Financial support

As a foster carer for Bracknell Forest Fostering, you will receive a fee for your time and an allowance to directly support the child or children you are caring for. These are paid on a fortnightly basis, while you have a child in placement.

Allowances

The allowances for April 2020 to March 2021 are below.

Allowance and fee breakdown for foster carers in 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 for child	£171.71	£195.60	£243.50	£296.20
Fee for foster carer	£85	£85	£145	£105
Standard weekly total	£256.71	£280.60	£388.50	£401.20

Additional allowances

Additional allowances are as follows.

Additional fostering payments for skills and disability
Type per week	Child aged 0 to 4	Child aged 5 to 10	Child aged 11 to 15	Child aged 16 and up
Additional skills payment	£50	£50	£50	£50
Additional disability payment	£75	£75	£75	£75
Maximum weekly total	£381.71	£405.60	£513.50	£526.20

Additional skills payment

This is an extra payment for foster carers who hold an NVQ 3 or equivalent in Caring for Children and Young People. It is a set payment and does not increase if you foster more than one child.

Additional disability payment

This is an extra payment when the child being cared for has a significant physical and/or learning disability.

Maximum weekly total

This sum includes the standard allowance and fees showed in the first table, plus the additional skills and disability payments shown in the second table.

Respite and short break placements

For respite placements you will be paid the following allowances for periods of over 6 hours (a half day payment is applicable for under 6 hours). These are for April 2020 to March 2021.

Respite and short break placement payments
Type per week	Child aged 0 to 4	Child aged 5 to 9	Child aged 10 to 15	Child aged 16 and up
Allowance for child and fee for carer (without skills payment)	£36.67	£40.09	£55.50	£57.31
Allowance for child and fee for carer eligible for skills payment	£43.82	£47.23	£62.64	£64.46
Allowance for child and fee for carer without skills payment for a child with a disability	£47.39	£50.80	£66.21	£68.03
Allowance for child and fee for carer with skills payment for child with a disability	£54.53	£57.94	£73.36	£75.17

Other payments

Carers who attend 30 hours of professional development in a 12 month period will receive a payment of £100.

Carers who receive children into their homes in an emergency out of hours or with minimal notice may receive a £50 payment per child.

Specific payments for supported lodgings and parent and child placements are available on request.

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.