Long Term Fostering

[hannah40]

I have been a foster carer for a local,council for 12 years. The young person has Down syndrome.

when the child moved in with me we were given a fee that covers our cost ,bills, care food, rent, that figure hasn't gone up over the years but we never complain as we do the job out of love.

just recently though I found out that other foster carers have been getting more fees than us and the children they care for don't have disabilities. 
when I made enquiries to the council they said when I joined the team that was the fee I was given and they said it should have been more.

they are going to put it up now from April to the correct amount and that's really good but I still feel cheated that I did a job for far less fees than another foster carer did .

another carer said I should ask for the arrears for the last 12 years ,part of me says perhaps I should but how do I go about that? Another part of me says your not doing this for the money your doing it out of love which I am. But I still don't think it's fair that other foster carers have had more money over the years and not had child with disabilities that needs more care and time.

any advice here p,ease.

[Peter Pedant]

you write to them and ask first

there will be a time limit beyond which you cant claim beyond BUT I dont know what that is in a specialised area

citixens advice are good at his sort of thing - oh and ubasses may have an idea

on the facts given 'maladministration' is a good word to use

[Maydup]

I think its worth enquiring about the back dated under payments.  You dont need to be agressive or threaten with legal action, just write to the council in a fairly formal non emotional manner about them correcting the long standing error.

As you say you do it for the sake of the children rather than the money, but dont feel guilty about enquiring or standing up for yourself. 

Well done you and congratulations on 12 years of marvelous work.

[Canary42]

Forget all the comparsons with other carers and doing it for love etc - the council have admitted their error and are morally and probably legally bound to back date the correction.  Give them hell.

[jno]

if you'd been overpaid they'd be hauling you into court to get their money back

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/07/unpaid-carers-allowance-payment-prosecution-earnings-rules

Since you're been underpaid I think you have every right to ask for what was due to you, whether they deliberately cheated  you out of it or just bungled it.