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Are foster carers entitled to claim for any other benefits?
plunk on Thu Oct 07, 2010 10:39 am
I'm sure i'm missing out somewhere. I hear people talking all the time about different credits and claims they can make as a carer but i'm not sure if they're pulling my leg or not. I'm pretty sure i'm not entitled to anything extra because my wife earns over £35,000. I'm not too bothered but hate the thought of missing out on something i'm entitled to. And it might go towards our trip to Disneyland Paris this Christmas.
Oh, there's another thing. We want to take our kids and our fostered kids all away this Christmas but we're having massive troubles finding out if the two fostered kids have passports or not. I've been asking for 8 weeks now. I just need a simple yes or no. We need to book now really but can't because we need to know if they have their passports. Judging on how long it takes to get permission to get their hair cut i can see getting the paperwork together for a passport application taking a good 12 months. Maybe if i start now then we might be sorted for next year.
Back to the benefits. I know all about the excellent tax breaks we get. If any carers pay tax then they must be doing a LOT of fostering, the tax allowance really is very generous (well done HMRC, for once). Do you claim for anything? And are there any other benefits i should know about? It really is rather confussing.
Oh, there's another thing. We want to take our kids and our fostered kids all away this Christmas but we're having massive troubles finding out if the two fostered kids have passports or not. I've been asking for 8 weeks now. I just need a simple yes or no. We need to book now really but can't because we need to know if they have their passports. Judging on how long it takes to get permission to get their hair cut i can see getting the paperwork together for a passport application taking a good 12 months. Maybe if i start now then we might be sorted for next year.
Back to the benefits. I know all about the excellent tax breaks we get. If any carers pay tax then they must be doing a LOT of fostering, the tax allowance really is very generous (well done HMRC, for once). Do you claim for anything? And are there any other benefits i should know about? It really is rather confussing.
plunk- Number of posts: 307
Age: 33
Location: Sennan Cove
Registration date: 2010-09-21 
Re: Are foster carers entitled to claim for any other benefits?
lamplady on Thu Oct 07, 2010 1:06 pm
I would just tell them you are booking the holiday and they either need to get passports and permissions or find a respite carer. They will then sort it out. You will receive the passport and consent the day before you go on holiday, but that's the way they work 
in terms of benefits, it is possible for carers to claim working families tax credits if you have birth children, as Fcs are classed as working full time in self employment, but I'm not sure at your wife's income level that you would get much -we get £41 a month in a similar financial situation.
The tax benefits seem generous, but when you foster teens you can come pretty close to the edge. I currently have 1 very challenging teen so can't take any other placements, meaning I'm given a retainer for those beds. I am really pushing the tax limits this year because I don't have children in those placements -though still can't work elsewhere and have to run a household, and I earn every penny!! (anti-grey hair dye is not cheap!)
in terms of benefits, it is possible for carers to claim working families tax credits if you have birth children, as Fcs are classed as working full time in self employment, but I'm not sure at your wife's income level that you would get much -we get £41 a month in a similar financial situation.
The tax benefits seem generous, but when you foster teens you can come pretty close to the edge. I currently have 1 very challenging teen so can't take any other placements, meaning I'm given a retainer for those beds. I am really pushing the tax limits this year because I don't have children in those placements -though still can't work elsewhere and have to run a household, and I earn every penny!! (anti-grey hair dye is not cheap!)
lamplady- moderator
- Number of posts: 388
Registration date: 2008-08-26 -
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