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Fostering is one of the most meaningful things you can do and we believe it should come with meaningful support. That’s why Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ offers one of the most generous and flexible financial packages for foster carers in the country. Each month, you’ll receive two separate payments: one is the child allowance, which covers essentials like food, clothing and hobbies; the other is a carer fee, which is your income for the vital work you do.

Depending on the type of fostering and the age of the child, these payments can total up to £570 per child, per week, and up to £1,102.57 per week for parent and child fostering. We also offer a wide range of additional payments to make sure you’re fully supported, including mileage reimbursement at 45p per mile, birthday, Christmas and summer holiday allowances and even bonuses when you refer a friend who becomes a foster carer.

With flexible support, tailored training, and a public service that puts children and carers first, fostering with Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ is not only a powerful way to change lives and a practical, rewarding choice for your own future too.

Page Contents

• What you will be paid if you foster long-term, short-term or unaccompanied asylum seeking children
• Allowances and reimbursements for foster carers
• Tax and financial support for foster carers in Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ
• What you will be paid as a parent and child foster carer
• What you will be paid as a supported lodgings carer
• What you will be paid as a short breaks carer
• What you will be paid as a Mockingbird Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ Hub Carer
• Other allowances and payments with Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ
• Ready to foster with Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ?

What you will be paid if you foster long-term, short-term or unaccompanied asylum seeking children

All foster carers are paid a weekly allowance. With pre-approval training, most of our foster carers will start at payment level 2. Extra training and/or evidence of learning is needed for higher levels.

A bed night refers to each night a child spends in the home of a foster carer. This measure helps local authorities track the duration of care provided and may be used to determine certain payments or allowances, particularly for short-term or emergency placements. In Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ, bed night payments may be available on a case-by-case basis. They are discretionary and assessed individually depending on the circumstances of the placement.

Level 1

At this level, all of the weekly allowance should be spent on the foster child's living costs as well as any activities or hobbies the child may have.

Level 2

At this level, you will be paid the weekly allowance for the child plus a weekly fee payment for your skills.

Level 3

At this level, you will be paid the weekly allowance for the child plus a weekly fee payment for your skills.

Allowances and reimbursements for foster carers

Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ ensures foster carers are never out of pocket for the essentials children need. Here's what you can expect to be covered:

• A good supply of seasonal clothing, shoes, and school uniforms (summer and winter).
• School uniform costs reimbursed if the child starts or changes school within the first 4 weeks of placement.
• Additional support available for expensive uniforms at private or residential schools.
• Replacement clothing for special requirements, such as unusual sizes or disabilities.
• Up to £100 for emergency clothing if a child arrives without sufficient belongings.
• A quality suitcase or bag for the child.
• Costs for sports or hobby tuition and equipment.
• Stationery, calculators, schoolbooks, school bags, and materials for school activities (e.g. food tech ingredients, art supplies).
• Children of school age must have access to a computer with internet for homework and learning, with appropriate safeguards.
• Resources to meet cultural or religious needs — additional support available if costs are high or frequent.
• Support for life-story work, including memory books and keepsakes.
• Essential baby equipment for carers approved for younger children (e.g. bottles, nappies, prams, car seats)
• All toiletries, including skin and hair care products.
• The cost of a regular haircut.
• Additional support may be available for special haircare needs.

To help build a secure future for children in care, Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ contributes directly to their savings. After a child has been looked after for 16 weeks, £5 per week is set aside from the fostering allowance and added to the child’s savings account. This is in addition to a £150 lump sum provided once the child has been looked after for 12 months. These savings are managed by Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ’s Business Support Finance Team and deposited into the child’s Junior Individual savings account (JISA) or Child Trust Fund (CTF). It’s a simple but powerful way to ensure every child has something set aside for their future and to support carers in teaching financial life skills along the way.

Foster carers are encouraged to include children in their everyday lives, and that includes holidays and outings. Children in care are welcome to join their foster families on trips and breaks, with support available to help cover costs. For school trips, foster carers contribute the first £50, and Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ covers the rest if the trip is educational. Leisure-based trips may also be reimbursed following discussion with the child’s social work team.

To celebrate special moments, carers receive birthday and festival allowances to cover gifts, parties, and celebrations, including money for the child to buy presents for their family.

Tax and financial support for foster carers in Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ

You might be taxed on the money you earn from fostering. However, most foster carers and may also be exempt from tax on some of their non-fostering income.

Council Tax is a local charge used to fund services like waste collection, policing, and public transport. While foster carers are subject to the same rules as other residents, Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ recognises the vital role carers play and encourages them to explore available financial support.

is a special tax scheme designed to support foster carers by reducing the amount of tax they need to pay on their fostering income. It recognises the unique nature of fostering and helps ensure carers are not taxed in the same way as traditional self-employed workers. Thanks to Qualifying Care Relief, you benefit from:

• £19,690 tax-free income per year
• Plus weekly tax relief for each child:
  • £375 per week for children under 11
  • £450 per week for children aged 11 or over

This means you could earn thousands of pounds tax-free and still be eligible for other financial support.

