Ombudsman backs kinship carer in Liverpool
Posted: Thu Aug 01, 2013 1:11 pm
The Local Government Ombudsman has decided in favour of an aunt-carer who took her complaint to them, and as a result she has received over £10,000 in backdated payments.
There are four strands to this decision:
1. The council did not treat the child as a looked after child when they should have done, and did not pay the carer the fostering allowance she should have been receiving.
2. The council did not pay a fostering allowance that was in line with the government's minimum allowance for foster carers.
3. The council did not pay a special guardianship allowance that was linked to the level of fostering allowance the carer would have received.
4. The council deducted child benefit from the SGO allowance, even although the carer was living on benefits, and the government recommends that CB should not be deducted from the allowance when the carer is on benefits.
As a result of the decision, Liverpool are reviewing their payments to another 340 carers.
This is an important decision for any family and friends carers who are not being treated as foster carers, when they ought to be, or who are not receiving level of SGO allowance they are entitled to. If you are complaining to your council about these things, you will be able to refer to this finding.
You can read more, including the full report, on the LGO website: http://www.lgo.org.uk/news/2013/aug/liv ... 40-carers/
Congratulations to the lady concerned for successfully making her case!
There are four strands to this decision:
1. The council did not treat the child as a looked after child when they should have done, and did not pay the carer the fostering allowance she should have been receiving.
2. The council did not pay a fostering allowance that was in line with the government's minimum allowance for foster carers.
3. The council did not pay a special guardianship allowance that was linked to the level of fostering allowance the carer would have received.
4. The council deducted child benefit from the SGO allowance, even although the carer was living on benefits, and the government recommends that CB should not be deducted from the allowance when the carer is on benefits.
As a result of the decision, Liverpool are reviewing their payments to another 340 carers.
This is an important decision for any family and friends carers who are not being treated as foster carers, when they ought to be, or who are not receiving level of SGO allowance they are entitled to. If you are complaining to your council about these things, you will be able to refer to this finding.
You can read more, including the full report, on the LGO website: http://www.lgo.org.uk/news/2013/aug/liv ... 40-carers/
Congratulations to the lady concerned for successfully making her case!