Are additional foster care allowances guaranteed?

Additional foster care allowances are not guaranteed as a standard entitlement. Whether an extra payment is available usually depends on the fostering service’s written policy, the child’s individual needs and the reason the allowance has been requested. An allowance may be agreed for one child or situation but not apply automatically to every foster placement.

It is important to distinguish additional allowances from the regular fostering allowance. The regular allowance is intended to contribute towards the everyday costs of caring for a child, while an additional payment may be considered for a particular expense or circumstance. Examples can include costs linked to a child’s activities, clothing, education, travel or an assessed need that goes beyond ordinary day-to-day expenditure. The types of support available differ between fostering services.

An additional allowance may be considered when:

• the child’s care plan or assessed needs identify an extra expense;
• a social worker or supervising social worker recommends additional support;
• the fostering service has a specific allowance or payment scheme;
• the expense has been agreed in advance; or
• the circumstances of the placement change and further support becomes necessary.

Approval is not necessarily automatic, even where an expense appears closely connected with fostering. The service may consider whether the cost is reasonable, necessary, suitable for the child and covered by its policy. It may also look at whether the expense should be met from the standard fostering allowance, paid as an additional allowance or addressed through another form of practical support.

The written terms provided by the fostering service should explain which payments may be available, who can authorise them and whether any conditions apply. Some payments may require prior approval, supporting information or receipts. Others may be agreed as a set amount rather than reimbursed against individual costs. A payment can also be reviewed if the child’s circumstances, placement arrangement or care plan changes.

Before committing to a significant expense, ask your supervising social worker or the relevant member of the fostering team:

• what additional allowances the service offers;
• which eligibility criteria apply;
• whether approval must be obtained before spending;
• what evidence, if any, must be provided;
• when an approved payment will be made; and
• what happens if the expense is unexpected or urgent.

Keep any approval in writing and retain relevant receipts or records where the service requests them. This helps avoid confusion about whether a payment was authorised, what it covers and whether it is a one-off allowance or an ongoing arrangement. Verbal guidance can be useful, but the fostering service’s written policy and the specific agreement for the placement are the more reliable points of reference.

Allowances may also be reconsidered during a placement. A child’s needs can develop, arrangements can change or an originally agreed expense may no longer be required. Conversely, new information may show that further support should be discussed. Foster carers should raise changes promptly rather than assuming that an existing allowance will continue indefinitely or that a new payment will be approved retrospectively.

If you are comparing fostering services, ask for a clear explanation of the full financial support package before applying. This should include the regular fostering allowance, any possible additional payments, the approval process and the circumstances in which payments may be reviewed. Become a Foster Family can explain how fostering allowances and additional support are approached, helping you understand what questions to ask when considering fostering.