For information please go to A proposed two per cent increase will be introduced from April. Dont forget, as a foster carer, you can save money by using your Max Card, applying for a Blue Light Card, Discounts for Carers Card or membership at the Company Shop see The Benefits of Fostering for Sandwell download for details. Current fees and allowances are detailed below. Visible links allowances. We hope our response fully satisfies your expectations. Allowance. "With this I would say to those staff 'there you are, here is our contribution'. are dissatisfied, you are entitled to an Internal Review. For your information residents can now use their MySandwell account to log Attendance Allowance is a tax free benefit for people aged 65 or over who are physically or mentally disabled and require help with their personal care or require supervision to remain safe.. Basically a list of who claims what. The Max Card is the UKs leading discount card for foster families and families of children with additional needs. This benefit is based on you national insurance contribution and paid when you reach retirement age. Conservative policy in Sandwell is to derail the gravy train by immediately reducing the number of councillors from 72 to 48, as has been done in other councils, and then to examine the Special Responsibility Allowances system. Information covered by parliamentary copyright is covered by the LHA is normally paid to the claimant. Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article. The council offices are located at the Council House, Freeth Street, Oldbury town centre, which opened in 1989.[2]. Find out about Voter ID and how to get free photo ID if you need it . We're waiting for David Davey to read recent responses and update the status. 3 0 obj [Figures are the 2013-2014 amounts]. We are owned by, but independent from, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. 2.2 Where the term of office of a member begins or ends otherwise than at Attendance Allowance is a tax free benefit for people aged 65 or over who are physically or mentally disabled and require help with their personal care or require supervision to remain safe. By 2014, all but two of Sandwell's 72 councillors were Labour members. bands, NOT including any fee/reward element for foster carers. A prospective tenant can use a trial calculator to work out how much benefit they might receive. [5]www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell. each. Oldbury Please could you tell me your 2022-23 weekly allowances for former If you are not content with the outcome of our internal review, you have Your donations keep this site and others like it running. Since the Local Government Act 1985, Sandwell Council has effectively been a unitary authority, serving as the sole executive, deliberative, and legislative body responsible for local policy, setting council tax, and allocating budget in the district; although public transport, fire and police services, and the local government pension fund (West Midlands Pension Fund) are jointly run by the seven metropolitan boroughs of the West Midlands county. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the day's top stories sent directly to you. Maternity Allowance can be payable in some circumstances when statutory maternity cannot be paid by you employer. Elsewhere in Tipton, several maisonette blocks on the 1960s Glebefields Estate were demolished between 1989 and 1992, and the estate's two tower blocks were demolished in 2004. 2. https://www.facebook.com/sandwellcouncil "The next few years are not going to get any easier for local government and we need to do our bit," he said. If you are not content with the outcome of our internal review, you have Our next Fostering Information event is on Wednesday 26th March at Thimblemill Library, Thimblemill Road, Smethwick B67 5RJ at 6.30pm. A seat on Sandwell's cabinet nets another 15,768. We can also pay benefit direct to the landlord if the rent is set at or below the appropriate LHA rate and it is a written requirement in the tenancy agreement that benefit is paid direct to the landlord or agent. Please could you tell me your 2022-23 weekly allowances for former foster Check your circumstances on the calculator or contact the welfare rights team. Councillor Philip Garrett, the authority's sole UKIP member, said special responsibility allowances had become 'almost laughable' and backed the move. 1 0 obj council tax balance on MyAccounts and find "MyNearest"on their The figures shown are the maximum amount payable and the actual Housing Benefit entitlement may be lower than the figure. But earlier this year, councillors rejected a proposed two per cent rise saying they wanted to stand by residents in the face of massive cuts in funding from the Government. BBC. Copyright 2023 Sandwell Conservative Federation. You will find details of the Open Government Council Tax reduction can be claimed if your income is low enough for help. Dear Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. We hope that some of you watching 'Childhood' will consider whether fostering for Sandwell could be an option for you. Established in 2008. If you have certain care needs and problems outdoors you may qualify for personal independent payments. These are uprated annually and can be viewed online at LHA Direct. We couldnt load the mail server logs for this message. [citation needed], In May 2013, it was announced that following a re-shuffle, there was a freeze on allowances for Sandwell Council Cabinet Members and that the membership of the cabinet was reduced from 10 to 8. They really do not need it. A large percentage of the multi-storey flats and maisonette blocks which were built during the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s in the areas which now make up Sandwell have been demolished. information relating to Councillor allowances and position held. Thank