Are fostering allowance rates reviewed when a child’s needs change?

Fostering allowance arrangements can be reviewed when a child’s circumstances or assessed care needs change. A review does not necessarily mean the payment will increase: the fostering service considers the nature of the change, the likely cost, how long it is expected to last and whether existing support already meets the need.

Changes that may lead to a review include:

• a child moving into a different age group or stage of development;
• new health, emotional or behavioural information;
• additional transport linked to education, family contact, appointments or activities;
• the need for specialist clothing, furniture, safety equipment or other items;
• changes to contact arrangements or the child’s education;
• a placement becoming more demanding than originally assessed; or
• circumstances suggesting that the child needs a higher level of supervision or practical care.

The review normally considers the child’s placement plan, care plan and day-to-day needs alongside information from the foster carer and relevant professionals. The foster carer may be asked to explain what has changed, when it started, how often it occurs and what additional costs or practical demands result. Supporting information, such as receipts, mileage records, professional recommendations or evidence from school, can help the service understand the request, although the evidence required will depend on the fostering service’s procedure.

Where appropriate, the supervising social worker will discuss the situation with the foster carer and liaise with the child’s social worker or other members of the professional network. The service may consider whether the need can be met through a one-off payment, an agreed expense, equipment, practical assistance, respite or a revised recurring allowance. Some changes may be temporary, while others may need to be reflected in the arrangements for the remainder of the placement.

It is important to distinguish the child-related allowance from any fee paid for the foster carer’s role. A change in a child’s needs may affect the support or allowance attached to the placement, but it does not automatically alter the carer’s fee. Those arrangements are usually governed by separate policies and agreements.

Allowances are not normally adjusted solely because a carer finds a placement difficult. The decision should relate to the child’s assessed needs and the agreed care arrangements. Equally, foster carers should not be expected to absorb substantial, placement-related costs without raising them with the fostering service. Discussing a concern early allows the relevant professionals to consider both the child’s welfare and the sustainability of the placement.

Any decision should be explained clearly, including what has been agreed, when it will begin, whether it will be reviewed again and what happens if the need changes further. Backdated payments, one-off funding and reimbursement of costs are matters for the service’s policy and the specific placement agreement, so they should not be assumed. A foster carer who disagrees with the outcome can ask for the decision to be reviewed through the fostering service’s complaints, representation or appeal process.

Foster carers should keep their supervising social worker informed about material changes rather than waiting for the next scheduled review. Useful questions to ask include:

• Which part of the child’s care plan supports the requested change?
• Is the proposed support a recurring allowance, a one-off payment or reimbursement?
• When will the arrangement start, and is it temporary or ongoing?
• What records or receipts should be kept?
• When will the arrangement be reviewed?

Because policies and funding arrangements differ between fostering services, the written placement agreement and the service’s allowance policy are the most reliable sources for the final decision. A foster carer can ask their supervising social worker to explain how a change in needs will be assessed and what support can be considered.