treated
differently to lone parents. While lone parents have been subject to
changes which require them to be available for work at a progressively earlier time, lone foster carers, including those who are also lone parents, remain entitled to IS until the foster child they are caring for reaches 16. "

We foster and any payments we receive aren't taken into account for either council tax or pension credit. It's a few years since we claimed but we had the choice to claim either pension credit or working tax credits.

Thanks. That seems very complicated, I’d need to let them know straight away when I didn’t have a child, then let them know when I did. The thought of getting involved with the DWP sends shivers down my spine! I’m concerned if I apply to an IFA and get approved I won’t get the placements as my youngest is 9?

suggest you just ask some IFA's about age issue of youngest child. It's only a few phone calls and then you will be ceratin of position. Good luck.

A lot of local authorities only place children with ifas as a last resort so you do tend to have children which are harder to place. My LA is very very reluctant to use them for anyone under 15

I am with an ifa.
Dependant on age you are paid from around £350 to £450 per week.
Our LA pays around £30 a week more.
This is separated into an age related payment for the child and an allowance that you get depending on training/experience. They also pay extra for birthdays/Xmas/holidays and a mileage allowance.
I would be better off financially with LA.

Our youngest is just about to turn 9 and we have a placement with us. I thinks largely dependant in each individual case / family. We are with a IFA which pays about £360 per week. Our IFA have told us this is ALL for the care of the child, unlike some LA / IFA who have an allowance segement of what they pay you. We get no extra for birthdays / Christmas. Not sure what our LA pays

Cassimin, where are you?!

North west.
With la you start on a lower rate but you are able to get more by doing all of the training.
I have done all the training I can, along with training that I have sourced and paid for myself.
I looked into changing as my agency has been taken over.
The la would pay allowance for me, one for the child. Holiday payments, extra for birthdays/Xmas.
Also an enhanced rate due to my child’s disability.
Also free council tax.
When it’s all added up I’d be better off with la.
I am currently awaiting a review of my allowance as I complained to my sw.

Cassinim,

Don't know if I am witht he same LA that the OP is considering. But in my area it is £140 full stop and no opportunity for advancement. My husband and I have over 25 years experience, and often care for the children with the most complex needs, but it is still the standard amount. The only extra is an additional weeks allowance at Christmas and birthday.