you for your Freedom of Information Request. Carers Allowance is paid to carers who are regularly caring for 35 hours or more per week for a severely disabled person. The information which you requested is enclosed. You have to be in receipt of a qualifying benefit and been in receipt of the qualifying benefit for 26 weeks before the decision in regards to the loan and you application must be for certain categories. The 3.99 per cent figure covers a basic council tax increase. <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.44 841.68] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> If your benefit is sanctioned, suspended or disallowed or there is delay in making a decision on your claim you may be entitled to reduced rate hardship payments. many Sandwell Council requests online, including reporting missed [7]www.sandwell.gov.uk/mysandwell. many Sandwell Council requests online, including reporting missed For information please go to 1. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/ Bereavement Allowance cannot be paid above state pension age. You won't be paid extra if you care for more than one person. what action you have taken to collect arrears, whatresponse (if any) you have had from your tenant, Information for landlords - Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction, Find out about Voter ID and how to get free photo ID if you need it , Find further information about Local Housing Allowance, Midland Landlord Accreditation Scheme (MLAS), How to appeal against a Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction or Discretionary Housing Payment decision, New benefit notification letters - Important Information, Your Housing Benefit award notice explained. I write further to your request, which was received on 22 June 2022, for See the online calculator to see if you may be eligible to claim. Information request: Please could you release information of all current councillors It is crucial that you keep a proper written record of any payments received as well as missed payments. Please detail any allowances that ALL foster carers can claim in addition to their weekly allowance, e.g. This film will be shared by all 56 partner foster services around the country who contributed to the making of this film. SK9 5AF. Since many Labour councillors are related or married to another Sandwell councillor, the council is a game of Family Fortunes for a lot of them. Please note that even if a tenant is claiming benefits, arrears are still the responsibility of the tenant, not the local authority. We provide commercial Councillors' allowances in Sandwell have been cut back by 100,000 after a review of their pay. Regards. It can be paid on its own or as a top up with certain other benefits or for people who's earning are low and when income is below the applicable amount set for them. Plum committee chairs like planning and licensing get more. He added: "One of the things which came out from the consultation with staff is they asked 'what have members done to contribute to the cuts?'. Please detail any allowances that ALL foster carers can claim in addition 3 0 obj Sandwell is divided into 24 Wards and is represented by 72 ward councillors. right to copy or use them other than for private study, non-commercial for all age bands, NOT including any fee/reward element for foster View as HTML. Reforma Email address. mySociety *Select how many bedrooms you are entitled to. Since the late 1980s, however, it has also demolished a considerable amount of post-1919 council housing. Title of request: Freedom of Information request - Councillors allowances. Please let us know if a further response is expected or if you are having trouble responding. We are a not for profit fostering agency. )oz9Tm|hqa?J}/T}yt/'.eKszoiuna/sJHQGL{^[6FCI_]A. Then there are Chairs of this or that committee raking in, usually, an additional annual 8751 while the Vice Chairs survive with 5256 extra. However, disability living allowance is claimed for children less than 16 years of age. x]o0#?&N1S'vQEKesR4i#@m\$sl~OW/eu{Xwj[z\\/1:e!A6,)p Facilities at this office. Information produced by government departments including items which are With 24 of the authority's 72 seats contested, Labour held . Please detail any allowances that ALL foster carers can claim in addition to their weekly allowance, e.g., holiday allowance or mileage. Many of the items they sell are heavily discounted to ensure that they do not go to waste. Age Amount 0-4 5.46 5-10 9.05 11-15 14.07 16+ 23.71 . Date of request: 20/05/2022 2. You can get child benefit if you are responsible for a child or young person and it is not means tested unless you are a higher rate taxpayer. x\q}'G} ]q A)Y(: Permission is automatically treated as ending when a claim stops for any reason, including the tenant changing address. Information request: Please could you tell me your 2022-23 weekly foster care allowances for For information please go to Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council was created in 1974 to administer the newly formed Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands county of England. Members had already voted not to increase their 'basic' allowance for the year, saving the cash . The remaining properties in the area, including the two surviving tower blocks, have been refurbished. 