Financial Support and Allowances.

Fostering is a life-changing commitment, and the right financial support helps you provide the care, stability and everyday experiences a child needs. Our foster carers receive regular payments, clear guidance and ongoing support so they can focus on helping children feel safe, settled and cared for.
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Weekly allowance.

We pay from £450 per child per week. The exact figure varies by the child’s age, needs and the placement type.
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Extra payments.

Every approved carer also receives a birthday payment, an annual holiday payment, and a festival payment for each child in placement.
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Peer support groups.

Part of the payment covers the child’s day-to-day costs and part recognises your time, skills and commitment as a carer.
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24/7 support.

Access guidance and advice whenever you need it, so you never feel alone in your fostering journey.

What does the
allowance help cover?

The fostering allowance is designed to support the everyday costs involved in caring for a child, helping you provide a safe, comfortable and active home life.

You could foster if you:

  • Food, clothing and toiletries
  • Household costs linked to caring for a child
  • School uniform, equipment and trips
  • Travel to school, contact and appointments
  • Hobbies, clubs and activities
  • Pocket money and savings
  • Birthdays, celebrations and everyday treats
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Extra financial support.

Depending on the placement and circumstances, foster carers may receive additional payments to help with special occasions, holidays or agreed costs. We’ll explain what support is available before a placement begins, so everything is clear from the start.
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Birthday payments.

Additional support to help celebrate a child’s birthday.
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Holiday support.

Helping children enjoy family time, days out and memorable experiences.
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Celebration payments.

Support for important cultural, religious or family celebrations.
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Agreed extra costs.

Guidance around mileage, specialist costs or other approved expenses.
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More than financial
support.

Our support goes beyond allowances. As a foster carer, you’ll receive training, guidance and practical help throughout your fostering journey.

You’ll receive:

  • Training before and after approval
  • A dedicated supervising social worker
  • 24/7 support when you need advice
  • Local peer support and carer groups
  • Help with matching and placements
  • Ongoing guidance around finances and claims

Tax, benefits and financial guidance.

Many foster carers pay little or no Income Tax through HMRC’s Qualifying Care Relief, although this can depend on your personal circumstances. We’ll talk you through the basics during your assessment and provide clear examples to help you understand how it may apply.

Fostering may also affect some benefits, while others may stay the same. Where needed, we can point you towards independent advice so you can make the right decision for your household.

We also recommend keeping simple records, such as mileage, receipts for larger purchases and a monthly summary of costs. To make this easier, we can provide helpful templates.

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