Investigation prompts reassessment of financial support for approximately 300 caregivers
Devon County Council to Recalculate Special Guardianship Allowances for 170 Families
Devon County Council is taking action to rectify a long-standing issue with the calculation of Special Guardianship Allowances (SGAs). The council has agreed to recalculate the SGAs it has paid to over 170 special guardians, ensuring they receive a sum equivalent to any deductions made incorrectly.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found that Devon County Council's method of calculating SGAs was not in line with the correct guidance, and the council has acknowledged this error. The council's policy, which involved deducting child benefit from all special guardians receiving Universal Credit, contradicted the Ombudsman's long-held position and government recommendations.
The council's decision to review its SGA calculations and complaints system is not related to the housing crisis, the new Devon Housing Commission, or the new fund launched to help Devon build back greener. Instead, it stems from the council's misunderstanding of the Ombudsman's decisions in other cases.
For the 125 special guardians in the county where the council has no information, Devon County Council has agreed to invite them to provide information to enable it to review their financial circumstances and, where appropriate, recalculate their SGAs, backdating any amount due.
The council has also agreed to apologize to a specific grandmother and recalculate her SGA following government guidance, and pay her a sum equivalent to the deductions it has made since January 2022. In addition, the council will pay £600 to another specific grandmother for the delays caused by its complaints process and for the lack of support and information following her Special Guardianship Order.
In response to the Ombudsman's findings that the council was wrongly taking into account benefits payments when calculating allowances, Devon County Council will also review its complaints system to ensure statutory timescales are being met. The council is investigating how it calculated allowances for nearly 300 families who look after children as special guardians, following an investigation by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.
The council's actions demonstrate a commitment to addressing past errors and ensuring fair treatment for all special guardians in Devon County Council's care.
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