Luton - “Staying Put” Policy - Leaflet for Foster Carers – Version Four
“Staying Put” is the name of the arrangements whereby a young person aged 18 and older, remains living with their (former) foster carer.
The aim of “Staying Put” is to help a young person move to independence and adulthood at a pace more suited to their individual needs, rather than having to move when they reach the age of 18.
Luton Specialist Family Services Department has developed a “Staying Put” policy to ensure that young people and foster carers / “Staying Put” providers are fully supported and are provided with information to plan for any changes.
Planning “Staying Put” Arrangements
Planning for a “Staying Put” arrangement in Luton starts to take place before a young person reaches the age of 16. Your supervising social worker and the young person’s social worker will meet with you prior to the young person’s 16th birthday to explain the “Staying Put” policy and to give you the opportunity to ask questions and obtain your views.
If all parties (foster carer, fostering supervising social worker, social worker and independent reviewing officer) are in agreement that a “Staying Put” arrangement would benefit the young person when they reach the age of 18, planning for “Staying Put” will start. Once it has been agreed that a “Staying Put” arrangement would benefit the young person and their foster carers have confirmed they are able to keep the young person living with them after their 18th birthday, the young person should be involved in all stages of the planning.
All young people are able to remain with their former foster carer/s under a “Staying Put” arrangement to assist them:
1. To complete an education, training or supported employment course;
2. To improve their independence skills and confidence if they are vulnerable;
3. Until they transfer to an adult placement/shared lives placement if they have a disability;
4. Whilst waiting for independent accommodation.
Finance and Benefits
If a young person (at age 18) remains with their former foster carer under a “Staying Put” arrangement their “Staying Put” provider/s will receive the same Fostering Maintenance Allowance and Tier Competency Fee that you did when the young person was age 17. The main adjustment is that the young person is required to cover some of their living costs from earnings or by claiming a benefit. As such, £82.00 (2014-2015) of your allowance stops and these items should be covered by the young person from their own income. This amount covers pocket money, a clothing allowance, travel, savings and a personal allowance element and you no longer need to give the £82.00 to the young person. It is also expected that the young person will pay rent (£110.00 per week) from their earnings or by claiming housing benefit. If you, as a “Staying Put” provider are on a benefit yourself, the young person paying rent of £110.00, will mean you lose £90.00 a week of your benefits, £58.50 if you are just claiming housing benefit. If this happens you will receive a section 23C compensatory payment equivalent to the amount of benefit reduction. This means that no “Staying Put” provider is worse off when a young person reaches the age of 18 and pays rent (from earnings or benefits).
Expecting a young person to cover some items from their earnings or by claiming benefits and paying rent from earnings or housing benefit helps to prepare them for independence and also covers some of the costs of keeping a young person in “Staying Put”. Housing benefit will be paid directly to the “Staying Put” provider. An amount equivalent to the rent will continue to be paid until the housing benefit is paid to you (4 weeks). If the young person is working and has to pay a contribution this will be paid to the 16 Plus Team.
The young person’s social worker, leaving care personal adviser and your supervising social worker will help both you and the young person with all of the benefit issues.
“Staying Put” arrangements can continue until:
1. The young person first leaves, if this happens before their 21st birthday;
2. Their 21st birthday;
3. Until the education or training course being undertaken on their 21st birthday is completed.
“Staying Put” Payment Rates
· “Staying Put” arrangements are paid at the Fostering Maintenance Allowance rate for 16/17 year olds minus £82.00. Plus the Tier 1, 2 or 3 Competency rate that you received when the young person was aged 17.
· Your Fostering Maintenance Allowance will also be reduced by £110.00 per week when the young person’s housing benefit is in payment (4 weeks), the housing benefit will be paid directly to the “Staying Put” provider. If the young person is working and has to pay a contribution, the contribution will be paid to the 16 Plus Team. You will then receive the equivalent in your allowance.
· You will receive a section 23C compensation payment if as a result of the young person paying rent you lose any of your benefits (the compensation payment will be equivalent to the level of benefit reduction).
Income Tax and National Insurance
Income from “Staying Put” is treated in the same way as foster care income by the Inland Revenue (HMRC). When you complete your self-assessment tax form you will need to declare the income as “Staying Put” rather than fostering income.