In a tax year, households do not pay tax on the first £19,690 they earn from fostering. You’ll still pay tax on money you earn from a job or investment. You may be entitled to National Insurance credits, which count towards your State Pension. You should register as self-employed when you started to foster, as you’ll need to .

Foster carers on a low income may qualify for means-tested support. Importantly, your fostering allowance is not counted as income, so it won’t affect your eligibility.

You may qualify if you:

• Receive Universal Credit, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, or Employment and Support Allowance
• Receive Pension Credit or Guaranteed Credit
• Are on a low income

If you’re the only adult in your household, you may be eligible for a 25% discount on your Council Tax, even if you’re fostering. If another adult lives with you and is on a low income, you may qualify for a rebate. If your fostering income is below the tax threshold, you won’t need to pay National Insurance. However, you may choose to make voluntary contributions to protect your entitlement to state benefits.

We understand the financial pressures carers face. That’s why Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ is committed to providing clear guidance and support to help you focus on what matters most, changing a child’s life for the better.

What you will be paid as a parent and child foster carer

Parent and child foster carers are paid two separate weekly allowances, one for the parent and one for their child. This is because you will be looking after two people in your home.

• Allowance for baby or child's living costs and activities - £203.78
• Allowance for parent's living costs - £357.99
• Fee paid to foster carer - £540.80

°Õ´Ç³Ù²¹±ô&²Ô²ú²õ±è;&²Ô²ú²õ±è;£1102.57

What you will be paid as a supported lodgings carer

We will pay you an allowance of £274.56 a week, which is for your time spent supporting the young person living with you. Young people living in supported lodgings are charged £70 a week rent. This is paid from their housing benefit or wages, or from a combination of the two. If the young person is sharing the household food, they are expected to contribute £20 per week.

• Weekly Allowance - £274.56
• Rent from young person - £70
• Contribution to food costs (optional) - £20

Total £364.56

What you will be paid as a short breaks carer

You will receive between £86.96 and £112.20 to care for a child overnight depending on their age. We also offer a day care rate of between £60.24 and £85.48 and an hourly rate of between £12.05 and £17.09 per hour for shorter sessions.
You will be reimbursed your travel expenses at 45p per mile.

What you will be paid as a Mockingbird Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ Hub Carer

Hub home carers benefit from a comprehensive support package designed to help them thrive in their role. Financially, hub home carers receive £540 per week, with additional allowances available for extra responsibilities or expenses. The role also offers a healthy work-life balance, with one day off each week, one weekend off each month, and four weeks of paid holiday each year.

Other allowances and payments with Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ

We understand that welcoming a child into your home comes with initial expenses. To support new foster carers, Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ offers assistance with setting up costs. This helps cover essential items and preparations needed to create a safe and welcoming environment for the child.

We value the role foster carers play in helping us grow our fostering community. If you know someone who could make a great foster carer, you can support our recruitment efforts by referring them to Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ’s fostering service. Or getting paid for your time by helping with recruitment activities. As a thank you, we offer a refer a friend bonus when your referral is approved and begins fostering. This is our way of recognising the important contribution carers make in helping us find more safe, loving homes for children.

A step down payment is a type of financial support that may be offered when a child moves from a higher level of care, such as residential care or specialist fostering, into a mainstream fostering placement.

This payment is designed to:

• Support foster carers during the initial transition period
• Recognise the additional needs a child may have as they adjust to a less intensive care setting
• Encourage carers to welcome children stepping down from more complex placements

Foster carers may be eligible for paid respite care, which is short-term breaks that provide rest and support while ensuring continuity of care for the child. In Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ, respite payments are considered on a case-by-case basis, depending on the needs of the child and the circumstances of the carer. This support helps carers recharge while maintaining stability for the children in their care.

Foster carers who provide day care, respite breaks, or babysitting may be eligible for additional payments, especially when these arrangements help maintain the stability of a child’s placement. Where day care is agreed by the service, carers are paid the equivalent of the National Minimum Wage (£12.21 per hour from April 2025) for up to five hours. If caring for a second or third child from the same fostering household, the rate is 80% of the hourly amount (£9.76). For longer periods, carers receive a day care rate based on the child’s weekly age-related allowance and the carer’s skills payment, divided by seven. Again, second or third children are paid at 80% of this rate.

Because we understand that providing a safe and nurturing home sometimes requires practical investment, we also offer interest-free loans and grants to help with things like adapting your home, buying a larger vehicle, or securing a property deposit. With flexible support, tailored training, and a public service that puts children and carers first, fostering with Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ is a powerful way to change lives — including your own.

Ready to foster with Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ?

If you want to make a difference close to home, and be truly supported while doing it, fostering with Ñý¾«¶¯Âþ could be the right next step.

You’ll be part of a public service that puts children and carers first, not profit.

Contact us