Are respite foster care payments different from standard fostering allowances?
Yes. Respite foster care payments can differ from standard fostering allowances because they are usually based on the specific respite arrangement, including the placement’s length, the child’s needs and the fostering service’s payment policy.
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Respite foster care payments are not automatically the same as the allowance paid for a standard, ongoing foster placement. The amount and method of payment depend on the fostering service’s policy, the terms of the respite arrangement and how the placement is recorded.
Standard fostering allowances are generally designed to contribute towards the everyday costs of caring for a child over an ongoing placement. They may include a maintenance element and, depending on the fostering service and the carer’s approval, a professional fee. These payments are normally set out in the foster carer’s agreement and paid according to the service’s usual schedule.
Respite payments are usually structured around a shorter period of care. A fostering service might calculate payment using a daily or weekly rate, apply a proportion of its standard fostering allowance, or agree a specific amount for the respite arrangement. Some services may separate the maintenance contribution from any fee, while others may present one combined payment. There is no single national tariff that applies to every respite placement.
The payment may also depend on who is providing the respite. For example, an approved respite foster carer may receive payment directly under their own agreement. In another arrangement, the child’s main fostering service or primary foster carer may remain responsible for some costs, with the respite carer’s payment handled separately. The written terms should make clear who is paid, what the payment covers and whether any expenses are dealt with separately.
Factors that can affect the agreed amount include:
- the length of the respite stay and whether it includes overnight care;
- the child’s age, routine and level of support required;
- whether specialist equipment, transport or additional expenses are needed;
- the respite carer’s approval, experience and agreed role; and
- the fostering service’s payment policy and the terms of the individual placement.
A respite payment should not be assumed to be a salary or a fixed reward for accepting a placement. Its purpose is usually to recognise the costs and responsibilities involved in caring for the child, with any professional fee reflecting the fostering role where the service includes one. The payment may therefore look different from the allowance attached to a longer-term placement even when the same carer provides the care.
Before accepting respite care, ask the fostering service for a written breakdown of the proposed payment. Check whether the amount is a total figure or a daily rate, when it will be paid, what happens if the stay changes, and whether travel or other agreed expenses are included. It is also sensible to ask how cancelled, extended or ended-early arrangements are treated, as these details can vary between agreements.
Respite carers should keep the placement agreement, payment statements and records of relevant expenses. These documents help clarify what has been paid and may be important when checking tax responsibilities or discussing a query with the fostering service. The service can explain its own allowance structure and how it applies to your approval and individual respite arrangements.
One important difference is the point at which payment becomes due. A standard fostering allowance is usually linked to an ongoing placement, whereas a respite arrangement may be based on the specific nights or days of care actually agreed. This means the payment can change if the child arrives later, leaves earlier or the planned stay is amended.
When comparing the two, check that you are comparing like with like. A respite figure may cover only the care period, while a standard allowance may be described as a regular amount connected to the wider placement. Ask the fostering service how arrival and departure days, cancelled respite, changes to the booking and agreed expenses are treated. The written arrangement should explain the payment trigger clearly, so you know which circumstances alter the amount due.
Get guidance on respite foster care payments
For a clear explanation of how respite payments compare with standard fostering allowances, speak to our fostering team about your circumstances and the terms that would apply to you.