Fostering children allowances
Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs)
IFA Fostering Allowances:
How much will I get paid?
On average, Independent Fostering Agencies pay a basic weekly foster care allowance and fee of £380 per week for all ages of foster children.
Some IFAs also pay foster care enhanced payments of up to double their standard rate, dependent on the needs of the foster children, such as :
- Parent and child placements; Children with special needs; Remand placements.
Local Authorities (LAs)
The Local Authority fostering fees and allowances structure has Nationally recommended rates for each foster child. Foster carers are paid a weekly allowance to cover the cost of foster care for a child or children.
LA Fostering Allowance 2013 to 2014:
Base
Babies: £116 Pre Primary: £119 Primary: £132 11 to 15: £151 16 to 17: £175
South East
Babies: £129 Pre Primary: £133 Primary: £148 11 to 15: £167 16 to 17: £197
London
Babies: £135 Pre Primary: £138 Primary: £154 11 to 15: £174 16 to 17: £205
The foster care allowance is provided to cover the following:
Household costs, food, clothes, travel, school dinners and any other things required to look after a foster child. The payment takes into account the fact that foster care for children cost more than caring for birth children.
In addition to the fostering allowance other payments may be made to foster carers, depending on their experience and qualifications. These payments are often between £50 and £200 per week. Generally, Local Authorities pay their fostering allowances directly into the foster carer's bank account every two weeks. Local Authorities tend to have different allowances for short break foster carers.
Choosing the best Fostering Agency
If you decide to take the next step towards becoming a foster carer, use our free fostering agency matching service which finds the best fostering agencies with vacancies for you and your circumstances.
As a potential foster carer, it is important that you get fostering right first time by choosing the right fostering agency, which will offer you the best training, support and fostering allowance - this is where we can help so make an enquiry today!
In receipt of Benefits?
The general position of foster carers is that any payments received regarding fostering will be disregarded for benefits purposes. However, this will not be the case if you are treated for Tax and National Insurance purposes as though you were self-employed when you should seek further advice from your local Benefits office.
As a foster carer fostering children you will not be able to claim Child Tax Credit or Child Benefit for a foster child if you are in receipt of a fostering allowance. However you may be able to claim Working Tax Credit if you are receiving the reward element and you are treated as self employed. If you are putting in a claim for this, seek professional advice first.
Foster carers may be in a position to claim any of the following benefits, according to circumstances:
- Income Support
- Income-Based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Benefit
- Disability Living Allowance
- Working Tax Credits
Affording to foster children
Fostering children is no longer seen as a voluntary service. In order to recruit and retain foster carers, they need to be financially rewarded as any other workers in social care.
Local Authorities and Independent Fostering Agencies provide fees and allowances to enable foster carers to care for children and young people on a full-time basis. Find more details about Fostering and Welfare Benefits.
Is Foster Care a career?
Can fostering children be a full time job?
Yes. It is usually expected that a foster carer will become available full time. Generally, the more available you are, the more foster care placements you will be offered.
If you would like us to support you with an application to become a foster carer or you just require further information about foster caring, complete the foster carer enquiry form.
Timescales
In our experience, Local Authorities take six months and Independent Fostering Agencies take an average of four months to complete the foster carer assessment. However Local Authorities are catching up.
More information...Foster care course
As your application proceeds you will be invited to attend a fostercare training course, most Fostering Agencies use the Fostering Network course called "Skills to Foster".
Foster Care in the UK.
More information...Assessment
The fostering social worker will visit you and your family at home. It is important that you discuss fostering with your children at an early stage and check out how they feel about being part of a fostering family.
More information...Why foster care in UK?
People become foster carers because they are committed to giving children a safe and secure home. Stella, a foster carer told us "fostering has given me the opportunity to give youngsters a chance at family life. My kids had left home, I had the space and because I had thought about fostering for a while I took the plunge. I look after teenagers now who I help to move on to independance. It's hard sometimes but I love it!"
More information...Fostering as a career
Fostering can be a career. Some Fostering Agencies are prepared to pay retainers between placements to experienced foster carers and there is a growing need for foster carers who are prepared to foster children and young people on a long term fostering basis, as well as permanently.
More information...Who can be a foster carer?
Foster carers come from all walks of life, different backgrounds, experiences, lifestyles, ages and occupations. To be a foster carer you will need to be flexible, understanding and want to learn new skills. A good sense of humour helps.
More information...Online form
If you are serious about considering becoming a foster carer and would like to find out more about how to foster care in the UK, contact us to use our free fostering service by completing our confidential online form.
What we do
Simply Fostering will monitor all enquiries and if we feel it would be of help to you if you supplied more information, we will contact you by email.
More information...In confidence
Simply Fostering value confidentiality. We understand that people are concerned about providing personal information on the internet.
Fostering Form... 
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