Foster carers allowances - Find a freedom of information request

1. For your mainstream foster carer population (general/unconnected carers) the basic weekly allowances paid for 2023/24 per age bracket for all age bands. NOT including any fee/reward element for foster carers.

a. Please detail any other allowances paid for children living in mainstream foster care in addition to their weekly allowance, for example religious festival, holiday, birthday, other. Please detail the amount paid and the frequency foster carers can receive these.

b. Please detail any additional allowances or fees paid to for children with additional support needs or disabilities.

c. Your current fee/reward structure for mainstream foster carers (NB this is different to allowances for the child). Please include:

i. Details of the levels/bands for carers and how much you pay per week at each level/band.

ii. The number of mainstream foster carers on each level/band, including those that receive no fee on top of the child's allowance.

2. For your kinship foster carer population (connected carers) the basic weekly allowances paid for 2023/24 per age bracket for all age bands. NOT including any fee/reward element for foster carers.

a. Please detail any other allowances paid for children living in kinship foster care in addition to their weekly allowance, for example religious festival, holiday, birthday, other. Please detail the amount paid and the frequency foster carers can receive these.

b. Your current fee/reward structure for kinship foster carers (NB this is different to allowances for the child). Please include:

i. Details of the levels/bands for carers and how much you pay per week at each level/band.

ii. The number of kinship foster carers on each level/band, including those that receive no fee on top of the child's allowance.

3. Your 2023-24 weekly allowances for former foster carers looking after young people in 18+ Staying Put arrangements, broken down by year 1, year 2, and year 3 if necessary.

4. Your 2023-24 weekly fee payments for former foster carers looking after young people in 18+ Staying Put arrangements, broken down by year 1, year 2, and year 3 if necessary.

1.

*Remand Enhanced Rate only applies while the child is remanded/Bailed.

a.

b. These figures are listed previously under Non-Standard Rates (see Specific Child Rate and Children with Disabilities).

c. i. and ii. Lincolnshire County Council does not use a banding system and there is no reward structure. Fostering allowances are based on the needs of children in placement.

As of 19/04/2023, there are 226 approved mainstream fostering households.

2. This is the same as it is under Question 1 in terms of eligible weekly fostering allowances.

a. This remains the same as Question 1 A.

b. i and ii. As with mainstream households, we do not use a banding system or reward structure. Kinship placements are paid at the same age-related rates listed previously. Placements for children with additional needs or disabilities are paid at the same Specific Child Rate or CWD rates listed previously.

As of 19/04/2023, there are 58 approved Connected Persons households. There are also 43 kinship households temporarily approved under Regulation 24/25.

3. The level of financial support payable depends upon individual needs and circumstances. The financial package for the former carer is equivalent to that received through fostering allowances minus the allowance made to the young person. There is a no detriment (lower rate ) for offering Staying Put allowance to the previous foster  child.

The package is made up of funding from:

• Housing benefit/Universal Credit - the amount varies according to Local District

• Any contribution from the young person, from income or entitlement to grants, allowances or benefits.

•  Staying Put funding from Lincolnshire County Council will make up the balance of the cost.

The average weekly payment to Staying Put providers is £186 per week from  Lincolnshire County Council but the provider receives a total amount which takes into account the benefits and the young adults contribution. The weekly allowance to providers is dependent on the above factors/calculation as explained. Those  young adults at University receive a £100 per week during term time with the allowance reverting during university holidays.

The amount providers receive remains the same across the three-year period – unless the young person moves from being on benefits to being in employment. In this case the amount providers receive would increase as young people are expected to pay a maximum rent and board sum of £88 per week.

4. As with mainstream and kinship foster care, there is no fee/reward scheme for Staying Put  providers.