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Our foster carer payments are made up of 2 parts:
- an allowance to cover the cost of caring for a child - such as for food, clothing, transport, pocket money and activities
- a professional fee to reward foster carers for:
- being available to support a wide range of vulnerable children
- providing respite
- being available for emergency placements
- supporting with other fostering related tasks
Weekly allowances and professional fees
All foster carers receive the tier 1 allowance. To progress to tier 2, foster carers must:
- complete additional training
- meet statutory support and development standards
The table below shows the weekly allowances and fees.
These are paid on a fortnightly basis, while you have a child in placement.
For connected persons (sometimes called friends and family or kinship) carers, only the allowance element applies.
This reflects the additional support they give to other children supported by Bracknell Forest Fostering.
| Type per week | Child aged 0 to 4 | Child aged 5 to 10 | Child aged 11 to 15 | Child aged 16 and up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allowance tier 1 | £200.75 | 228.69 | 284.69 | 346.29 |
| Professional fee | £87.98 | £87.98 | £150 | £108.68 |
| Total tier 1 | £288.73 | £316.67 | £434.69 | £454.97 |
| Type per week | Child aged 0 to 4 | Child aged 5 to 10 | Child aged 11 to 15 | Child aged 16 and up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allowance tier 2 | £270.75 | £298.69 | £354.69 | £416.29 |
| Professional fee | £87.98 | £87.98 | £150 | £108.68 |
| Total tier 2 | £358.73 | £386.67 | £504.69 | £524.97 |
Additional payments
Additional payments are subject to terms and conditions and certain criteria being met. Some do not apply to connected persons carers.
Skills payment - £50 per week
Foster carers who hold an NVQ 3 or equivalent in Caring for Children and Young People, receive an extra payment of £50 per week.
It is a set payment and does not increase if you foster more than one child.
Disability payment - £75 per week
If the child has a significant physical or learning disability, there is an extra payment of £75 per week.
Celebration payment - £100 per year
There is an extra payment of £100 per year to support the celebration of important events such as birthdays and religious festivals.
Annual bonus payment - £1,000 per year
This is an extra payment of up to £1,000 per year subject to certain criteria being met.
Respite payment - 2 weeks paid respite per year
Foster carers are entitled to a maximum of 2 weeks paid respite per year.
Emergency placements - £50 per child
Foster carers who receive children into their homes in an emergency will receive a £50 payment per child.
This includes a placement:
- out of hours by the Emergency Duty Team
- with less than 24 hours notice
Step-down payment - £150 per week
To support children stepping down from residential care to return to their family home.
Personal needs payments - up to £10 per week
Additional payments may be made to cover cultural needs relating to hair care, skin care and other specific needs.
Payments are based on the specific costs of meeting this need, with up to £10 per child per week.
Mileage and transport costs
The allowance includes:
- 12 miles of transport per day
- 84 miles per week
Carers can request an additional volunteer's mileage rate of 37.22 pence per mile.
Refer a Friend scheme
Foster carers are eligible to receive £2,000 if they successfully refer a friend to become a foster carer.
Find out more about Refer a Friend.
Tax exemption and benefits
Foster carers are classed as self-employed and as such you will not be paid for any period that you do not have a child in placement. As part of the application and assessment process we will discuss your financial circumstances to make sure you can cope with any periods you are without a placement.
Foster carer earnings are usually tax-free. If you currently receive benefits, in most cases you will still be eligible to claim these.
For more information, see help with the cost of fostering on GOV.UK.