When does kinship fostering allowance start?

The start of a kinship fostering allowance is linked to the formal fostering arrangement, rather than to the point when you first ask about fostering or begin an assessment. An enquiry, assessment, training course or approval panel decision does not normally create an entitlement to a fostering allowance on its own.

Before payment can be arranged, the local authority should confirm the basis on which the child is living with you and the type of approval you hold. This may include:

• temporary approval as a connected-person foster carer while checks and assessment continue;
• full approval as a kinship foster carer; or
• another legal arrangement, such as a child arrangements order, special guardianship order or private family arrangement.

These arrangements are not interchangeable. A fostering allowance is intended for children placed with an approved or temporarily approved foster carer. If the child is living with you under a different order, the financial support available may come through another scheme, with different eligibility rules and payment arrangements.

Emergency and temporary placements

Kinship placements can sometimes happen urgently, before every assessment stage has been completed. In that situation, ask the social worker to explain the temporary approval arrangements in writing, including the date from which the placement and approval are recorded. This date is important when the local authority calculates any allowance due.

Temporary approval does not necessarily mean that payment arrangements can be left until the full assessment is finished. The local authority should tell you whether an allowance applies during the temporary period, how it will be calculated and what information is needed to set up payment. If the child was placed before the paperwork was completed, ask specifically whether the allowance will be paid from the placement date, the temporary approval date or another date set by the authority.

Why the first payment may not arrive immediately

The date entitlement begins and the date money reaches your account are separate issues. A local authority may need to:

• record the placement and approval status;
• complete its financial assessment or confirm the applicable fostering rate;
• check your bank and identification details;
• agree any additional payments connected with the child’s needs; and
• include the allowance in its payment run.

Administrative processing can therefore mean that the first payment arrives after the date from which the allowance is due. Ask whether the first payment will include any amount accrued since that date. If it does not, ask the local authority to explain its decision and the process for querying it.

What to confirm with the social worker

Request a clear explanation of the following points before, or as soon as possible after, the child moves in:

• Has the local authority formally approved or temporarily approved me as a kinship foster carer?
• What date does it record as the start of the placement and the start of any allowance?
• Does the allowance apply during temporary approval?
• What rate applies to this child and are there separate payments for specific needs or agreed expenses?
• When is the first payment due to be processed?
• Will any amount be included for an earlier period, and if not, why not?
• Who should I contact if the payment is missing or the amount appears incorrect?

Keep copies of the approval notice, placement agreement, payment information and relevant emails. These records can help identify whether a delay concerns the approval date, the payment calculation or the local authority’s administration.

If you are unsure whether the arrangement is fostering or another type of kinship care, ask for the legal status to be explained before relying on an expected payment. The allowance, start date and application process can differ significantly between arrangements. A supervising social worker or the local authority’s fostering finance team should confirm the position for your circumstances.