People who take in relatives’ children to keep them out of the foster care system are afraid of having to give them up when the cost of living skyrockets, says charity Kinship.
In England and Wales, most family carers receive less financial support than foster parents and some have warned they are now struggling, the charity says.
Ministers say they are working to identify how best to improve support.
However, rising prices mean that Laura Thornton, who takes care of two half-siblings, receives “threatening letters” about her debts.
Laura is among nearly 1,500 carers across England and Wales who took part in the charity’s survey. Together they look after more than 2,000 children. But the poll found:
- Nearly nine in 10 were struggling to make ends meet, citing problems with rising heating bills, grocery costs, children’s clothing, and rent or mortgage payments
- Almost a third fear that heavy financial burdens could prevent them from continuing to look after their children
Laura, 33, from West Sussex, took in her two half-siblings six years ago after a family bereavement. Until then, she was working 60 hours a week as a trainee team leader in the hospitality industry.
If she hadn’t intervened, she says, the children would most likely have been taken into care and separated: “I felt like I had to keep my siblings together. They would have felt neglected and unwanted.”
At the beginning of her application for legal guardianship, social services told Laura that she needed to quit her job and devote her time full-time to the children, so she was now dependent on welfare.
“It changed my life, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. I survived on food banks, school lunch vouchers and family support. I have no money left over – it all goes on gas and electricity bills which have gone from £91 to £200 a month,” she says.
“I’m now behind on my rent and I’m getting threatening letters from the housing department that debt collectors are coming. The pressure is very, very high. I don’t want to fail as a parent and I feel like if I can’t pay my bills I’ll be a failure.”
She says a regular financial subsidy – the same as a caregiver – would make “a big difference”.
Last month, an independent review of council-run childcare services in England urged changes, including better financial and emotional support for families like Laura’s.
Kinship would like family members looking after relatives’ children to receive a universal, standard, non-means-tested allowance equal to the minimum amounts paid to foster parents in England and Wales, ranging from £137 to £240 a week depending on location and age of the children.
According to the association, the financial support currently offered is “insufficient and patchy”.
“Pushed into poverty, the financial strain on many relatives’ families means that they fear having to give up looking after the children,” says Kinship Managing Director Dr. Lucy Peake. “This would be a massive tragedy that would be entirely avoidable.”
A spokesman for England’s Department of Education said: “Relative carers often make sacrifices to give vulnerable children and young people a permanent, loving home.
“Local authorities are free to offer financial support to loved ones carers at their discretion and later this year the government will fully respond to the recommendations proposed by the independent care review, including how we can further help loved ones carers.
“The government is also providing over £37 billion in family support to support those most vulnerable as costs soar.”
A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We really appreciate the care and support that caregivers are providing. We are currently undertaking a review of the support available to them in Wales.
“Carers of loved ones who are struggling or need advice and guidance should contact their local authorities directly to discuss and determine what advice and support they can access.”
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