Personal Allowance and Incidentals

Sounds like the agency we received training through in Michigan. I disagree with giving such young children allowance. Personally, I think it would be better spent on services for the children, such as clothing. We give our teens 50.00 a month for spending on movies, clothing, snacks at school, etc. If they don't do chores, they don't get it, period. If they spend it all, that's it. My younger ones, under 10, don't receive and allowance.

Our state requires this too, and its put on our monthly checks. Everything is listed separately, it clearly says personal allowance. Babies actually get more than bigger kids, and we don't have to give that to them. It is used for diapers and wipes and such. The bigger kids get around 15 per month and they have to sign for it in their files. With my 2 fbs, I put it away for them, occasionally I let them buy a toy or something they really want. But mostly I put it away so they have something when they leave. Yes there is a chance that BP will spend it, but oh well.

Wow! I've never even heard anything like this. We don't give allowances. We buy their clothes, give treats here and there, and sometimes a new toy (not on a b-day or other holiday, just because) Hmmmm.....I have no idea if our state requires this or not.

I'm surprised, I hadn't heard of this before. Our county didn't say anything about this in any of our classes or homestudy or anything. $14 a week is way too much for such a young child. As for saving the money and then having the child take it with him... I also think that that would be a mistake. I would have him buy something or a few special things before leaving instead of giving him the money.

WOW!!! I've never heard of this either. It was never brought up in our trainings and I speak to another foster parent month who takes older children and she's never mentioned it either. I'll have to ask the caseworker next week. Also it's interesting that some of you guys said that it's broken down on your board check. The board check we receive here is so generic. It just says foster parent payroll and then has the amt. We get a clothing allotment every four month and also get money for different things like diapers that you submit reciepts for etc. I wish they would break all of that down, but they don't.

I've never heard of this before! We don'thave to give an allowance. Our kids are 4 and 2 years old. They get everything they need and plenty of extras. I can't imagine giving them $14 a week! That's crazy if you ask me!

Thanks for everyone's input. Our amounts are not listed out on our checks. The info is in the "Children's Foster Care Manual" which the worker gave us a copy of and can also be found on line at MI FIA site. With a little more research on MI FIA site, I also found the definitions of room/board, personal incidentals, etc. They were as follows: The room and board portion of the daily rate is intended for food, shelter, personal care, transportation and sundry medical supplies not available through Medicaid.

The allowance and personal incidentals portion is intended to cover the child's weekly allowance and out-of-pocket expenses such as magazines, books, recreation, gifts, contributions, expendable school supplies, etc. The exact determination of how much and on what basis the foster family provides the allowance to the youth is a matter for joint family and worker determination, as well as the Agencys allowance policy as required by Child Placing Agency Rule 400.12410.

The portion of the daily rate intended for clothing is for incidental clothing needs through the year. The semi-annual clothing payment made each September and March is to provide for seasonal clothing needs for children in foster family care. Both rates have been established on the premise that a child has an average wardrobe at the onset of foster care. I feel a little guilty not "following the rules" and actually giving them money; but honestly, I figure the money we spend on extra classes, movies, dining out are treats and that's what we use the money on.

We give a dollar per grade, so 3rd grader T. gets $3 per week and that is assuming she did her few chores (took out the trash a couple times), kept her room clean and helped us when asked. It doesn't buy much, but our goal is that T. will learn to save for what she wants. She normally just goes to the $1 store and spends it on junk that breaks within a couple of hours. If she got $14 per week, it would be like an extra special reward and shopping spree every Saturday in her mind and I don't think I'd be teaching her anything positive by giving her that much regardless her behavior and work ethic. We do often have special dinners out and occasionally buy her special treats or items. We pay her way to the movies whether she goes with us or family friends. Her small allowance is just for her to use as she pleases on the extras. This weekend she is going to her first slumber party and I got her new pajamas and a sleeping bag, so she doesn't go without. She is only 9. I don't think she is responsible enough to handle a larger allowance and covering her own expenses on these things. Allowance really seems like something that should be up to the families not states or workers.

I agree with previous posters!! That much money is crazy! Especially for kids with a history of doing without. It goes against the concept of keeping the toys and stuff to a minimum for a while. T got overwhelmed with Christmas presents etc, and we have to take only a couple of things out at a time. Attaching is allowing the adults to take charge (a bit different in foster vs foster-adopt). Our oldest is 16 and only gets $10 per week for feeding the horses night and day, cleaning room, scooping cat litter and kepping room somewhat clean. He also has opportunity for earning a lot more with yard work and such at home. WE work hard at work and being in a family is helping keep it running. (of course the chores need to be age appropriate). A little money earned can be a great tool for saving for something they really want. (like a $2-5 toy or book or stuffed animal. Karen

