I am very interested to get views from other local authorities on this issue. Our local authority are keen to put in place some safeguards for children being fostered who receive DLA. I would stress most strongly that there is no intention to stop claims, nor to reduce or offset against foster payments. However, there are concerns that money claimed for the children is often paid into the foster carers bank account and treated as the family's income. Consideration is being given to asking fostercarers (or link workers) to set up seperate accounts. Money can still be accessed and spent for the child but if asked, carers must be able to say what they have spent it on. The intention is to preserve the interests of the child. Do any other L.A's do anything similar? or do most LA's not get involved in this? I would be really interested to hear from others so I can present views to the dept concerned. Many thanks

anybody?? - looking for comments good or bad. Just like to know what other LA's do in this situation?

No policy here but isn't DLA for a child almost always treated as general family income? Many of the costs associated with a disabled child - heating, housing, food, transport - are not readily severable from general household costs. And don't foster parents, like any other parents, have to consider fairness within the family?; it wouldn't be in anyone's interest for instance take a disabled child on holiday separately from the other children, although this might involve extra expense for everyone in getting suitable accomodation and transport. Granted there is some risk of misuse but isn't this risk adequately covered by the general oversight foster parents receive? My instinctive reaction would therefore be to oppose this move, absent evidence of serious misuse.

Richard Atkinson

Richard Atkinson

No policy here either but working in a team where we get all kids in Care onto our caseloads when they reach 15+ we have a major problem with DLA, I have to say I have seen abuses of the money when its being paid to the carer, (but to be fair, mostly when the carer is extended family) However it seems to be the case here that at 16 if the child is no longer in foster care the money is paid to the them. Usually these are kids with learning disability who have no budgeting skills and misuse this money. We badly need a system where we can receive the DLA for the child until at least 18 and in some cases 21 so we can ensure the money is used to meet their needs rather than keep them well stocked with weed!
From experience I would say this team would welcome at least some indication of how the DLA was being used by carers, if not paid to the authority initially and passed on to the carer with an agreement of how it is used.I

Thank you both for your replies. I shall pass these over to the team concerned for considertion.

Jules, we have a similar problem with our young people with learning disabilities. I have just done new claims for 3 YPs (this LA didnt have any benefits advisers in childrens services). One blew all is money and back pay in one weekend before his support worker could get to him and one was taken advantage of by other young people in his accomodation who got him buying them phones and all sorts of things. I was really pleased when they got their awards,but now feel I may have done more harm than good.