Welfare payments for foster parents raised

Press, 16 August 1978, Page 13

Welfare payments for foster parents raised

PA Wellington. Increases in board payments for foster parents, ranging from 51.70 a week to S 3 a week, have been announced by the Minister of Social Welfare (Mr Walker). Increases in clothing grants for State wards, ranging from $30.80 a year to $43.20 a year were also announced. Board payment increases date from August 1 and the increase in clothing grants from October 1. They are based on movements in the consumer price index since the last increase. Board payments to private foster parents have been raised $1.70 a week for children up to the age of 10, bringing the rate to $15.50 a week; $2 a week for children aged 11 to 13 ($18.35); and $2.10 a week

for children aged $l4 and over ($19.25). An increase of $3 a week has been approved for State wards in Department of Social Welfare family homes, bringing the rate to $27.35 a week. There are corresponding increases in the special rates for casual stays of less than seven days in a family home. Quarterly clothing grants for State wards up to five years of age will be increased $7.70 a quarter, bringing the grant to $54.55 a quarter. Quarterly grants for children aged five to 10 will be increased $8.75 a quarter, bringing the grant to $61.85 a quarter. Clothing grants for children over 11 will be increased $lO.BO a quarter, bringing the grant to $76.40 a quarter. Mr Walker reminded

foster parents that the. Government had approved a new grant of $5O towards the cost of a first school uniform for a State ward in foster care. “This grant will be available from the beginning of the 1979 school year and will be in addition to the normal clothing grant,” he .said. Pocket money for State wards has also been increased. The increases, from August 1, range from an extra 5c a week for a children under five, to 20c more a week for children aged 14 and over.