When are emergency foster care payments made?

There is no single national date for emergency foster care payments. The timing depends on the fostering provider’s payment cycle, the date the placement begins, and whether the required placement details have been processed. Payments are commonly calculated for the period in which care is provided and then included in a scheduled payment run, rather than being issued immediately when a child arrives.

Emergency placements can begin with limited notice, so administrative checks may continue after the child has moved in. The provider will usually need to record the placement start date, the child’s details, the approved terms of the placement and the bank account used for payments. If any information is incomplete or needs correcting, this can affect when the first payment appears.

Your payment information should set out:

• the date the placement is treated as starting;
• the payment period covered;
• the date or payment cycle used for issuing funds;
• the allowance or other amounts included;
• any deductions, adjustments or payments made separately; and
• who to contact if the amount or timing does not match your records.

The first payment may be handled differently from later payments because the provider has to set up the placement and confirm the relevant paperwork. Once the placement is established, future payments should follow the normal cycle unless the placement changes, ends, is extended or another agreed adjustment is made.

For an emergency placement, check whether the payment covers the whole placement period or only specific nights or days within the provider’s accounting cycle. This is particularly important where a child moves in part-way through a payment period, returns to family, moves to another placement or remains in care longer than originally expected.

If a payment seems late or incorrect, compare the payment statement with your placement records first. Check the placement dates, the agreed terms, the payment period and your bank details. Then raise the issue with the provider’s finance or fostering team and keep a written record of the query. Ask them to confirm whether the payment is awaiting processing, has been adjusted because of a change to the placement, or will be included in the next scheduled run.

Before accepting future emergency placements, make sure you understand how the provider treats part-period placements, extensions, endings and any expenses that are paid separately from the main fostering payment. Clear records and written confirmation make it easier to identify what you should receive and when.