As a grandparent, do I get Foster Care payments to help pay for my grand-children's care?

Question

My son and his girlfriend are not able to care for their three children in a proper manner. The mother is an alcoholic and my son has just gotten laid off from his job. He tries to find a job and he goes and gets the kids and stays from house to house with the kids. The baby is a two year old down syndrome child and needs special attention. My husband works 12 hour days and I work with special needs kids at the high school level. We have just signed up to start taking Foster Care classes next month to get a certificate to be Foster Parents. When we do get the certification will we still get paid benefits to help with our grandchildren if we are given temporary custody of them? My husband and I are already living from paycheck to paycheck. We want to be able to adequately care for our grandchildren. We have gone to pick the kids up and they are always hungry and dirty. We have to do something but we need the financial help desperately.

Answer 1

I don't actually know about the foster care payments, but I do know that Federal law mandates that the child with Down syndrome is entitled to therapy, regardless of ability to pay and he/she should be getting as much of it as possible. Contact your local chapter of ARC or your state's Department of Developmental Disabilities to get that started if he isn't alerady getting therapy. Also, the law says that the therapy has to be provided in the least-restrictive environment, which in your case might be the home, so the therapists will come to you. When he turns 3, the scholl district must provide this assistance, but it is a good idea to get a good solid program of therapy established now so that it can be carried forward.

Good luck and God bless you for caring about these kids!

Answer 2

If I am not mistaken, a child with downs syndrome would be considered "handicapped", and I believe he/she would be entitled to social security benifits. If you have legal custody, I think you would be able to get help from the state, by the child getting SSI checks. I know if you are the legal guardian of the children you will be able to get Earned income credit on your income taxes, but I don't think they qualify as foster children because they are blood relatives. You don't want to turn them over to the state, because who's to say you would get them back? You say your income isn't so good, paycheck to paycheck, and that could prevent that. Check with your social security office, and no shame in getting food stamps or anything else from the Human Services Dept. in your town. If you need help that's why its there. And, just a personal note: You say ya'll are going to Foster parents class. Why? If you are going to take on other kids for the monthly check, that is wrong.

Answer 3

Yes. You or another relative may be able to get kinship foster care payments to assist with the care of your grandchildren if they are legally placed in foster care with you.

Kinship foster care payments include money for food, clothing, shelter, daily supervision, school supplies, a child's personal needs, and liability insurance for the child. The children are also eligible for supportive services such as counseling. Payments are made for each individual child in the care of the foster parent.

The amounts of the payments differ from county to county and depend on the age of the children, where the children live, and whether the children have any special needs.

Answer 4

Usually the father is ordered to, but it's rare for the mother to be ordered to pay. I've seen this a lot in 20 years with divorced and single fathers. They take the children from the mother, put them in foster care rather than with the father, than order him to pay for it. Two months ago, a Kansas City man went to pick up his children from the home of the mother, only to find her sitting on the chest of the 8 year old. The boy was dead. The girl was immediately put into foster care, 200 miles from here, and he was ordered to pay child support to the state. Of interest, the foster parents get less from the state than he pays in support. His visitation must take place in the town where the foster home is. He can't be considered for custody until a home study is done, but they haven't done one yet.

Answer 5

The only way you would get Foster payments is if the state takes the kids and then places them in your care. If you are given temporary custody from the parents, then you are not their foster parent. You are just their legal guardian.

You may be able to get help from Human Services.(welfare and food stamps, possibly even cash every month) if your income is low enough and you show them that you have gained custody of the kids.

Good Luck!

Answer 6

Not sure if it would be called foster care unless the kids were previously in foster care. You can go after the parents for child support or go to your local Dept of Social Services and get help there..they will then in turn get support from the parents. Good Luck you are doing a wonderful thing!!!

Answer 7

My daughter was on cocaine and declared incapable of caring for a17 month old and a 10 year old. The Judge ordered the children to be placed with the maternal grandparent and to begin filling out paper work to become the legal foster parent. Money was to be given for the needs along with healthcare and dental and other services.

Answer 8

Yes as long as the children are living in your care you are entitled to a payment of some kind, whether it is foster care or not you will get something to help financially.

Answer 9

You will need to take a course to get certified. The state you live in should provide this course for free. You need to talk with the State case worker and get signed up and certified. After you have your certification yes you will get support from the state both money and food.

Answer 10

no