FOI Request - Kinship Care and Fostering Allowances

Request 101000039382

1. The amount currently paid to those in receipt of Kinship Care Allowance (per week) for the care of:
0 to 4 years old
5 to 10 years old
11 to 15 years old
16 to 18 years old

2. The allowance paid for fostered children (per week) for:
0 to 4 years old
5 to 10 years old
11 to 15 years old
16 to 18 years old

3. How many people were in receipt of (a) kinship care allowance and (b) fostering allowance in the years:
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12 to date

4. How much has the local authority spent on (a) kinship care allowance and (b) fostering allowance in the years:
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12 to date

Response 30 January 2012

Kinship Care and Fostering Allowances

1. The amount currently paid to those in receipt of Kinship Care Allowance (per week) for the care of:

0 to 4 years old - £77.05

5 to 10 years old - £95.60

11 to 15 years old - £119.00

16 to 18 years old - £154.09

The actual amount will vary as these are the levels inclusive of child benefit which the Kinship Carer claims separately and may be at either the higher or lower rate.

2. The allowance paid for fostered children (per week) for:

0 to 4 years old - £131.47

5 to 10 years old-£149.76

11 to 15 years old- £186.43

16 to 18 years old- £226.74

3. How many people were in receipt of (a) kinship care allowance and (b) fostering allowance in the years:

Kinship Care

2007/08

2008/09 - kinship care allowances not recorded prior to this date 2009/10 - 40 (@ Nov '09)

2010/11 - 39 (@ Sept '10)

2011/12 to date - 47 (@ Sept '11)

Fostering Allowance

2007/8 – 62 children (@ w/b 02/12/07)

2008/9 – 52 children (@ w/b 07/12/08)

2009/10 – 72 children (@ w/b 06/12/09)

2010/11 – 71 children (@ w/b 05/12/10)

2011/12 to date – 87 children (@ w/b 04/12/11)

4. How much has the local authority spent on (a) kinship care allowance and (b) fostering allowance in the years:

Kinship Care

2007/08

2008/09 - £148,815.54

2009/10 - £156,429.35

2010/11 - £161,655.39

2011/12 - £123,620.01 (@ Dec '11)

Fostering Allowance

2007/08

2008/09 - £469,067.42

2009/10 - £566,535.77

2010/11 - £587,757.33

2011/12 - £556,875.68 (@ Dec '11)