5. https://twitter.com/sandwellcouncil Oldbury 3. http://www.sandwell.gov.uk/ allocated. Mxico. This is a non means tested benefit which has replaced disability living allowance for people who are disabled either physically or mentally and who need extra care and support with their daily living. A further 69,000 will now be saved by scrapping several 'special responsibility' allowances paid to councillors who take on additional roles within the authority. is a registered charity in England and Wales (1076346) Although your tenant might receive benefit, it is important to remember that it is always the tenant's responsibility to make sure that the rent gets paid, not the council's. This is known as Council Tax Reduction (CTR). This is a non means tested benefit which has replaced disability living allowance for people who are disabled either physically or mentally and who need extra care and support with their daily living. the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council. However, if the claimant has rent arrears or has difficulty managing their finances due to vulnerability, we can consider paying the landlord. In addition, there are expenses to claim and rich rewards from membership of external bodies to which councillors are nominated. The allowance paid to Staying Put Carers is 170pw. He was succeeded by deputy leader Steve Elling.[13]. % You could get Carer's Allowance if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits. Residents can also check their council tax balance on MyAccounts and find "MyNearest"on their Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Download a zip file of all correspondence, Cambridgeshires Shadow Police and Crime Panel, Meeting minutes April 2014 - March 2015 finance & resource committee, Confimation of Appointment of Chief Executive, WEDNESBURY HSHAZ, Works and Active Travel, The Cox Review & Opinion of Jenni Richards QC, Oak House Museum -Accredited Museum Status. allowances, additional funds such as broadband allowances etc and chair Dudley Road Sandwell Borough Council will not in principle assist with providing a deposit for care leavers in private rented property Setting up a home Care leavers are provided with a setting up allowance Allowance amount: 2000 Sandwell Borough Council in principle will assist with support to pay at least the first year TV licence for care leavers We provide commercial Which benefits does Sandwell Council provide? endobj Please detail any allowances that ALL foster carers can claim in If you dont see one, please check your trash or spam folder thanks! So along with detail of our fees and allowances you can also find helpful guides books from Sandwell Council and FosterTalk, as well as a summary of the additional benefits and money saving tips weve put together to help all our foster carers. Are you the owner of any commercial copyright on this page? Since its formation in 1974, the borough council has demolished a considerable percentage of the area's privately owned 19th and early 20th century housing stock. Please submit your request through your account A site to help anyone submit a Freedom of Information request. If we establish that benefit is being misused, we may be able to to pay benefit direct to the landlord, without the tenant's permission. Date of request: 22/06/2022 The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner's Office SK9 5AF. Rules on CTR are set locally by each council and in Sandwell there is a two year residency qualification for most people before they are able to claim. foster carers looking after young people in 18+ Staying Put Employment and support allowance (ESA) is paid to people whose ability to work is limited because ill health or disability. Councillors' allowances in Sandwell have been cut back by 100,000 after a review of their pay. It is not just about them it also about members doing out bit and showing out commitment." Entitlement to working tax credits depends on your age and how many hours of paid work you do a week. Dear Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, Please could you tell me your 2021-22 weekly foster care allowances for all age bands, NOT including any fee/reward element for foster carers. Water Lane %PDF-1.7 You can meet the team and find out about fostering for Sandwell by coming along to any of our free information events. Established in 2008. Reference: FOI-423647914 <>/ExtGState<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 595.44 841.68] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> 2. file:/// There is an urgent need for more foster carers across the country. Wycliffe House But there are very few Labour councillors who have not been rewarded with additional so called Special Responsibility Allowances. LHA rates are based on set allowances for different sizes of accommodation within given areas. [7] The following month, the council gave its backing to ambitious plans to make its children's service amongst the best in the country by teaming up with private sector firm iPOWER. down by year 1, year 2, and year 3 if necessary. each. Residents can also check their Visible links H. Attendance at meetings outside the Sandwell Council House, Oldbury by a Councillor in connection with the role for which a Special Responsibility Allowance is paid and who have elected to be a member of the Council's Transport Protocol. Are you the owner of any commercial copyright on this page? In November 2013 venue was closed after the council decided that it would no longer subsidise it as an Arts Centre. Click the button to start your fostering journey today! Tenants can also sign a section on their application form to give permission to share information but this has strict limits about what can be shared. The Leader of the Council said that "successful small businesses are essential for the economy and for thriving local communities"[6]. . If you want to use the documents for other are dissatisfied, you are entitled to an Internal Review. For new claimants personal independent payment (PIP) has replaced disability living allowance. Download <> For the fifth year running Sandwells council tax has been frozen. 8,oCYeQMP,0f bfVo[_+_8 /\/eXT[bzu=jU6""DH^LGdsxw=oG=L'}T2oN'#!f!: 8'5U1;MdU communications. Open Parliament Licence. personalised homepage. [4], Despite being the 14th most deprived borough in the UK, the council has invested and worked with many partners to ensure the regeneration of the borough attracting many new SME businesses.