Maternal Grandparents Foster caring

[Lubbs77]

Hi..I’m looking for some advice regarding Grandchildren being fostered by Maternal Grandparents under a Care Order via The Local Authority.
If the Maternal Grandparents are receiving Foster Care Allowance can they also claim Child Maintenance from the children’s Father?
My son is currently paying his Ex partners parents £450 per month in maintenance for his children. They are going through the process of Fostering the children and will be in receipt of Foster Care Allowance.....will he still have to pay the full amount? Should it be split with his Ex? Does it cease when they legally Foster? I have spoken to CMS ....they initially told me it ceased..as the children were being funded by the Local Authority......but when I explained they were being Fostered my Grandparents....they didn’t know the answer...apparently “probably no....but might be a yes”...anyone else come up against this scenario? What was the outcome?

Foster Carers are not entitled to Child Benefit but that's because the Child Benefit allowance is already included within the Fostering Allowance.

How come your son isn't taking care of his children??

Posted to soon...
I have never known foster carers being paid child maintenance from the child's parents. There would be nothing stopping him helping to pay for his children, whilst in their grandparents care, though. Or putting it into savings for his children...

If he’s paying £450 a month he must be on a pretty decent salary, why does he want to stop supporting his children?

Does he have some sort of learning disability which means that you have to deal with CMS etc on his behalf?

Why is The British Taxpayer stumping up to support your grandchildren? Why are your sons ex in laws being paid Foster Care Allowance to care for their grandchildren? Why is your son not parenting his children? Why are you not helping out with the care of your grandchildren? Why are you calling CS on your sons behalf?

There are too many why's in this scenario.

Hi....my Son and his Ex split up over 3 years ago....he was paying the maintenance to his Ex....last year she went through a bad patch...involving drink/drugs....rehab etc....so the kids were being cared for by her parents so my Son could still work to support them.....The kids Mother is in recovery and it’s obviously gone through Social/ Court etc......to aid with Mums recovery it was suggested the kids stay with her parents...so she can visit etc....and build a strong bond with her children....we agreed with this....
My Son will still provide for his Children, we have them on a fortnightly basis....He has no knowledge of me phoning CMS or posting this message....we have been helping out financially with weekends away, days out etc....but I have been unwell for a year and recently had a tumour taken out....and my husband is facing redundancy from work.....so if his maintenance was to reduce because of the Foster Care Allowance....he would have the disposable income to do activities etc with his children without relying on us. The maintenance was calculated by CMS...and they don’t take outgoings into consideration...ie his rent, household bills....living expenses..

I am also p**sed off that the Maternal grandparents have gone down the route of Fostering........as initially when the living arrangements were suggested.....they informed the Local Authority and the Courts...money wasn’t an issue.....now they have backtracked and have gone for government funding....despite our financial input!!,

I’m sure your g kids cost more than £450 to support in a month. What’s important here are tour grandkids and their safety and happiness would you prefer them to go into Care via people you don’t know.

The mother clearly isn’t capable of caring for them long term and your son hasn’t really stepped up either. I couldn’t have my kids living elsewhere be it with gp in law if one parent can’t care for them. Your son perhaps should step up use his £ to pay for childcare whilst he works.
You shouldn’t be calling cms on his behalf either, it’s weird he’s an adult apparently if he wanted to know he could call them himself and I’m surprised they’ve spoken to you as you’re not their parent.

So you can be pissed off all you want, but I wouldn’t want to be bringing up grandkids in my retirement so good on them for taking on kids who have at least one working parent who could have them (clearly more to the story if gp are being made official foster carers) what’s more important you being crabbit and pissed of or the kids being happy and cared for by people they know and love. But long as you’re pissed off ans your son has an extra £450 a month to do nice things with his kids whilst gp do all the leg work then that’s ok

the kids were being cared for by her parents so my Son could still work to support them

And? Single mothers manage to work Ft and care for their own kids without resorting to grandparents caring fro them. Why can't your ds?

Am am absolutely gobsmacked that your son is willing to have his children go into Foster Care rather than step up, take care of them, and pay for childcare like god knows how many other working parents out there. Can’t the Grandparents help out with childcare to ease things along rather than looking after them full time?

I didn't ask about the children's mother as she obviously is not fit to care for her children, hence why SS are involved and they have been removed from her care.

What about your son - the childrens other parent. Why hasn't he stepped up and approached the LA to let them know that there is no need for his children to be brought up by their grandparents (in foster care) when they have a father who wants to care for them. Single mothers manage to work and raise their children. Why can't your son?

Grandparents are not, usually, eligible for foster allowance as they are not seen as foster carers. When children are removed from one parent SS approach the other parent to care for the children. Only if the other parent is not interested or deemed unsuitable do they look at placing children with other family members. Family members who care for children, within their own family, with input from SS, are kinship carers. They don't get foster allowance. They get help towards the cost of raising the children. However, most families rally round and bring the children up - without input from Social Services.

Is there a reason your son is not able to care for his own children?