Grandparents running up debt to support grandchildren

13/02/2018

A survey of kinship carers has found that nearly 200,000 children in the UK are being raised by a family member other than their parents.

The findings of the survey carried out by two charities, revealed that the task of kinship carers – people who look after the children of other family members (grandchildren, nieces and nephews etc.) or friends – often falls on grandparents. The financial strain of this has, in some cases, meant that carers are using credit cards to buy food or are failing to pay a bill.

This is in stark contrast to registered foster carers who are entitled to financial support from their local authority. It’s also difficult for kinship carers to access help if the arrangement is private with no legal order, although they may be able to claim benefits available for children, low-income families, older people or those with a disability or long-term illness. There are various orders that the Court can make to ensure the wellbeing of children, some of which put a responsibility on the local authority to pay an allowance.

Charity, Grandparents Plus wants a national minimum allowance introduced to cover the costs of raising a child as there is no statutory entitlement for kinship carers. While the Department for Education recognises the role grandparents’ play, the party line is that local authorities are responsible for advice and financial support.

The survey which was carried out by Grandparents Plus and Family Fund suggests that:

•55% cited the most common reason children are in kinship care is due to parental drug or alcohol abuse

•45% of respondents quit work to become carers

•43% said they don’t have enough income for their grandchildren's needs

•The average income for a kinship household is £17,316, well below the national average of £27,200

•19% of carers rely on their pension as their main source of income

Russell and Russell can give advice to grandparents, and other family carers, about their rights when social services place grandchildren with them.