Foster carer payments and allowances

General fostering allowances

We pay general fostering allowances to carers doing short-term, long-term and emergency fostering.

The financial support we provide is made up of 2 parts:

  • A weekly allowance - based on the age of the child.
  • A weekly fee - based on your skill level. We'll discuss this with you at the home visit stage. It ranges from Level 1 to Level 4, with Level 4 being the highest.

Weekly allowance

The basic weekly allowance for 2022–2023, paid per child per week, is:

Levels 1–3

  • 0–4 year-old child: £141
  • 5–10 year-old child: £156
  • 11–15 year-old child: £177
  • 16 years old or older: £207

Level 4

  • 5–10 year-old child: £156
  • 11–15 year-old child: £177
  • 16 years old or older: £207

Weekly fee

The basic weekly fee for 2022–2023, paid per child per week, is:

  • Level 1: no fee
  • Level 2: £75
  • Level 3: £140
  • Level 4: £280

Total weekly support

Level 1

  • 0–4 year-old child: £141
  • 5–10 year-old child: £156
  • 11–15 year-old child: £177
  • 16 years old or older: £207

Level 2

  • 0–4 year-old child: £216
  • 5–10 year-old child: £231
  • 11–15 year-old child: £252
  • 16 years old or older: £282

Level 3

  • 0–4 year-old child: £281
  • 5–10 year-old child: £296
  • 11–15 year-old child: £317
  • 16 years old or older: £347

Level 4

  • 5–10 year-old child: £436
  • 11–15 year-old child: £457
  • 16 years old or older: £487

Additional allowances

You'll also receive the following additional allowances for each fostered child or young person in your care:

  • Birthday allowance – equivalent to 1 week's basic weekly allowance.
  • Festival allowance – equivalent to 1 week's basic weekly allowance.
  • Holiday allowance – 1 per year, equivalent to 2 weeks basic weekly allowance.