Tag Archives: kinship carer
For families who care for children of friends or relatives
High Court ruling ‘could mean extra money for carers who look after relatives’ children’
Thousands of carers who look after relatives’ children could be paid as much as double the financial support they currently receive after a landmark High Court judgment today.
By Sam Marsden
Mr Justice Males paid tribute to the “unsung heroines of our society” as he ruled that a council was wrong to pay more money to foster parents who were unrelated to the youngsters they cared for than those who brought up the children of family or friends.
The case was brought by a woman who is the registered foster mother of two nephews and a niece, who are aged seven, 14 and 15, and all of whom have serious learning difficulties and emotional problems.
She complained that Tower Hamlets council in East London was paying her less to help look after the children than an unrelated foster parent would have received.
The judge concluded today that the local authority’s payment policies discriminated against people who fostered children to whom they were related.
The solicitor who represented the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said the judgment could also benefit many other families who look after children of friends or relatives.
High court victory for Swadlincote gran’s carer cash case
A GRANDMOTHER from Swadlincote has won permission from a high court judge to challenge a council over its carers allowance.
08:38 Thursday 03 January 2013 Written by BY HELEN KREFT
The 67-year-old, who cares for her 13-year-old grandson, and at one stage was also caring for her granddaughter, receives a residence allowance from Derbyshire County Council, which is just 58 per cent of a fostering allowance. However, with the help of Ridley and Hall – a specialist grandparent carers solicitors, she will now challenge the policy, saying it would have cost the county council a fortune putting the children into foster care.
The children were placed with her in 2000 by Social Services who encouraged her to apply for a residence order, as the children’s’ parents were not able to properly care for them.
