Speaking ahead of a debate on Kinship Care SNP MSP Bob Doris urged MSPs to unite in calling on the UK Government to change legislation to prevent kinship care payments being clawed back through cuts in other benefits.

The Scottish Government and Local Authorities in Scotland are introducing payments for kinship carers which will equal the support available for foster parents by 2011 however the current benefit rules mean these payments may be lost by many carers through cuts in other benefits.

Commenting ahead of the debate SNP MSP for Glasgow said: "Today MSPs have an opportunity to support Scotland’s kinship carers.

"The Scottish Government and local authorities are working to support kinship carers but it is essential the UK Government acts to prevent payments being clawed back from other benefits.

"We want to see Kinship carers achieve the same level of support as foster carers.  Kinship carers perform a vital service for our young people and for our society.

"Local Authorities have responded enthusiastically with many payments already in place but it would be a tragedy if payments that kinship carers have fought long and hard for are taken away by the Department for Work and Pensions.

"The SNP were the only party in 2007 to demand support for Kinship carers.  Today all parties can show their support.  I hope all MSPs will now support the Scottish Government in its negotiations to see the benefit rules changed and to see kinship carers win the support they deserve.

Notes:

1. COSLA briefing on Kinship care states Payment of allowances to kinship carers are counted by the Department of Works and Pensions as contributing to a person’s income. Benefit payments are therefore affected by the payment of a kinship care allowance. This policy intends to supplement a kinship carer’s income, and not to substitute benefits already received.

2. Letter from Bob Doris MSP (Glasgow) to James Purnell (13th November)

Dear James Purnell,

You will be aware of the joint commitment from the Scottish Government and Scotland's Local Authorities which will ensure that all “Looked After Children” cared for by kinship carers will be supported financially on a par with foster carers. This is a firm commitment within the ground breaking concordat between the Scottish Government and COSLA. Local Authorities will be bringing in such support before the end of the three year concordat.

Kinship carers do a vital task not just for the children they look after but also for society at large. Many of the children would otherwise end up in residential care.

I would like to draw an unintended consequence of this policy to your attention. In my own Local Authority, Glasgow City Council, an interim payment is to be paid to kinship carers of Looked After Children. However there are serious concerns that making such payments may result in the DWP altering existing benefits such as Child Tax Credit, effectively deducting the support given for kinship care from the carers other benefit income.

It would be deeply disappointing to all if financial support for Scotland's kinship carers was unable to reach them as it would be clawed back from other benefits by the DWP.

I am sure you will agree that any claw back from the DWP of money which is clearly intended to improve the quality of life of children in kinship care and to treat our kinship carers with the respect, dignity and equality they deserve would be unacceptable. Any claw back would also hamper the clear policy objectives of the democratically elected Scottish Government and Local Authorities in Scotland.

The Scottish Government has commissioned CAB Scotland to work with kinship carers as individuals to ensure that no-one ends up worse off but it is clear that the DWP must play its part.

I am sure that as the Minister responsible you will want to deal with this matter as a top priority and make sure the UK Tax and Benefit system does not penalise some of our most needy families in Scotland who do great jobs often in difficult circumstances. I ask that DWP rules are updated to ensure no such claw back happens and that you provide clarity on this to the Scottish Government, Local Authorities and kinship carers as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely
Bob Doris MSP

Cc Adam Ingram MSP, Minister for Children and Early Years
John Mason MP
Councillor James Dornan
Councillor Steven Purcell