Establishing a “Staying Put” Arrangement and Practical Issues
Social workers and leaving care personal advisers are required to submit a report to the Luton External Resources Panel setting out the reason for the “Staying Put” arrangement prior to the young person’s 18th birthday (when the young person reaches age 17½ - 17¾) and set out the objectives, targets and outcomes for a young person in “Staying Put”. A key objective of “Staying Put” is to ensure that a young person has the necessary education and training qualifications, and/or independent living skills to make a successful transition to adulthood. Therefore an important part of “Staying Put” is to agree how a young person will gain more independent living skills during their extra time with you.
All young people living in a “Staying Put” arrangement will have a pathway plan and living together agreement that sets out the overall plan for the young person as well as the day to day arrangements. Both the pathway plan and the living together agreement will focus on how the “Staying Put” arrangement will ensure that each young person has developed and improved their preparation for independence and life skills whist “Staying Put”.
Part Two – Frequently Asked Questions
The following frequently asked questions may help foster carers to think about the information that they require in order to plan for a “Staying Put” arrangement. These should be discussed with your fostering supervising social worker and the young person’s social worker.
1. Will the “Staying Put” young person at 18 require a DBS check and risk assessment as they will become an adult in the foster care household?
Yes, if the “Staying Put” provider intends to continue fostering other children (or has children of their own), this is because the fostering regulations require all adult members of the household (and regular visitors) to have a valid DBS check. If the DBS Check highlights an offence or possible risk, a ‘risk assessment’ will be completed.
2. What is the payment rate for “Staying Put”?
“Staying Put” is paid at the standard fostering maintenance rate and the same tier competency payment that you received when the young person was age 17 minus £82.00. The main change is that you no longer need to provide a pocket money; clothing allowance, travel, savings or personal allowance element of £82.00 per week, the young person will become responsible for these items from their earnings or benefits.
3. What is the impact of a “Staying Put” payment on my benefit income?
Where a young person pays rent of £110.00 per week from their earnings or housing benefit, a “Staying Put” working-age carer will have their means tested benefit reduced by £90.00 per week (deemed income from a ‘Sub-Tenant’ arrangement) or £58.50 per week if you are only getting housing benefit. Where this occurs, Luton Specialist Family Services Department will provide a compensatory payment of £90.00/£58.50 a week, so you are no worse off. Housing benefit is paid to the “Staying Put” provider, any contribution from the young person is paid to the 16 Plus Team.
4. What is the impact of a “Staying Put” payment on my tax liability?
None, the government has made the foster care and the “Staying Put” tax arrangements the same. These arrangement are all called ‘Shared Lives’ and are covered by the HMRC Qualifying Care Schemes tax rules.
5. Will the “Staying Put” payment and a young person being in my household after their 18th birthday, have an impact on my 25% council tax discount?
If the young person is in full time education there will be no change to your council tax charge. If your council tax increases as a result of your young person “Staying Put”, the young person and/or Luton Specialist Family Services Department will cover the increase.
6. I have a young person with a disability and would like to transfer to an adult placement/shared lives scheme and continue to support the young person, what is the process for becoming an adult placement carer?
If the young person meets the Adult Services - Fair Access to Care Services criteria you can transfer to the Luton Shared Lives Scheme. You will need to undergo an assessment similar to a fostering assessment; this will start when the young person reaches the age of 17¼. Different funding arrangements apply to Shared Lives Schemes and placements; this will be explained to you during the assessment.
7. Do I need to inform my landlord/mortgage provider and insurance company that my foster child has become a “Staying Put” adult?
Yes, you should always inform both your landlord/mortgage provider and insurance company if there are any changes in your household. You should also do this when you are fostering. A failure to inform them may break the terms of your tenancy/mortgage and insurance policy.
8. What is the impact of keeping a young person under a “Staying Put” agreement on other foster children in my household?
As the “Staying Put” young person is now an adult in a foster carer household they will require a DBS check and may require a risk assessment. A report will need to be presented to the fostering panel given this is a change of circumstances. Having a “Staying Put” young person may mean you are able to take a further foster child if you are approved for that number and have space.
9. Will the living together agreement set out expectations of the young person, i.e. what time they should return in the evening, if they want to have a credit card etc?
Yes, the living together agreement will take over from the placement plan when the young person reaches the age of 18. This will set out all of the expectations of the young person and household, such as what time they should be home in the evenings and weekend, what they should do if they will be late. The living together agreement should also cover the types of practical support and preparation for independence work being undertaken by you and the young person; it should also cover all financial issues and expectations. The living together agreement should cover all of the particular arrangements for your home and the specific needs and arrangements for the young person.
John Short
11th February 2015
Version Four
6