Hi, my name is GranDad73! Caring for deceased friend's children, what financial help is available?

GranDad73

Hi everyone I'm new here but really need some advice because social worker I'd unable to help support. Long story short my Deceased friends husband abandoned their two daughters back in April. Tnd social services asked me if I would care for the girls on a voluntary basis and of course I said yes .However I has to pass and did pass all the checks etc. However I do not get a penny from the council or any other organisation to raise them .At the moment I am bringing them up and just relying on my pip and esa.I have applied for child benefit with help from the social worker. Could anyone please help and advise me if there is any other benifit I could claim please. Thank you in advance.

Rosie_Scope

Hi @GranDad73, welcome to the community. It's brilliant that you've stepped up to care for the girls. I hope they're doing okay, it must have been a really difficult time for you all.

There's a charity called Kinship that might be able to offer some support and guidance if you're under a kinship care arrangement:

Kinship: Home | The Kinship care charity | England and Wales

I'm by no means an expert but as far as I'm aware, with voluntary arrangements there isn't always much financial help available from the council which can make things difficult, especially if you're relying on benefits for your income.

You could try using a benefits calculator to see if there's any additional benefits you might be able to claim: Turn2us Benefits Calculator

I know it's not much, but I hope the child benefit will also help ease things a little once it comes into place.

How old are the girls that you're looking after? Sometimes there are grants available, so it's worth asking your social worker to see if there's anything more that could help them.

GranDad73

Kinship was very helpful however because of it being classed as voluntary Fostering there is not a lot they could help me with.But thank you for the link to turn2us I will use the benefits calculator. The girls are 13 and 15. However when their father asked if I could have them for the weekend myself or his daughters had no idea he was just packing up and moving in with a lady he had met.when he packed his stuff he disposed of his daughters beds bedroom furniture clothes and personal items. The girls came to me with just a few clothes for the weekend. Myself and my adult children have completely sorted them with clothes shoes school uniform etc so they are all good on that .

Thank you all so much for your comments ❤

Rosie_Scope

Oh goodness, I'm so sorry to hear what their dad did, that's awful and must have been so hard for the girls to understand. It's lovely that you and your family have cared so much for them after all they've been through.

I hope things start getting easier soon ❤️