What affects how much foster carers get paid each week?

Foster carers do not all receive the same amount each week. The figure is calculated under the fostering service’s financial framework, which sets the standard allowance for the child and explains when a professional fee, enhanced rate or separate reimbursement may be available. There is no single national weekly payment that applies to every fostering household.

The child’s circumstances are assessed in detail. A service may use different payment bands according to the child’s age, day-to-day costs and level of support required. A placement involving substantial additional care, specialist arrangements or a higher level of supervision may be treated differently from a more straightforward arrangement. The child’s assessed needs, rather than a carer’s personal preference, are normally central to this decision.

The placement arrangement also matters. Services can have separate financial rules for arrangements such as short-term fostering, long-term placements, parent-and-child placements, respite and emergency care. These categories may involve different preparation, availability or support requirements. The rate should therefore be confirmed for the specific placement being considered, rather than assumed from another type of fostering.

A carer’s approval and experience can affect eligibility for certain payments. Some fostering services have enhanced or specialist schemes for carers who undertake additional training, develop particular skills or care for children with more complex needs. The relevant requirements may include completing specified training, meeting assessment standards or accepting particular placement conditions. Approval to foster does not automatically mean that every enhanced payment applies.

The number and circumstances of children placed can change the household’s total. A sibling group or more than one child may lead to separate allowances for each child, although the service may also consider practical factors such as shared equipment, bedrooms and the overall demands on the household. The amount paid for one child should not be used to predict the total for a different placement.

Allowance and fee arrangements should be considered separately. The allowance is intended to contribute towards the costs of caring for a child. Some services may also pay a professional fee to eligible foster carers in recognition of their role and responsibilities. The fee may have its own conditions, including requirements relating to approval, training or the type of placement accepted. Ask the fostering service to explain which part is the child-related allowance and which part is the carer fee.

What is included in the weekly figure can affect its practical value. A service may treat some costs as part of the regular allowance while handling other costs through separate payments or agreed reimbursement. Before applying, ask how the arrangement deals with clothing, activities, travel, equipment, birthdays, holidays and other exceptional expenditure. This helps you compare payment information accurately without assuming that every cost is covered in the same way.

Rates can be reviewed. Fostering services may update their payment framework, alter eligibility rules or review allowances when the child’s circumstances change. Ask whether the figures provided are current, how often they are reviewed and whether any change applies to existing placements as well as new ones. Written guidance is useful because it sets out the conditions alongside the headline amount.

When discussing fostering, ask for a written breakdown covering the standard allowance, any professional fee, eligibility for enhanced arrangements, reimbursable expenses and the circumstances that could change the payment. Also ask how the amount is calculated when a placement begins or ends part-way through a payment period. These questions give a clearer picture of the weekly financial arrangement than a single advertised figure.