Hi

Hope someone can help as I am new to working with this client group. I have a young girl aged 16 who is in fostercare (placed by LA) She has a baby, who is not subject to a care order. My understanding is that as the young girl is a lone parent she can claim income support, CB and I think CTC in the usual way. However, I have been asked to find out whether this will affect the amount of fostering allowance paid to the carer. She is not receiving any money for the baby, but will there be any reduction in the allowances paid to her for the babys mum? I guess it may be down to LA discretion - but does anyone know what usually happens in these circumstances?

thank you

Correct on all points (although it would be different if the baby was placed as a foster child or subject to a care order). In particular correct that fostering payments are subject to LA discretion - they always are. I have known the LA remove any amount if the fostering allowance for 'pocket money' for the fostered child (the 16 year old in this case) in these circumstances.

However I think any other reduction would be unreasonable: the foster carers' costs are only likely to be increased by the presence of the baby, and the increase is unlikely to be offset by payments from the 16 year old. If the foster carer is anything like those I know s/he will rightly, and probably effectively, protest any such reduction.

Richard Atkinson