When are foster carer allowances paid?

The payment date for a foster carer allowance is set by the fostering service and recorded in its financial guidance or fostering agreement. There is no single payment date that applies to every fostering service. The service should explain its payment cycle before you accept a placement, including how the first payment is calculated and what happens if placement details change.

What can affect the first payment?

Your first payment may depend on several administrative steps, such as:

• the date your approval as a foster carer takes effect;
• the date a child or young person moves into your care;
• when the placement is entered on the service’s payment system;
• whether bank details and required paperwork have been checked; and
• the service’s payroll or payment cut-off date.

For this reason, the first amount may not follow the same pattern as later payments. Ask whether the first allowance is calculated from the approval date, the placement date or another date set out in the agreement.

How are payments usually calculated?

An allowance is generally linked to the child’s placement and the terms agreed with the fostering service. The amount due may therefore need to be adjusted when a placement starts, ends or changes. Your service should explain whether part-period payments are calculated by the day or under another method, and how changes are shown on your payment statement.

It is also important to distinguish the regular fostering allowance from other payments. Some services treat fostering fees, agreed additional allowances and expense reimbursements separately. They may have different approval requirements or payment dates. If you are expecting money for equipment, travel, activities or a child’s specific needs, check whether this is included in the main allowance or must be claimed separately.

What should your payment information include?

Before you begin fostering, request written information covering:

• the normal payment day or payment period;
• how the first payment is worked out;
• how partial periods are treated;
• how changes to a placement are reported;
• which payments are automatic and which require a claim or receipt;
• how payment statements are provided; and
• who to contact if an amount appears incorrect.

Keep copies of the fostering agreement, placement agreement, payment statements and receipts for approved expenses. These documents make it easier to check that the payment matches the agreed arrangements and to raise a clear query if something does not look right.

What if a payment is late or incorrect?

Check the payment date against the written schedule first, then confirm that the service has the correct bank details and the latest placement information. Contact the fostering service’s finance or fostering support team and ask for the payment to be reviewed. A useful query will state the child’s placement dates, the payment period concerned and the difference between the amount expected under the agreement and the amount received.

Payment arrangements should be explained during the assessment and preparation process, not left for you to work out after approval. If the information is unclear, ask for the relevant policy or agreement and have any verbal explanation confirmed in writing. This will help you plan household finances realistically and understand which costs are covered by the allowance.