Question about Soc Svs - what can they ask? Hi, I'm back!

[Davros]

Hi Everyone, Happy New Year to you all. Still struggling through the last days of the sodding Xmas hols, aaargh????

I wanted to ask you wise SN MNers how much my Social Worker is allowed to ask me about our circumstances? She is quite new to us and I don't like her much. No, that's not quite right, she's OK but I don't think I trust her. She should be in the process of putting together DS's Care Plan to take effect from the end of Jan 08. She phoned a couple of weeks ago and, amongst other things, asked me if I receive DLA and/or Carer's Allowance. I just answered her but it unnerved me. Is she allowed to ask this? Can it be taken into account in our Care package? She phoned again today and left a message, "just a few more questions". I haven't called her back as I don't want to fall into any traps.

Any advice/info?

Thanks.

She may just have been making sure you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to. On the other hand, the reciept of benefits can affect the amount you have to contribute towards services (if you were to receive visits from a care worker as part of your package for instance).

"receipt*!

Happy New year to you also Davros, by the way!

I don't think children ever contribute towards services though do they - I thought it was only for adults that they became means tested.

It sounds to me as if she's reading off a standard forms. There are loads of questions on those forms that we haven't been asked but could theoretically be (such as 'is the child up to date with vaccinations?' - None of your bloody business would be my favoured response- but its in there because its the same form they use to decide if a child is at risk iyswim- and ins some cases it could be used against someone, but don't get me started )

I think the "are you in receipt of DLA' is used as a 'badge of disability these days iyswim- so probably why its in there. Not sure why she'd ask about carers allowance, but could imagine someone putting it on a form without thinking about it iyswim.

You probably know more than me about me about how your circumstances change will affect things like carer's allowance from January. But the only things I can think would be affected would be potentially CA and DLA (although from a brief browse it says that the mobility component is still paid, and the care component is paid for the first 28 days then every day ds is at home). It shouldn't affect your receipt of services from the council when your ds is home iyswim.

Thanks for the responses. I have already written to DLA, CA and Child Benefit to inform them that DS is going to residential school from next week (aargh!). She wasn't asking for that reason. I think it makes sense that its just something on a form she is completing as she is doing a referral to a holiday/leisure scheme for 12+ and she said ages ago that it is long and complicated. I thought that, if I didn't answer or said I wasn't getting DLA/CA, she would start advising me to apply etc so it would have been pointless not to answer. I also thought that DLA belongs to DS, not to me, so that can't be taken into account. I won't continue to get CA so that is immaterial.
As I understand it Yurt, DLA and CA will send me forms to complete or info on how to inform them when DS is home and they reinstate payments for those times. Mobility does continue regardless (hooray!). I don't see why the DLA doesn't go to the care part of the residential school but no doubt there are reasons......! The main reason for changes in the services we receive is that he is over 12 and most of the Clubs/schemes he attended were up to 12 only so we are having to find new things and get referrals. DPs will continue during holidays.....

fio - what a cow!

Happy New Year Davros!

Nice to see you Davros

SS do ask about DLA, they did with us- easier for them than bothering to assess themselves I reckon tbh

Mind you they ask some bizarre things as well- wanted to know what we were doing with bedrooms as apaprently 3 bedroom houses and 4 don't go- er yes they do! My asnwer was simply 'if it doesn't we can move' and on teh assessment iy says we are thinking about moving (only of landlord wants to sell up- no chance otherwise, we're have an Autie room and a (hopefully) Not Autie room LOL).

Just a quick update - I spoke to Soc Worker yesterday who told me that she is completing DS's Placement Information Record. This is a form that must be completed and signed by parents and new school before he starts there..... next Tuesday! They've only known about it for a year, ho hum.

Sounds about right Davros LOL!