We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are Project 17 please sign in and let everyone know.

Subsistence payments to families with No Recourse to Public Funds seeking access to support under section 17 of the Children Act 1989.

We're waiting for Project 17 to read recent responses and update the status.

Dear Cheshire East Council,

In a recent reply to a FOIA response submitted 23/11/2020 you outlined the local authority's policy on the provision of financial support to families with No Recourse to Public Funds (“NRPF”) seeking access to support under section 17 of the Children Act 1989.

Following on from this, under the Freedom of Information Act, could you please confirm whether the local authority, for a family eligible for support under Section 17 of the Children's Act 1989, who have no other source of income:

a) has guidance on the minimum or median rate of support provided per family member?
b) if so, what is the minimum or median rate received per week (or fortnight if subsistence is paid fortnightly rather than weekly)?

c) whether the local authority provides additional funds for children aged 1-3?
d) whether the local authority provides additional funds for children aged 0-1?
e) whether the local authority provides additional funds for pregnant mothers?
f) whether the local authority provided any additional subsistence payments during the Covid-19 pandemic to help with additional costs?

g) if the answer to any of questions c)-f) is yes, then please outline what additional funds are received per week (or fortnight if subsistence is paid fortnightly rather than weekly)?

h) whether the local authority provides a maternity grant following the birth of a child?
i) and if so, how much is this grant and is it provided for every child or only for the first child born to the mother?

j) whether the local authority provides discretionary payments for additional expenditure, eg. winter clothes, school uniforms, travel costs?
k) and if so, is there any guidance on the maximum amount payable or the frequency of payments?

If you hold any of the information requested but consider it is exempt from disclosure, please state specifically what exemption you rely upon (including the relevant statutory provision) and the reason you consider it to be applicable.

We look forward to receiving your response within 20 working days as per the FOIA.

Kind regards

Kristine Harris

CCR FOI Investigation Team, Cheshire East Council

[1]Cheshire East New Logo
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date: 15 July 2021
Our Reference: 12343969

 
Dear Ms Harris
 
Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
Thank you for your request regarding Section 17 of the Children Act 1989.
 
Your request has been identified as falling within the scope of Freedom of
Information Act 2000 and It will be treated as a request for information
within the meaning of the Freedom of Information Act: this means that we
will send you a full response within 20 working days, either supplying you
with the information which you want, or explaining to you why we cannot
supply it. 

The due date is 12 August 2021.  
 
In the meantime if you wish to discuss this further please reply to this
email.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Kate Tomlinson
Compliance and Customer Relations Assistant
Cheshire East Council
 
NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email.

References

Visible links

CCR FOI Investigation Team, Cheshire East Council

[1]Cheshire East New Logo
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date: 9 August 2021
Our Reference: 12343969
Your reference:[FOI #774214 email]
 
Dear ‎Ms Harris‏
 
Freedom of Information Act 2000
 
I am writing to ask you to clarify your request. 
 
Please confirm if you would confirm whether your request is SOLEY for the
families that are eligible based on no resource to public funds or if this
is all families that could receive S17 funding.
 
I will not be able to take this matter further without this extra
information from you. Please let me know by 01/11/2021.
 
If I do not hear from you within the timeframe provided, I shall take it
that you do not wish to pursue this request and will consider the request
closed. 
 
If you need assistance, please reply to this email. 
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Beverley Murphy
Compliance and Customer Relations
Cheshire East Council
 
NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email.

References

Visible links

Dear Beverley,

The request asks for information on subsistence rates for families with no recourse to public funds, who have no other source of income, who are supported or seek support under section 17 of CA1989.

Yours sincerely,

Kris Harris
Project 17

Childrens and Families - Childrens Social Care, Cheshire East Council

1 Attachment

[1]Cheshire East New Logo
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date: 21 September 2021
Our Reference: 12343969
Your reference:[FOI #774214 email]
 
Dear Ms Harris
 
Thank you for your request for information received on 25 August 2021.
 
Please find attached our response to your request.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Gill Clowes
Customer Relations and Compliance Assistant
Cheshire East Council
 
NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email.

References

Visible links

Dear Gill,

Thank you for your reply to my recent request FOIA request 12343969

The FOI request asks for details of financial support.

I find your response - "In our previous response regarding the provision of financial support to families with No Recourse to Public Funds ('NRPF') seeking access to support under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, we do not mention detailed financial figures. The financial support provided will be based on the outcome of the assessment and based on individual family needs." - very unhelpful.

Had the previous FOI request provided details of financial support then there had not been a need for the second request.

We understand that support is based on individual needs assessment and family composition. However we are seeking to understand more about local authorities general policy and approach. Therefore, could you please confirm, for clarity, that it is not the local authorities policy to provide increase support for young children, nursing mothers or a maternity grant for new mothers in families with no recourse to public funds being supported under section 17 of the CA1989 in recognition of the increased expenditure associated with these circumstances? Could you also confirm that there was no general uplift of support for families with no recourse to public funds supported under section 17 of the CA1989 during the Covid-19 pandemic, in recognition of the increased hardship faced by many during this period (e.g. as reflected in the general uplift of Universal credit rates)?

Yours sincerely,
Kristine
Project 17

CCR FOI Investigation Team, Cheshire East Council

[1]Cheshire East New Logo
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date: 22 September 2021
Our Reference: 12343969
Your reference:[FOI #774214 email]
 
Dear Ms Harris
 
Thank you for your request for a review received on 22 September 2021. I
am sorry that you are dissatisfied with our attempts to handle your
request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
 
We aim to provide you with a response by 20 October 2021.
Yours sincerely,
 
Gill Clowes
Customer Relations and Compliance Assistant
Cheshire East Council
 
NOTE: Please do not edit the subject line when replying to this email.

References

Visible links

CCR FOI Investigation Team, Cheshire East Council

1 Attachment

Dear Ms Harris -
 
Please find attached the Internal Review Response.
 
Kind regards.
 
Compliance & Customer Relations Team.

We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are Project 17 please sign in and let everyone know.