Foster care charity the Fostering Network is calling on social workers and foster carers to write to their MPs about discrimination in the pension system, which leaves many foster carers with inadequate provision for their retirement.
A survey of 3,000 Fostering Network members found that 90 per cent were concerned about pension provision. The responses showed that many carers were unaware of the impact fostering would have on their pension. Currently, parents looking after their children at home receive home responsibilities protection through child benefit, which reduces the number of years they must work to receive a pension.
But foster parents do not receive child benefit and therefore do not receive protection for their pension. As a result, many foster carers reach retirement only to find that they do not qualify for a state pension.
The charity, formerly the National Foster Care Association, is urging the government to extend the provision of home responsibilities protection to all foster carers, for the entire period of their fostering.
- Go to www.fostering.net
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