Fees and Allowances

What are foster care allowances?

All foster carers receive a weekly fostering allowance from their fostering service when they have a child living with them, which is designed to cover the cost of caring for a child in foster care. This includes food, clothes, toiletries, travel and all other expenses incurred and varies depending on the age of the child.

As a foster carer you may be entitled to claim benefits and tax credits. The allowances and fee (if you get one) you receive from fostering are normally completely disregarded as income or only taxable profit from your fostering is taken into consideration for the purposes of calculating your entitlement to benefits.

Foster carers have a unique role within the children’s sector – they are some of the only individuals who provide care for children in their own homes, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and welcome them into their families. Foster carers should be provided with adequate fee payments to recognise their time, skills and experience and to make fostering a viable and sustainable option for prospective foster carers looking to make a difference in the lives of childr

What are allowances?

All foster carers receive a weekly fostering allowance from their fostering service when they have a child living with them, which is designed to cover the cost of caring for a child in foster care. This includes food, clothes, toiletries, travel and all other expenses incurred and varies depending on the age of the child.

Allowances

All foster carers receive a weekly fostering allowance which is designed to cover the cost of caring for a fostered child. This should cover food, clothes, toiletries and all other expenses incurred in looking after a fostered child.