A carers group has hit out at the council after some young people in West Dunbartonshire received a letter that they are no longer eligible for payments.

Kinship Care Group posted a statement on social media saying they were 'incredibly angry' that some of their young people had received letters to stop their payments.

Micheleine Kane from Kinship Care says they were 'blind-sighted' when they were told that some of their kinship carers who are over 18 were affected.

Kinship care is when a child lives full-time or most of the time with a relative or close family friend, usually because their parents are not able to care for them.

Currently, young people in kinship care can receive an allowance until the age of 21.

In a statement online the post read: "We are deeply concerned by the recent letter which went out in the last two weeks to kinship carers in West Dunbartonshire and the impact of these letters and the serious ramifications for families already struggling daily to keep young adults in their care within the family placement.

"WDC has decided to stop paying the kinship payment to young adults 18 and over with effect in two weeks time. A decision that has caused anxiety, chaos and uncertainty for the families affected by this decision."

The statement goes on to say: "We are feeling both let down and incredibly angry at the reckless decision made by this council in which kinship care is the leading care provided at the lowest cost."

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West Dunbartonshire Council have said that those classed as a ‘looked-after child’ on their 16th birthday will continue to receive the allowance until the age of 21.

However, any young person not classed as ‘looked after’ at 16 has been told their payment will cease after they turn 18.

The council says this will bring them in line with updated national guidance.

Micheleine Kane said: "The payment helps so much to get them into further education and these young adults can now thrive. I take it to heart because I have run this for 14 years. We were blind-sighted by this.

"Glasgow and other local authorities are continuing care of their young people until 21 years old which means these young, vulnerable, care-experienced children can still be accommodated and looked after.

"There’s been no official word from West Dunbartonshire on why they have done this, it's just silence. The only circumstance that has changed is that the kids are over 18.

"They are putting these kids at risk of leaving the kinship placement where they were safe and looked after.

"It could cause them homelessness, going into drugs, shoplifting. What we have done over 18 years they could undo it all in six months."

A spokesperson for West Dunbartonshire Council said: "West Dunbartonshire Health and Social Care Partnership (WDHSCP) values our dedicated Kinship Carers and the important role they play in supporting the lives of children and young people.

"WDHSCP is committed to keeping The Promise for children and young people under Kinship Care with payments and entitlements being brought in line with the Scottish Recommended Allowance for Kinship Carers introduced last year ensuing all Kinship Carers receive the minimum and in some cases, more than the agreed National Allowances for eligible families.