Help with my foster children

[alda1]

Hi, I am a newly approved foster carer and I've been given two asylum seeker boys.
They have been asking me several times to get a bank account, but because they are underaged, no bank would open a bank account for them, unless I do it from my own banking. I have opened a child saving account for my own child, where he gets his child benefit money. The foster children keep asking to have a bank account so that they can keep their money there.
Does anyone know if this could have any impact my credit score?
I am trying to save to place the deposit for my first flat, and don't want to have any problems with my credit score.

Try putting your question here www.mumsnet.com/talk/fostering

Personally, I wouldn't / Let the agency that placed them in your care look into this. This is beyond the scope of fostering I think.

We opened an account but withdrawals had to be signed by one of us. You should save a portion of the payment you get for them so when they turn 18 they have something behind them.

Agree this doesn't sound like something you should be responsible for.

Hi, social worker here You need to speak with the social worker. Generally foster carers would open a bank account for the children in their care but it wouldn't be one linked to your account - it would be opened using their own documents and then it would move with them when/if they moved on. Not sure what documents they have and so therefore it is a good idea to contact the social worker and check what they want you to do. I am guessing they want to use a card and so you could look at a 'go Henry' card which you just top up and they can spend on - you just use an email address online and it is sent out to you.

Their social worker needs to support with this.

Thank you for this! It was exactly what I was thinking but feel a bit anxious about opening a bank account alongside my own kids' one.
As my foster boys have family here so I suppose they want their family to give them money and be able to use them. But don't feel comfortable doing it.
I did open a GoHenry account, but one of them said he doesn't want it. He want to be able to send and receive money.
I'm a bit confused to be honest

How old are the children? Do the children have enough ID documents to open accounts? I'd advise a chat with your own SSW and also with the child SW too because the insistence on being able to receive and send money is raising my foster carer spidey senses.
You do have a responsibility to help them navigate bank accounts etc but it has to be appropriate and I'd advise caution and stand your ground with both the kids and social services if something doesn't feel right.

They have family here but they are in foster care? They want to transfer money back and forth? In my experience they get pocket money and a savings account which they don’t access until they leave care at 18.

They have some family members here, and the family members would wish to pass them some extra money for gifts or for birthdays or Christmas. This is what I meant by they need to move money in and out.
I have been going to different banks and none would open an account for them as they do not have a valid BRP. This is why I though of opening a kids account under my own bank account.

Hi, what does the social worker say. I've had social worker take the children to the bank with me and get accounts sorted. At my address but in the childs details. It can be done.