Fostering allowance and payments
Fostering allowances are the amounts recommended by the Fostering Network to cover the costs of fostering a child. They are reviewed each year and do not affect any tax you pay or benefits you receive.
How does it work?
Fostering allowances are the amounts recommended by the Fostering Network to cover the costs of fostering a child. They are reviewed each year and do not affect any tax you pay or benefits you receive.
Payments on an accreditation scheme
The payments are made for each child in addition to the age-related allowances.
Accreditation levels reflect the skills foster carers achieve through training and experience.
- Level 1 carers: extra £50 per week per child
- Level 2 carers: extra £90 per week per child
- Enhanced carers: extra £250 per week per child
- Specialist carers: extra £440 per week per child
Level 1 (newly approved carers)
| Age of child | 0-4 | 5-10 | 11-15 | 16+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly accreditation |
£50 |
£50 |
£50 |
£50 |
| Weekly fostering allowance |
£170 |
£187 |
£213 |
£249 |
| Weekly total |
£220 |
£237 |
£263 |
£299 |
| Annual total |
£11,400 |
£12,324 |
£13,676 |
£15,548 |
Level 2 (established foster carers fostering for 1year+)
| Age of child | 0-4 | 5-10 | 11-15 | 16+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly accreditation |
£90 |
£90 |
£90 |
£90 |
| Weekly fostering allowance |
£170 |
£187 |
£213 |
£249 |
| Weekly total |
£260 |
£277 |
£303 |
£339 |
| Annual total |
£13,520 |
£14,404 |
£15,756 |
£17,628 |
Enhanced fostering payments
| Age of child | 0-4 | 5-10 | 11-15 | 16+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly accreditation |
£250 |
£250 |
£250 |
£250 |
| Weekly fostering allowance |
£170 |
£187 |
£213 |
£249 |
| Weekly total |
£420 |
£437 |
£463 |
£499 |
| Annual total |
£21,840 |
£22,724 |
£24,076 |
£25,948 |
Specialist fostering payments
| Age of child | 5-10 | 11-15 | 16+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly accreditation |
£440 |
£440 |
£440 |
| Weekly fostering allowance |
£187 |
£213 |
£249 |
| Weekly total |
£627 |
£653 |
£689 |
| Annual total |
£32,604 |
£33,956 |
£35,828 |
Additional payments
Birthdays
We automatically pay an extra one week’s fostering allowance just before the child’s birthday.
Christmas and other religions holidays
We pay an extra one week’s allowance at the beginning of December or in time for another major religious festival if this is more appropriate.
Holidays
We pay an extra two weeks’ allowance for holidays. Let your supervising social worker know your holiday plans in advance and they will arrange payment of holiday allowance for you. You can still claim your holiday allowance for day trips if you are not going away on holiday.
Clothing, bedding, equipment and school uniform
When a child first comes to you, we will ensure that they have all the clothing, bedding and equipment they need. Replacement items are usually paid for out of the weekly allowance. We pay for school uniforms when a child starts/changes school.
Leisure fund
Additional payments are available to enable children to take part in leisure activities.