Are fostering payments made weekly or monthly?

There is no single payment timetable for all foster carers. Each fostering service sets its own schedule, so one service may pay every week while another pays once a month. The arrangement should be explained before you agree to foster and recorded in the relevant fostering agreement or payment information.

The amount you receive may include more than one element. A fostering allowance is intended to contribute towards the everyday costs of caring for a child, such as food, clothing, household expenses, travel and activities. Some services also include a separate fee or professional payment for the carer’s role. The way these elements are described and paid will depend on the service and the terms of your approval.

When checking the payment arrangements, ask the fostering service to confirm:

• Whether payments are made weekly or monthly
• The usual payment date or payment day within the relevant period
• Whether payments are made in advance or in arrears
• When the first payment is due after a child is placed
• How a payment is calculated if a placement starts or ends partway through a payment period
• Whether allowances and any fee are shown separately
• What happens if the child’s circumstances or agreed arrangements change
• How you will receive a statement or other record of each payment

The first payment may not arrive at the same point as the start of a placement, because the service may have an administrative payment cycle. This does not mean the agreed amount has changed. Ask how the first payment will be dealt with and whether any part-period amount will be included in the next scheduled payment.

Keeping your own record is useful, particularly where payments are made monthly. Note the placement dates, the amount received, the payment date and the part of the payment relating to the allowance or any fee. Compare this with the statement provided by the fostering service and raise any difference with your supervising social worker or the service’s finance team.

A payment schedule should not be the only factor you consider when comparing fostering services. Look at the full terms, including what the allowance is designed to cover, how additional expenses are handled, what financial records are supplied and whether the arrangements change for different types of placement. Payment policies can also be updated, so check the current written information rather than relying on an informal explanation.

If you are considering applying, request a clear example of how payments would work during a typical payment period. You can then understand when money would be received, which elements it includes and how a part-period placement would be treated before making a decision.