Interested in fostering?
Submit your contact details using the button below and a member of the team will be in touch.
You can also call us on 0300 1312797.
Our foster carers get an allowance to cover the cost of caring for a child, such as for food, clothing, transport, pocket money and activities.
Additional payments may be made depending on the additional support needs of the children in your care.
Weekly allowances and professional fees
All foster carers receive the tier 1 allowance. To progress to tier 2, foster carers must:
- complete additional learning and development
- 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.
Tier 1
Tier 1 weekly allowances and professional fees for April 2025 to March 2026.
| 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 | £295.95 | £324.59 | £445.64 | £466.35 |
| Equivalent 52 week placement | £15,389 | £16,879 | £23,173 | £24,250 |
Tier 2
Tier 2 weekly allowances and professional fees for April 2025 to March 2026.
| 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 | £365.95 | £386.67 | £504.69 | £536.35 |
| Equivalent 52 week placement | £19,029 | £20,107 | £26,244 | £27,890 |
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.
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.