This is how it works in our agency. When we get our per diem check it is assumed that $50.00 per month p/child is for clothing, and $1.00 per day p/child is for allowance. Now out of that allowance, which we control how it is spent, the child can pay for things such as movie tickets, or skates and entry at the skating rink etc. The only thing is we have to say, "Ok we're going to the movies this Friday. Darling Foster child, your ticket is going to be paid for from your allowance" that type of thing. The case worker does occasionally ask about the allowance, how much are they getting where is it going etc. Because we can control it to a point, it can be used as an incentive. ie in our house behaviour dictates how much of the allowence S. gets to spend on what he wishes versus how much I spend on what I wish (for him). So that means how much gets spent on a cool lego toy vs. more socks. ;) When I look at it that way, I appreciate the allowance. I try to take it right off the top when I get the per diem, and set it aside. Hope this helps with perspective. =)

WOW! I'm floored! None of our "reimbursement" was for allowance. In fact, I specifically asked about "personal spending amount" when we had to fill out free/reduced lunch applications at school. I had to list if they received any...and I was told they don't. We tried allowances. It didn't work. And I found them eating junk food at lunch instead of what they were supposed to eat, or 2 or 3 breakfasts and no lunch. So, we went to marbles. Same concept. You get so many marbles for doing this chore, morning routine, whatever. If they misbehave, they don't get the marble for that hour (one marble per hour for behavior works for us). There are extra chores posted on the dry-erase board for anyone that would like to earn more marbles. They have to spend these marbles for everything. If they want TV time, video game time, late bed times, toys that have been confiscated (because they threw them at us during a tantrum), new toys (from the dollar store, or something they REALLY want -- good motivator to behave -- these are in our 'treasure box'), movies, etc. You name it, they have to buy it. If they don't have enough marbles, then they have to do more chores and save over time. Oh, sometimes they've had to empty their jar because they really wanted to go to the baseball game and they threw a tantrum hours earlier (active tantrum, no game), so it cost them everything in their jar. That happened only once. Big lesson there. Now, from what I've read about Nancy Thomas' way of doing things, she does pay them for chores (I wouldn't really call it an allowance, because you don't get it if you don't work). She pays minimum wage, but only for the length of time it would take her to do the work (if it takes the child 4 hours and only 1 hour for her, they get just the one hour of money). I won't go into all of it. However, just like our marbles, she charges them for broken things, dis-respect, breaking rules, taxi service, whatever. So, if the agency or state "made" me give the child an allowance, then I'd make them pay for more items instead of me. If they broke something, a part of the consequences would be replacement, my time to go get the item, mileage, installation fee. Or they could pay a pro to come do it and pay even more. And I'd document it that way too! I'd call a repairman and get an estimate of what he'd charge. Don't get me wrong, our kids are well taken care of. They have nice clothes and shoes, good food, scouts (with full uniforms, camping trips, and everything else), church, friends, family (trips out of state), you name it. But, they will behave and when they don't, they pay for it where it hurts...money (or marbles in our case).

My 5 year old daughter and my 5 year old foster daughter have a checklist of 6 things to do every day and night. Everytime they complete the list successfully, they get a check. For every 4 checks, they get a quarter. My foster daughter thinks it's the greatest thing in the whole world to have quarters-- she's obviously never had any before. I can't imagine giving them $14/week! They'd never buy anything useful. I think we'd be at Build-A-Bear all the time buying "Accessories" for their toys.

I think that's ridiculous, but this is coming from someone who never had an allowance, so I think they are overrated anyway. Maybe starting a college fund, but I don't know if I would if I was fostering.... unless it was fostering to adopt and the money stayed with you if it didn't work out. I don't think that's right. JMHO.

Just on a side, in our state, you can NOT starte a college fund or set the money aside in a bank. Mostly, because they want it spent on the child, and they don't want it going home to the parents. I think TexasJinggles was right about giving them money, it will be spent unwisely a lot of the time. In our case, the money never actually goes into their hands. It's in an 'account' that I keep.

We do not have to do allowance here, but I do & our lw always asks me to share when she & my dh teach the new classes. I give $1.00 per year of age per week IF all chores are done timely & without argument, homework is done daily & turned in, if behavior is acceptable to Mom. That is $10.00 a week for Hunter & now $8.00 a week for A. There are NO partial allowances given! It is all or nothing! $1.00 each week is put in their piggy banks that they cannot open. $1.00 is given as offering. They can spend or save the rest as they want with a few guidelines from me. Basically, I have veto power, but rarely have to use it. Normally, H & A both want to buy gifts for me or dh or one of the other kids. They are such good kids!!! Hunter is saving up for a PSP bc I refuse to buy one. Their chores are simple - make their bed before school, put clothes in hampers, put clean laundry away oncec a week, keep rooms & playroom straightened up. They also load & unload the dw a few times a week or sweep the kitchen after meals depending. They clean their own bathrooms as well. I do pay for extra jobs. Like I have been sick so I have paid Hunter a couple of times for entertaining the toddlers for me to grab a nap or whatever. Christy