Fostering allowance?

[lizziejenson89]

Hello,

Me and my husband are fostering a little girl, she's 2. Fostering is being done through father who is signing parental rights over to us and leaving the country permanently.

We are very new to this and I wanted to ask if there is any financial support? I don't work full time and only DH does so whether I should pick up more shifts?

Is there any allowance available? Approx how much if there is? We are in the Manchester area.

Also, is there any childcare support available for her to attend nursery on days I work?

Thanks x

Are you in the UK?

Did social services / the court not explain?

Yes, Manchester

Has this not done through social services? A private arrangement? You need proper advice not ransoms on the internet.

Not yet, next week but would be nice to get a idea before I start worrying about how we will afford a new room , booster seat, clothes etc.

Are social services involved? I would call your councils fostering department they should be able to help. Did court not explain? Or your solicitor?

Why are you fostering if you can't afford it?

In this situation it sounds like you should not be fostering a child as you cannot afford it!

They didn't say they couldn't afford it. They asked if there was help. What a judgy comment. They have given a home to a little girl that has no one.

Or maybe they should be given an allowance so that they can afford it.

What an odd comment.

Not clear what arrangements are being made.
If fostering given you don't know, could be a regulation 24 arrangement whilst your assessment is undertaken. The child's social worker can tell you what the fees are.
But you say signing over PR, if that's true it won't be fostering as the parent retains PR if S20 or shares with the local authority on care order. There are two ways they can do that (not quite but close enough - only way truly sever PR is via adoption). A special guardianship order - if so there isn't any guarantee of money it is normally means tested or via a private law order (child arrangement order) generally there is no financial support for this.

Is this a legitimate fostering being done through Social Services? If not I would be asking questions, firstly where is her mother or her mother's family.

They will all point you in the right direction for support. In the meantime reach out to family and friends or check Facebook or the nextdoor app. Freecycle is also good. You'll find lots of things on there. Car seats etc. You'll be fine OP.

Unless the child is family and they have stepped up, they obviously applied to become Foster parents even though they don't know much about it and can't afford it. I couldn't afford it.

I'd assume you only buy stuff when you adopt not foster?

Sounds like a private fostering arrangement- In the past I don’t believe they did pay an allowance but that you could claim
the child benefit

not sure now though

fostering money differs around the country but a good ballpark figure is £55 per day tax free ie app £1650 per month.

If it is not private fostering and you wish to receive a fostering allowance you will need to be approved by either social services or an agency.
This is quite an intrusive and lengthy process.
I doubt they will give a fostering allowance without this.
You could enquire about an SGO, that could come with an allowance but usually this is agreed before as once the child is with you the ball is in their court!
alternatively you could probably apply for child benefit/ other related benefits if you have the correct paperwork.