Foster carers are paid for each child they care for. What you will earn depends on the type of fostering you do and the age of the child, or children, in your care.
You might be taxed on the money you earn from fostering. However, most foster carers don't pay tax on their fostering income and may also be exempt from tax on some of their non-fostering income.
What you will be paid if you foster long-term, short-term or unaccompanied asylum seeking children
All foster carers are paid a weekly allowance. With pre-approval training, most of our foster carers will start at payment level 2. Extra training and/or evidence of learning is needed for higher levels.
Level 1
At this level, all of the weekly allowance should be spent on the foster child's living costs as well as any activities or hobbies the child may have.
| Item | Child aged 0 to 4 | Child aged 5 to 10 | Child aged 11 to 13 | Child aged 14 to 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allowance for child's living costs and activities | 拢203.78 | 拢231.13 | 拢308.14 | 拢357.99 |
Level 2
At this level, you will be paid the weekly allowance for the child plus a weekly fee payment for your skills.
| Item | Child aged 0 to 4 | Child aged 5 to 10 | Child aged 11 to 13 | Child aged 14 to 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allowance for child's living costs and activities | 拢203.78 | 拢231.13 | 拢308.14 | 拢357.99 |
| Skills fee paid to foster carer | 拢106.02 | 拢106.02 | 拢106.02 | 拢106.02 |
| Total weekly payment | 拢309.80 | 拢337.15 | 拢414.16 | 拢464.01 |
Level 3
At this level, you will be paid the weekly allowance for the child plus a weekly fee payment for your skills.
| Item | Child aged 0 to 4 | Child aged 5 to 10 | Child aged 11 to 13 | Child aged 14 to 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allowance for child's living costs and activities | 拢203.78 | 拢231.13 | 拢308.14 | 拢357.99 |
| Skills fee paid to foster carer | 拢212.04 | 拢212.04 | 拢212.04 | 拢212.04 |
| Total weekly payment | 拢415.82 | 拢443.15 | 拢520.16 | 拢570.03 |
What you will be paid as a parent and child foster carer
Parent and child foster carers are paid two separate weekly allowances, one for the parent and one for their child. This is because you will be looking after two people in your home.
- Allowance for baby or child's living costs and activities - 拢203.78
- Allowance for parent's living costs - 拢357.99
- Fee paid to foster carer - 拢540.80
Total - 拢1102.57
What you will be paid as a supported lodgings carer
We will pay you an allowance of 拢274.56 a week, which is for your time spent supporting the young person living with you. Young people living in supported lodgings are charged 拢70 a week rent. This is paid from their housing benefit or wages, or from a combination of the two. If the young person is sharing the household food, they are expected to contribute 拢20 per week.
- Weekly Allowance - 拢274.56
- Rent from young person - 拢70
- Contribution to food costs (optional) - 拢20
Total - 拢364.56
What you will be paid as a short breaks carer
You will receive between 拢86.96 and 拢112.20 to care for a child overnight depending on their age. We also offer a day care rate of between 拢60.24 and 拢85.48 and an hourly rate of between 拢12.05 and 拢17.09 per hour for shorter sessions.
You will be reimbursed your travel expenses at 45p per mile.
| Item | Child aged 0 to 4 | Child aged 5 to 10 | Child aged 11 to 13 | Child aged 14 to 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Hourly Rate | 拢12.05 | 拢12.83 | 拢15.03 | 拢17.09 |
Day care rate (over 5 hours) | 拢60.24 | 拢64.14 | 拢75.15 | 拢85.48 |
12 to 24 hours (overnight) | 拢86.96 | 拢90.86 | 拢101.87 | 拢112.20 |
