Disability Living Allowance - Fostered Children and Foster Carers

This Policy Procedure and Practice Guidance confirms Nottinghamshire County Council's position in respect of applications for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) from fostered children and how successful claims for DLA should be managed by the child's social worker and foster carer.

Nottinghamshire County Council's vision statement is that "we will work together to provide integrated services for all children and young people in Nottinghamshire aged 0-19 to improve their life chances and to help them maximise their potential". It is this authority's view that all available resources and supports should be pursued to achieve this vision. DLA is seen as an important resource in supporting a child to improve their life chances and to help them maximise their potential.

DLA can only be claimed for children under 16- anyone over 16 must apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). DLA and PIP are both non means-tested, tax free benefits which you do not have to declare on your tax return.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a benefit paid to children and young people under 16 who have care or mobility needs as a result of a disability or ill health.

DLA is not affected by a family's income or savings. It does not reduce other benefits. The receipt of DLA may entitle a family to extra support, tax credits, housing benefit and council tax benefit.

The person caring for a child with care or mobility needs may be able to claim Carer's Allowance for looking after the child. DLA is usually paid to the main carer to enhance the child’s life.

The benefit is paid to the child not the carer. Upon reaching the age of 16, the benefit can be paid to the child, if they are able to manage their own finances.

DLA is paid in two parts - the mobility component and the care component. Either or both of these payments can be claimed.

The care component is paid at three rates depending on the level and type of additional care needed. It can be claimed from birth but the child must have needed the extra help for at least 3 months to qualify and likely to need help for a further six months.

To qualify for DLA, a child must need additional help, above those of an average child of the same age, during the day and/or with everyday living tasks such as:

• They must need care, attention or supervision because of a physical or emotional health condition;
• They must have needed this care, attention or supervision for at least three months, and be likely to need this care, attention or supervision for a further six months;
• They must need substantially more care, attention or supervision than other children of the same age who do not have a disability or health condition;
• They must have no immigration conditions attached to their stay in the UK subject to some exceptions (if they have immigration restrictions on their stay in the UK claiming benefits may affect their future right to remain in the UK, so seek specialist immigration advice before claiming.

Note: If the child is terminally ill there are simpler rules which make it easier to apply.

The child may need someone with them to:

1. Stop the child from hurting themselves, or other people, because of behavioural difficulties;
2. Protect the child from dangers of which the child is unaware;
3. Prevent accidents. Children with little road sense could be at risk out of doors. This could be the case with children with learning disabilities or children with autism;
4. Guide a hearing impaired or a partially sighted child to walk out of doors safely;
5. Support a child with mental health problems to avoid becoming anxious and panicky in group/crowd situations.

If a child is not already in receipt of DLA, upon the child's admission to foster care, a claim for DLA should always be considered, at the beginning of a foster placement, by the child's social worker in conjunction with the child's foster carer and supervising social worker.

If a decision is made to make a claim for DLA, the Child's social worker should obtain an application form by making a telephone call to the Disability Living Allowance Helpline on 0800 121 4600 (textphone: 0800 121 4523).

The child should have his/her own bank account into which the DLA should be paid. The foster carer(s) for the child should be named as the appointee for the account.

Advice about completion of a claim can be sought of the child's social worker.

DLA should be spent by the foster carer in securing services and/or supports to meet the child's additional needs. DLA is intended to support everyday living. It can be spent on a range of activities and equipment to meet the child's additional needs. It can be spent on additional foster household expenses such as laundry and heating costs. It can be spent on replacing clothing, shoes, glasses etc if excessive wear and tear/destructive behaviour is indicated. Examples of hidden costs include additional wear and tear on domestic appliances e.g. washing machine, tumble drier, damage to property etc.

The child's social worker and foster carer should agree as the manner in which the DLA is to be spent. This Agreement should be formally recorded on the child's file and reviewed at regular intervals.

DLA is not intended to be savings/investment plan for the child. DLA should be spent in the manner which it is intended.

The child's bank statement details should be kept by the foster carer, along with records and details of expenditure. These records should be entered onto the child's file as a financial document, on a three-monthly basis by the child's social worker.

The Supervising social worker will from time to time discuss this with the foster carer within supervision meetings and foster carer reviews.

If a child is awarded DLA, this will have an impact on the child's eligibility for additional fostering allowances. The child's receipt of DLA will not affect the foster carer's receipt of the Regular Weekly Allowance.

If a child is awarded the highest rate of DLA, the child will not be eligible for consideration of additional fostering allowances, unless exceptional expenditure is indicated. Additional costs, arising from a child's dietary and clothing needs, household expenses, and excessive wear and tear on the home, medical/health needs, play/learning needs, social needs and educational needs should be met from the DLA.

If a child is awarded the middle or lower rate of DLA, the child's social worker and foster carer should determine the amount of weekly expenditure required to meet the child's additional needs. If a shortfall is identified between the DLA and projected costs, the difference should be considered for payment from an additional fostering allowance.

If a child is awarded the high to middle rate of DLA, the foster carer should be encouraged to make an application for Carer's Allowance (which is taxable).

If the foster carer is awarded Carer's Allowance, this will not affect any fees paid to the foster carer with the exception of Child Specific Fees. In such situations an amount, commensurate to the carer's receipt of the weekly Carer's Allowance, will be deducted from the payment of the weekly Child Specific Fee.

The supervising social worker is responsible for informing the service manager (fostering) of a foster carer's receipt of Carer's Allowance when a Child Specific Fee has been authorised.

The Service Manager for the Fostering Service will be responsible for the overview regarding the claims and use of DLA.

Children's Services Team Managers will be responsible for ensuring that Children's social workers are made aware of the policy and complete their duties within the policy.

Supervising social workers will be responsible for ensuring that Foster Carers are aware of their duties within the policy.

Independent Reviewing Officers will have an overview of DLA claims and its use within individual care plans for children and young people.