Is there a fostering siblings allowance?

A fostering siblings allowance is additional financial support that may be offered when a foster carer looks after brothers and sisters together. It recognises that caring for a sibling group can involve extra household costs, practical arrangements and responsibilities compared with caring for one child.

The way this support works depends on the fostering service responsible for the placement. It may be described as a sibling supplement, a group-placement payment or another form of additional allowance. The payment might be linked to the number of children placed together, the children’s individual needs or the specific arrangements agreed before the placement begins.

It is important to distinguish this support from the standard fostering allowance. The regular allowance is intended to contribute towards the everyday costs of caring for each foster child, such as food, clothing, personal items, travel and activities. A sibling allowance, where offered, is an additional payment and does not replace the usual allowance for each child.

Sibling groups are not all the same. A placement involving two young children may create different costs from one involving older children, teenagers or children with additional needs. Factors that may be considered include:

• the number of brothers and sisters being placed together;
• the ages, routines and practical needs of the children;
• the space, equipment and transport needed in the foster home;
• whether the children have additional emotional, behavioural, health or educational needs;
• the length and type of the placement; and
• the fostering service’s financial policy and the terms agreed for that placement.

The amount and arrangements should be explained during the assessment, approval or matching process. Before accepting a sibling placement, ask the fostering service to confirm in writing whether an additional payment applies, how it has been calculated, when it will be paid and whether it will be reviewed if the placement changes.

You should also ask what happens if one child leaves the placement, the children move to different arrangements or the group’s needs increase. An allowance connected to caring for siblings together may be reviewed when the placement circumstances change. Any decision should be recorded in the relevant placement documentation, alongside information about the children’s care arrangements and expected costs.

Foster carers should not assume that a sibling payment is automatic or that every fostering service uses the same criteria. The responsible local authority or fostering agency can explain its policy and identify any other assistance that may be available for equipment, travel, activities or exceptional costs. Ask for clarification before making financial plans based on an allowance.

If you are considering fostering siblings, the assessment will look at whether your household, accommodation, support network and practical resources are suitable for the children being referred. Training and preparation should also cover managing sibling relationships, maintaining appropriate boundaries and supporting each child’s individual identity and needs. These considerations are separate from the financial arrangements but are important when deciding whether a sibling placement is appropriate.

Keep copies of payment information and raise any difference between the agreed arrangement and the amount received with your supervising social worker or the fostering service’s finance team. They can explain the calculation, any review process and whether further evidence is needed.