3 grandchildren now call this home

Give Citizens Advice a ring, they may well help, good luck.

I have been listening about this anomaly on the radio. If you were fostering you would have help, it seems so wrong. I’m sorry you are having such a problem. But your grandchildren must be so relieved, what a great thing to do.

Midget, thanks, I called them, so many options, spoke to one person, then onto another option and cut off. Same with live chat! Was very disappointed

Midgey, apologies, I meant to respond to Jaxjacky and also meant to refer to your name, dratted autocorrect!

Backtomum

Midget, thanks, I called them, so many options, spoke to one person, then onto another option and cut off. Same with live chat! Was very disappointed

Get an appointment if you can?

Someone I know is a Legal Guardian of a child until he is 18. I know they get an allowance for this from the state. It is similar to fostering and this child is their relative. Do keep looking as there may be help available. As well as the money, the child goes to holiday clubs although I do not know if that is an extra.

Have you been in touch with Social Services? I left a long time ago but they should be able to offer advice and practical support. You certainly should get more than family allowance.
If they were in care it would cost a fortune.
Well done for doing this for your grandchildren, it is a huge commitment but so worth while and will bring them the security all children deserve,

Call or email Citizens Advice, they have access to all the updated info on benefits etc.,

Getting advice from something like citizens advice, social services or even the benefits office DSSS as was (or whatever it’s called now )may help.
Certainly Citizen/dvice is a good place to start.

Can't help with your question Backtomum but I did want to say well done to you and your husband for taking care of your grandchildren in this way. Its a big responsibility to take on but will mean so much to them I'm sure. I hope you get some help soon.

This might help

frg.org.uk/get-help-and-advice/who/kinship-carers/

Backtomum the poster Primrose has left you best forum to contact they will advise any allowances you can apply for they also have a helpline to offer support and advice. there are many new lines of thought opening up that kinship carers should receive allowances simular to foster carers and rightly so. A foster carer through social services can receive approximately £160 per week and often other extras. Many family take on children and receive very little although they do have the greatest satisfaction of keeping the children within the family which is a true blessing. Good luck.

I suggest you go to mumsnet where there are several categories appropriate for this question. Look under the “parenting” choices and “adoption”. Perhaps even ask Nader “Legal”. There is some good, knowledgable advice there. Would you qualify as a Kinship Carer as I understand that gives good financial support? Hopefully others will come along with experience.
I wish you well with this generous undertaking and hope over time it is rewarding.

When I said £160 per week that would be for one child and subsequent children also £160 per week so it is a fault in the government that family taking in children do not receive anything like those monetary allowances and really struggle.

Oops cross posted with PRIMROSE53.

Primrose has sent you the link I was going to send. Hope it helps.
I doubt it from the information you have given, but might you qualify for Pension Credit now you have the three children?

I’ve contacted frg, family right group and social services are 8nvolved with this. Thank you for these suggestions, I’ll look into everything.

3nanny6

When I said £160 per week that would be for one child and subsequent children also £160 per week so it is a fault in the government that family taking in children do not receive anything like those monetary allowances and really struggle.

I think foster carers get a lot more than that. My friend fosters teenagers and is paid about £500 a week for each plus the kids are provided with school uniforms, laptops, phones, money for activities etc.

Good to read you are in touch with FRG
My long experience was that local authorities, strapped for cash, tried to avoid care proceeding, working on a ‘voluntary’ basis with parents and alternative famiky carers. If your grandchildren are subject to public law/ie care proceedings they should be legally represented by their Children’s Guardian. That individual should be ensuring that your legal costs dare paid bring the l.a and that there is a Care Plan identifying the support yiu may need, particularly the funding foster carers would get -

but OP said the parents still have parental rights, so unlikely the children were the subject of care proceedings/public law.

I don't know if this helps but I do hope you can find someone who can help directly.

www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/grandparents-childcare-credit/

but they will already be in receipt of state pension, presumably, being over 70, so NI credits are not really necessary.
imp for younger GPs though.
some seem unaware.

Backtomum - what a lovely thing to do . Your grandchildren are blessed to have you. I have no advice or knowledge but I wish you, your husband and the children, all the best in the world

yes, it's a lot to take on, esp with the younger ones, at your ages.
all power to your elbow.
will they have to change schools?
some schools and their parent groups can be a good source of advice/information.