DLA

[childrenwithneeds]

My 8 yr old Foster Son is going into respite for 15 nights.


The agency can't find a Carer so have had to go to another agency.


The respite Carer wants me to provide them with DS DLA money whilst I am away, and they will still be getting their money from the agency for looking after him.


I usually budget this money for additional clothing and for August when respite is taking place, buy additional school uniform for September. Also, I do not get any allowance or money whilst he is in respite despite still having to keep his refrigerated excess medication at home in a special fridge just for this use.


Do I HAVE to pass this money over to the respite Carer...? What is legal view on this please?


Any advice greatly appreciated.

Am not sure but is the DLA not for his needs at the time? So he may need those additional needs met while with the foster carer? Running of a fridge must surely be pennies over a fortnight?

Just saw an onine calculator and its about 6p to run a large fridge a day approximately. So hope this puts your mind at rest!

Can you ask the agency/local authority who you foster with?

What DLA rate does he get?

How easy is it for you to get respite, can you afford to say 'no' and still have other options for respite available?

No. You are the appointee. You decide how it is best used to benefit the child.

The legal view is not clear, I'm sure you already know. However, I guess his social worker will be able to find out for you.
Morally, as the DLA is his, not yours, it should be paid to whomever is looking after him, either short or long term. So if he has respite one day every week, one seventh of the weekly DLA should go to the respite carers. DLA, isn't for school uniform and every day costs of bringing up a child, it's for their additional needs. If he needs a special fridge for his meds, shouldn't that be going with him??

Actually thinking about it if there not getting dla fir the fortnight them yes it should go to them, or at least a proportion of it.

Thanks for the replies...

As for excess medication I get 20 bottles of medication which is £800 a bottle delivered at a time so no it won't all be going with.

I'll see what the SW says but if he was going to hospital for instance, I still receive the dla, I wouldn't pay the hospital - don't have to notify for about 4 weeks. He gets hover rate care and mobility but I opted for car over the money as need it to transport him.

Thanks again.

Will the car be going with him then during these 2 weeks? Is this what they are asking for?

No the car will not be going with. They would not be insured. The car is in my name....

What is the carer proposing to do with the DLA?

If she can itemise particular things she intends to spend it on for the benefit of your foster son I'd consider it.

If she thinks she should have it as additional remuneration for herself I wouldn't hand it over.

No the car will not be going with. They would not be insured. The car is in my name..
Of course they can get insured. The car being in your name doesn't matter. We had this issue when I worked in social care. Parents and Foster parents refusing to respite care to use the car to transport the child because they were using for themselves and felt entitled to the car themselves. The car is for the transporting of the child and should go with them. If transporting the child also benefits other people, thats fine but it should go for the benefit of the non claimant whilst the claimant gets no benefit for it.

It's wrong.