When are foster carers paid each week?

Foster carers are paid according to the payment cycle set out by their fostering service, so the exact day can vary. A service may describe payments as weekly while processing them on a particular day or paying for an agreed period in arrears. The written fostering agreement and payment policy should explain the arrangement that applies to you.

The payment date can also depend on when a placement begins or ends. For example, the first payment may be calculated from the date a child is placed, while the final payment may reflect the date the placement finishes. A change in placement, a respite arrangement or an approved adjustment to the payment may therefore appear in a different payment run from the regular weekly amount.

Before accepting a placement, make sure you understand:

• which day payments are normally issued;
• whether payments are made in advance or in arrears;
• when the first payment is expected after a placement starts;
• how the final payment is calculated when a placement ends;
• how bank holidays or other processing changes affect the payment date;
• who to contact if a payment does not arrive as expected; and
• which documents show the placement details, weekly allowance and any adjustments.

A weekly fostering payment is normally linked to the child’s placement and the terms agreed with the fostering service. It should not be treated in the same way as a standard wage paid for fixed working hours. The amount and timing may be affected by the type of placement, the child’s needs, approved changes during the placement and the service’s own payment procedures.

Ask for the payment timetable and written terms before you apply or accept your first placement. If the information is unclear, request an explanation from your supervising social worker or the service’s finance team. Keeping the payment schedule, placement records and payment statements together makes it easier to check that each weekly payment has been processed correctly.

Become a Foster Family can provide information about fostering, preparation and ongoing support across the West Midlands, including Birmingham, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Dudley, Sandwell, Herefordshire, Telford, Wolverhampton, Shropshire, Walsall, Warwickshire, Stoke, Solihull, Coventry and Gloucestershire.