Foster care and claiming JSA

martinmcdonnell

I am currently claiming JSA and we have been approved as foster parents for a foster company that finds homes for children from the HSE.(Where the HSE are unable to find any homes)
My question is as a foster allowence is paid to us from the foster company to go towards the child's care,will it effect my JSA payment?
I know a foster allowence paid direct from the HSE is not taken into account I can't find anything that addressees my issue.
Any help would be great thanks!

danjo-xx

I know a foster allowence paid direct from the HSE is not taken into account

so why on earth would the same not apply to foster parents who have been placed with a child from a private company who on behalf of the hse finds home for them that the hse itself can not.

You should be looking for a bonus, do they pay more than the standard hse rates, is that your concern.

martinmcdonnell

danjo-xx wrote: »

You should be looking for a bonus, do they pay more than the standard hse rates, is that your concern.

They pay only slightly more,but we went with them because they provide 24/7 support where as the HSE only can provide 9 to 5 Monday to Friday and if something happens Friday evening and you need to contact them you have to wait until Monday morning.
Plus the private company provide you with your own link worker who works on your behalf with the child's social worker.
My concern is that because it is not coming direct as a HSE payment can the social welfare class it as an income even though it is non taxable and it is stated as an allowence and not wages.

When we first applied to be foster parents I was in full time employment so none it concerned me at the time.

wmpdd3

I have no idea, but maybe the money is paid to you for the child? Maybe it is as you are just a trustee of the the money until it can be paid to the child, like the mobility allowance for example. Though knowing the SW office....

btb

Get it in writing from the fostering service, that it is an allowance payment to cover the child's need's and not an income for you. This is essentially what the payment is. It should be same as from HSE and is not counted as income for welfare purposes.
As an aside do you have another income coming into household as for fostering with HSE they would have an issue with being on welfare (think there is minimum income threshold), not that they will show you any documentation stating what it is. May not matter with fostering company.

LJ82

payment for foster care is not taken into account, however, some private companies insist that there is an adult available at all times which means that one adult in the house is not allowed be in employment, if you are a single carer or if your partner is in full time employment then you would not be looking for work which may be a problem for you with the jsa.

I have worked a lot in this area and it can be extremely rewarding, best of luck with it all