Special guardianship financial support and assessment.

The request was successful.

Dear Rhondda Cynon Taff Council,

Can you please provide me with the following information regarding
Special guardianship financial support and assessment.

1) Does the council follow the DfE method
of assessing Special guardianship allowance. If not please provide
information as to the method used.

2) What is the maximum payment for a child.

a) Pre school age
b) Primary school age
c) Secondary school age
d) Over 16

3) Is the maximum payment based on recommended core foster care
rates. If not what is the maximum payment based on.

4) Does special guardianship rise each year in line with the
increase in core fostering rates.

5) Is the financial assessment where children were previously LAC
different to the financial assessment for children who were not
LAC.

6) What deductions, if any, are made from Special guardianship
allowance, ie, Child benefit, Child tax credit.

7) If a carer is in receipt of Income support are any deductions
made from Special Guardianship allowance, ie, Child Benefit, Child
tax credit

8) Are Special guardianship allowances time limited. If so how long for.

9) How many special guardians in the authority are currently being financially supported

10) How many Child arrangement orders are currently being financially supported

11) How many friends and family, (connected persons) foster carers are in the authority.

Yours faithfully,

Cassie Felton

Freedomofinformation, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council

Dear Ms Felton

Thank you for your request for information.

Your request will be processed in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (or Environmental Information Regulations 2004, if it
relates to environmental information).

You should ordinarily expect to receive a response to your request no
later than 20 working days following the date of submission to the
Council. We will contact you should this not be the case.

Yours sincerely

Carfan Llywodraethu Corfforaethol / Corporate Governance Team
ar ran Cyfarwyddwr Gwasanaethau Cyfreithiol a Llywodraethol / for Director
of Legal & Democratic Services

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Freedomofinformation, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council

1 Attachment

Dear Ms Felton

We refer to your Freedom of Information Request in respect of Special
Guardianship Allowances.

Firstly, may we apologise for the delay in responding to your request.

The Authority's response is set out below:

1) Does the Council follow the DfE method of assessing Special
Guardianship Allowance. If not please provide information as to the method
used

The DfE method is only relevant in England, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council
follow Welsh Government Guidance, please see attached policy which answers
this question.

2) What is the maximum payment for a child.

a) Pre school age - age 0-4 years £362.00 per fortnight (minus CB and CTC)
b) Primary school age - 5-15 years £330 per fortnight (minus CB and CTC)
c) Secondary school age - 16+ years £412.00 per fortnight (minus CB and
CTC)
d) Over 16 - As above

3) Is the maximum payment based on recommended core foster care rates. If
not what is the maximum payment based on.

Yes

4) Does special guardianship rise each year in line with the increase in
core fostering rates.

Yes

5) Is the financial assessment where children were previously LAC
different to the financial assessment for children who were not LAC.

No

6) What deductions, if any, are made from Special Guardianship Allowance,
ie, Child Benefit, Child Tax Credit.

Child Benefit and Child Tax Credits

7) If a carer is in receipt of Income Support are any deductions made from
Special Guardianship Allowance, ie, Child Benefit, Child Tax Credit

Refer to the attached policy.

8) Are Special Guardianship Allowances time limited. If so how long for.

They will cease when a young person reaches 18, however if previously a
looked after child prior to the SGO being granted a re-assessment can be
requested at that time and support could be provided post 18

9) How many special guardians in the authority are currently being
financially supported

202

10) How many Child Arrangement Orders are currently being financially
supported

2

11) How many friends and family, (connected persons) foster carers are in
the authority.

As at 31.03.19 there were 128

We trust the above information is satisfactory. If you are unhappy with
the way your request for information has been handled, you can request a
review of the Council’s response. If you wish to exercise this right, you
must do so within 40 working days of the date of this response. Please set
out in writing your grounds and send your appeal to Mrs Julie Llewellyn.
She may be reached at [1][email address] or at RCT CBC,
The Pavilions, Clydach Vale, Tonypandy, CF40 2XX.

Additionally you may, if you wish, find out more about the Freedom of
Information Act & Environmental Information Regulations from the
Information Commissioner at [2]http://www.ico.org.uk/

Yours sincerely

Llywodraethu Corfforaethol/Corporate Governance
ar ran Cyfarwyddwr y Gwasanaethau Cyfreithiol/for Director of Legal
Services

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