UK THREAT TO KINSHIP CARE PAYMENTS

UK THREAT TO KINSHIP CARE PAYMENTS

CURRENT LAWS WILL CLAWBACK BENEFITS

Glasgow SNP MSP Bob Doris today called on the UK Government to change the rules covering benefits for kinship carers as it emerged Scottish Government backed payments to kinship carers could be clawed back by the Treasury through reductions in other benefits.

The Scottish Government and Local Authorities in Scotland are introducing payments for kinship carers to equal the support available for foster parents. Mr Doris has written to Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell following the news that Glasgow City Council is to start offering interim payments of £40 per week but will have to find new ways to make the payments after it emerged the DWP may claw back the support through reductions in child tax credits.

Commenting on today's developments the SNP MSP for Glasgow said:

“The SNP and Scottish Government has pushed for kinship carers to be given the respect and support they rightly deserve for supporting children and maintaining family links for young people who may otherwise be taken into care.

“It is deeply disappointing that as Glasgow begins to offer that financial support to kinship carers it looks as if the UK Government will try to take that money back.

“With kinship carers set to receive the same payments as foster carers it is ludicrous that UK Government rules mean they may lose other support, such as child tax credits, as a result.

“Support for kinship carers must be additional money it must not be taken by the DWP to go back into the Treasury’s pot.

"Glasgow may have found a way around the problem but it shouldn't have to.

"I have written to James Purnell (Secretary of State for Work and Pensions) to insist that the UK Government updates these rules as a matter of urgency to ensure that Scotland is not penalised for trying to help some of the most vulnerable and vital people in our society and our kinship carers receive the support they are entitled too."