What would I be paid for fostering?
Foster carers receive a fee for each child they foster and an allowance for each child.
The fee is the carer's income for the work they do. The fee for each child, irrespective of their age, is £315 per week.
The allowance covers the cost of looking after the child, for example, to cover cost of food, clothing, activities, holidays, school equipment, pocket money and so on. The allowance varies according to the child's age.
Example - Children aged 6 and 9 years
Mr and Mrs A look after two children (Sadie and Angus), a brother and sister, aged 6 and 9 years old.
Fostering Fees = 2 x £315 = £630.00 per week
Child's allowance = £195.81 x 2 = £391.62
Total = £1021.62 per week
For looking after Sadie and Angus Mr and Mrs A receive £1021.62 per week.
They receive an additional £783.24 to cover the children's Christmas and birthday costs bringing the total to £ 53,907.48 per year.
Example - Young people aged 14 years years
Mr and Mrs B look after Joe who is 14 years old.
Fostering Fee fee = 1 x £315.00 per week
Young Person allowance = £195.81 per week
Total = £ 510.81 per week
For looking after one child (Joe), Mr and Mrs B receive £ 510.81 per week.
They also receive an additional £391.62 to cover the Joe's Christmas and birthday costs bringing the total to £26,953.74 per year.
Example - Three siblings aged between 0-18
Mr and Mrs W look after three siblings aged 5, 9 and 14.
Fostering Fees fee = 3 x £315 = £945
Child's allowance 3 x £195.81 = £587.43
Total = £1532.43 per week
For looking after three siblings Mr and Mrs W receive £1532.43 per week.
They receive an additional £1174.86 to cover the children's Christmas and birthday costs bringing the total to £80,861.22 per year.