Visiting grandkids in foster care

reddevilfan

Hello

Can anyone give me advice on this topic please. A friend is currently dealing with grandkids in care and every fortnight has to travel app 70+ km to see them both.

My friend is elderly and on a SW payment and is struggling to get by and is made to travel in her car to an arranged location.

The problem is that this is now becoming very expensive as the kids are getting older and demanding more from her.

The expenses range from petrol, tolls, car wear and tear, food, snacks, drinks toy vending machines, Admittance fees to various attractions amongst other things etc like birthdays and christmas

Their is only a 2 hour visiting time period and to keep the family bond intact she won't say no to the child's request as she loves them so much.

The expenses are rising vastly and some bills are being overlooked so can anyone offer any information to make these visit less stressful and cam she look for some income to support this fortnightly expenditure as this will be ongoing for many years to come

Thanks very much for any help

infogiver

1890 252 084
Is the number of a State agency called Treoir who if you ring will be able to advise you of any help available to grandparents of children in care.

Dr Turk Turkelton

She wants to put car wear and tear down as an expense to see her grandkids?
Really?

dbagman

Dr Turk Turkelton wrote:

She wants to put car wear and tear down as an expense to see her grandkids? Really?

You don't know her situation. Why judge? She obvs loves them to put in the effort she is. How do you know she's not going without heating to pay for her trips to see them? Or cutting back on her shopping? There's enough free loading spongers in this country that I wouldn't for a second hesitate to question someone wanting to claim all they can in situations like this. Just because you obviously see running your car as a minor expense doesn't give you the right to look down your nose on someone who can't or is struggling to afford it.

liquoriceall

dbagman wrote:

You don't know her situation. Why judge? She obvs loves them to put in the effort she is. How do you know she's not going without heating to pay for her trips to see them? Or cutting back on her shopping? There's enough free loading spongers in this country that I wouldn't for a second hesitate to question someone wanting to claim all they can in situations like this. Just because you obviously see running your car as a minor expense doesn't give you the right to look down your nose on someone who can't or is struggling to afford it.

If her child had moved 70km away then she wouldn't be able to claim expenses for visiting them? Would she not consider speaking with the foster parents about meeting somewhere that there are no external expenses available? For example meet in the park?

Owryan

It might be possible to discuss moving the access to somewhere closer but I don't know how feasible that would be. It also depends on whether the access is supervised or not.

It is also possible the child's social worker might be able to arrange a travel warrant. I also know some family members got exceptional needs payments for travelling but neither option would be a long term solution.

Just saw the kids are demanding more off your friend. Well tell them she cannot afford it. If they are in foster care then that family gets a payment to provide for them not the gran

gordongekko

If she is elderly she probably has a travel pass. Is it on a bus route?

Dr Turk Turkelton

dbagman wrote: »

You don't know her situation. Why judge? She obvs loves them to put in the effort she is. How do you know she's not going without heating to pay for her trips to see them? Or cutting back on her shopping? There's enough free loading spongers in this country that I wouldn't for a second hesitate to question someone wanting to claim all they can in situations like this. Just because you obviously see running your car as a minor expense doesn't give you the right to look down your nose on someone who can't or is struggling to afford it.

It's not running her car though, this is an extra on top of petrol and tolls.i don't see running a car as a minor expense but trying to claim wear and tear on your car for visiting your own grandchildren-come on, this sounds exactly like the people you point out "claim all they can in situations like this".

Loveinapril

70km every two weeks really doesn't seem like that big of a journey.

Can the woman talk to the children's social worker about maybe moving the access slightly closer once a month or so? Your friend should honestly just stop paying for things that she cannot afford. There is no need to be lavishing the children with treats every visit.

njs030

dbagman wrote: »

You don't know her situation. Why judge?
There's enough free loading spongers in this country...
...doesn't give you the right to look down your nose on someone...

It's OK for you to judge and look down your nose though??

Op she already has a free travel pass if she's elderly perhaps she can ask for the visits to take place somewhere she can get a bus.
If she can't afford to take them to expensive places she needs to tell them no and take them to the park or to cheaper places like every other parent and grandparent.

reddevilfan

liquoriceall wrote: »

If her child had moved 70km away then she wouldn't be able to claim expenses for visiting them? Would she not consider speaking with the foster parents about meeting somewhere that there are no external expenses available? For example meet in the park?

Listen you troll..... She does not decide where to meet them social workers do....

And numerous arrears are popping up due to these visiting arrangements...

I hope karma pays you a nice visit soon and you come back to ask for assistance

reddevilfan

notjustsweet wrote: »

It's OK for you to judge and look down your nose though??

Op she already has a free travel pass if she's elderly perhaps she can ask for the visits to take place somewhere she can get a bus.
If she can't afford to take them to expensive places she needs to tell them no and take them to the park or to cheaper places like every other parent and grandparent.

What travel pass you tool go off and get off your high horse and put your useless self obsessed input elsewhere and go take that silver spoon outta your back side

reddevilfan

Loveinapril wrote: »

70km every two weeks really doesn't seem like that big of a journey.

Can the woman talk to the children's social worker about maybe moving the access slightly closer once a month or so? Your friend should honestly just stop paying for things that she cannot afford. There is no need to be lavishing the children with treats every visit.

That's one way not return Inc...

And this Soc worker is being a pain.

Friend is not looking to sponge but more so reduce expenditure or find out if SW and FP have allowance to spend as my friend pays for everything Inc food admittance to play parks etc

reddevilfan

reddevilfan wrote: »

What travel pass you tool go off and get off your high horse and put your useless self obsessed input elsewhere and go take that silver spoon outta your back side

Apologies taught you were the troll above

reddevilfan

reddevilfan wrote: »

Listen you troll..... She does not decide where to meet them social workers do....

And numerous arrears are popping up due to these visiting arrangements...

I hope karma pays you a nice visit soon and you come back to ask for assistance

Sorry meant for that Dr user

reddevilfan

Dr Turk Turkelton wrote: »

She wants to put car wear and tear down as an expense to see her grandkids?
Really?

Karma I play for you have a nice long year my friend

cee_jay

Thread closed as OP being quite uncivil on thread.
OK if you have an issue with a post report it and do not resort to name calling on thread.
Once you can post in a civil manner you are free to post on this forum again.