Hartnell Chanot: Divorce/Family Law Solicitors Exeter, Devon
Can you get financial support?
It is always worth contacting the Benefits Agency to see if there are any benefits you may be entitled to
Taking over the full time care of your grandchildren can dramatically alter your financial outlook.
Retirement is often thought of as a time to sit back and enjoy your spare time and any available cash you might have. Funds which were previously set aside for holidays and leisure may now be allocated to the grandchildren’s financial welfare.
Adding up the costs
There is no doubt that alongside all the love they bring, raising children is expensive. There are the everyday expenses such as food, clothing and increased domestic bills to more specific costs relating to funding children’s education through university. It’s a sensible precaution therefore, to take stock of your financial situation, taking account of all assets including savings, investments and property against the projected financial cost of bring up children.
Can you get financial help?
In becoming responsible for looking after your grandchildren, your situation has changed considerably and it is always worth contacting the Benefits Agency to see if there are any benefits you may be entitled to. Make an appointment at your local Benefits Agency and talk it through with an advisor. If your grandchildren are residing with you permanently, you may well be entitled to Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit.
You can check your entitlement on the Internet at www.hmrc.gov.uk or ring their dedicated Child Benefit Line on 0845 302 1444 or 0845 302 1474 (text phone) 8am – 8pm 7 days per week.
Other allowances
The way in which you go about obtaining Parental Responsibility could have a bearing on the level of financial support you might receive and it is therefore vital that you seek quality legal advice from a family lawyer before considering any course of action regarding Parental Responsibility for your grandchildren.
Peter Harris, chairman of the Grandparent’s Association warns of the pitfalls of taking out a Residence Order or Special Guardianship Order before trying to negotiate money from your Local Authority. “Some Authorities try to evade their responsibility by persuading grandparents they should take out an order. Once that happens the child no longer needs support and so it’s effectively goodbye.”
Residence Order Allowance
If you have a Residence Order, the Local Authority may pay you an allowance. It is discretionary, based on the needs of the child, your needs and your Local Authority’s policy.
Special Guardianship Allowance
If you have a Special Guardianship Allowance the Local Authority can pay you a Special Guardianship Allowance. It is means tested and discretionary (unless you have previously been receiving a fostering allowance). If you have been fostering a child you should get the higher rate of allowance for two years.
Further Advice - Welfare Benefits Hotline
The Grandparents Associtaion offer specialist welfare benefits information for those grandparents (or other family members and friends) who are caring for their grandchildren full time. Contact 01279 412963 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
