Foster carers are the noble guys that render valuable services to the society. They themselves are also benefited in a big way through their unique tasks.
These honest and dedicated people are benefited in the following manners:
- Benefits related to their children – Those engaged in fostering services get benefit in respect of their children.
- Living allowance on account of disability – Some people including children and adults falling under sixty five years of age require assistance for moving around due to the their disability in doing so. Foster carers are allowed to avail of the benefits as tax credits in respect of their income.
- Carers allowance – Persons taking care of someone being allowed the middle or higher rate of the part of the disability living allowance is permitted to avail such an allowance. It may pertain to the either rate of PIP for daily living or attendance allowance. The child may be own or the allowance may pertain to the adult or a fostered child for the period they are being cared for continuously for thirty hours in a week. No consideration is given to the income that is derived from fostering for counting the carers allowance. Tax returns of the foster carers should highlight this allowance as it is taxable.
- Means-tested advantages – Fostered children are not considered as a part of the family while calculations are made for means-tested benefits. Allowances and fees received through fostering for counting the total income are not accounted for while assessing the benefits.
Those engaged in lending activities are soft towards the people that are engaged in fostering activities. The latter are permitted extraordinary advantages in the shape of where can foster carers get a mortgage.
The under mentioned means-tested advantages are not accounted for in respect of the fostering carers:
- Jobseeker’s allowance based on their income.
- Income support
- Employment and support allowance based on income
- Benefits related with housing
- Council tax support
Jobseeker’s allowance based on income – This allowance pertains to the particular period when the foster carer is not engaged in fostering activities in the absence of any child in placement. The retainer allowance earned by the carer from the fostering service during absence of the child in placement can be counted for towards his or her income. The quantum of entitlement of the foster carer is reduced as regards the job seekers allowance.
Income support – This benefit is exempted from any tax. It is allowed to the people that are engaged in their work for less than sixteen hours in a week. There is no need for them to sign on as unemployed as in the case of the foster carers. No tax is levied on the income received from the fostering work.
Employment and support allowance based on income – This benefit is admissible for the people that enjoy savings of less than £16,000. The quantum of entitlement may be reduced if the foster carer enjoys other employment sources in addition to or the income of the partner that works for more than twenty four hours during a week.
Benefits related with housing – This benefit is enjoyed by the people that pay rent. Their savings and income should not go beyond an amount of £16,000 for entitlement of this exclusive benefit. Limits in the shape of ‘spare room subsidy’ or ‘the bedroom tax’ have since been exercised on this benefit.
Council tax support – Those desirous of earning this benefit have to approach the local authorities. The quantum of tax may be decreased. This reduction depends upon different aspects like the overall income and the kind of service for the children that are under the care of the foster carer.
Those engaged with fostering activities may avail of the relevant benefits by accessing where can foster carers get a mortgage while they are related with such projects.