Special guardian allowance and ESA?

Kitty1

Hello everyone, hope you are all well. 

I am just wondering if anyone knows about the means tested financial assessment for Special Guardian Allowance? We have been assessed for guardians and have passed. From reading, they assess your household income and make deductions but it seems to say that if you are on Income Support you will get the full amount of the allowance.  

Does anyone know if the Income Support exemption would apply to ESA? And do they exempt any disability benefit, PIP,SDP,DLA, from your household income? And how would this work if you were on UC as there is no income support/esa on that, everyone has a standard basic don’t they? 

Also, we have our court case soon and we had not received a Support package offer so when I asked the Social Worker she has been vague and avoiding us. She eventually sent through a copy of the financial assessment where it showed our disposable income was £32 per week and they then deducted £53 from the weekly SGO payment. 

I also noticed that it said we weren’t eligible at that time but Social Worker said that was because it would all be sorted out on the day in Court and once we had the Order it would trigger the payment. I am not sure that I believe this as from what I have read you should receive a copy of whatever the local authority are prepared to offer you, including details of all support, date commencing, duration etc. and you have 28 days to sign and agree. We haven’t received this.   I am trying to look into this now but it is about 10 days before the hearing. 

Thank you if anyone knows anything about this. 

calcotti

I know nothing about this but found this document
Special guardianship guidance: Statutory guidance (publishing.service.gov.uk)
I haven't looked through it but perhaps you will find some relevant information in it.

(EDIT - having just skimmed it I don't think it is specific enough to help - sorry.)

Kitty1

I will have a look at it. Thank you for your help