How often are foster carers paid?

Foster carers are usually paid on a regular schedule set out by their fostering service, most commonly weekly or monthly. The exact timing can vary between services, so your fostering agreement should explain when payments are due, whether they are paid in advance or in arrears, and how the amount is calculated for each placement.

Payments generally relate to the child’s approved placement dates rather than to the date on which you complete your fostering application or training. The first payment may therefore depend on when the placement starts and the service’s payment-processing arrangements. Your supervising social worker or fostering service should explain the first payment date before, or when, a placement begins.

What a fostering payment may include

A fostering payment can contain more than one element:

• Fostering allowance: money intended to contribute towards the day-to-day costs of caring for a child, such as food, clothing, personal items, travel and activities.
• Fee or professional payment: an additional payment that may apply under the service’s scheme and can reflect the role and responsibilities involved in fostering.
• Additional agreed payments: some arrangements may include payments linked to specific needs, approved expenses, birthdays, holidays, equipment or other matters. These should be explained by the fostering service rather than assumed.

The allowance and any fee may appear together in one payment or as separate entries. This depends on the service’s payment system and the terms of your agreement.

Does the payment continue throughout a placement?

Where a placement remains active, payments are normally made according to the agreed schedule. The amount may change if the child’s circumstances, approved needs or placement arrangements change. For example, a service may review the payment when a child’s needs require additional support or when an agreed arrangement such as respite applies.

Payments can also be affected when a placement ends, is paused or changes from one type of arrangement to another. Ask how the final payment will be calculated, including whether it covers the full payment period or only the days for which the placement was active. Your fostering service should also explain how payments work for short-term, emergency, respite and planned breaks where these arrangements are relevant to you.

What if a payment is late or appears incorrect?

Check your payment statement against the placement dates, the agreed rate and any approved additional costs. A difference may result from a change in the payment period, a deduction or adjustment, a placement starting or ending part-way through a cycle, or an administrative error. Keep copies of your agreement, payment records and receipts for approved expenses, then raise any discrepancy with the named finance or fostering contact.

It is important to report changes promptly rather than relying on a later payment to correct them. If you do not understand an entry, ask for a written explanation of what it covers and the period to which it relates.

What should you ask before becoming a foster carer?

• How often are fostering allowances paid?
• Are payments made in advance or in arrears?
• When would the first payment normally be due after a placement starts?
• Are the allowance and any fee paid together or separately?
• How are part-period placements, respite and emergency placements paid?
• What happens to payments when a child moves on or a placement ends unexpectedly?
• Which expenses need prior approval, and how are they reimbursed?
• What payment statement or other record will be provided?

These details should be clear before you accept a placement. Payment frequency is only one part of the financial arrangement: you should also understand the current allowance rates, any fee structure, expense rules and how fostering income may interact with tax or existing benefits. Rates and policies can change, so rely on the current information provided by your fostering service and keep your payment records for reference.