Can foster carers receive foster to adopt payments before the child is placed?
Foster to adopt payments are generally not paid before a child is placed with you. The allowance normally starts once the placement begins, with the payment arrangements agreed in advance by the responsible local authority or fostering agency.
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Approval to foster to adopt does not normally create an entitlement to a fostering allowance before a child is placed. Foster to adopt funding is linked to the care arrangement and the responsibilities accepted by the carer, so approval, training or being considered for a particular child does not by itself trigger regular payments.
Before placement, you may still incur costs connected with the assessment or preparation process. For example, an agency or local authority may explain whether certain agreed expenses can be reimbursed. These are separate from the foster to adopt allowance and should not be treated as an advance payment of it.
There can be exceptions where a written agreement provides for a payment connected with a specific commitment. Any such arrangement would depend on the responsible local authority or fostering agency’s policy and the terms agreed with you. It should set out:
- what the payment is for;
- whether it is a fostering allowance, a fee, an expense reimbursement or another form of support;
- when entitlement begins;
- what happens if the proposed placement is delayed, changed or does not go ahead; and
- whether the payment stops or changes if the child leaves your care or the plan moves towards adoption.
Being matched with a child is not necessarily the same as the child being placed. A match may involve introductions, planning meetings and practical preparation before the child moves in. Ask your agency or local authority to confirm which date starts payment and whether any preparatory period is covered separately.
The payment arrangements should be explained before you agree to the placement. Read the fostering agreement, placement plan and any financial information provided, and ask for unclear points in writing. Important questions include whether the allowance is paid from the day the child arrives, how payments are made, and which costs are included rather than reimbursed separately.
If you are still being assessed, the organisation carrying out your assessment should explain the financial arrangements that apply once you are approved. If you are already approved and are discussing a foster to adopt placement, the child’s responsible local authority and your fostering agency should clarify the position together. Become a Foster Family can provide general guidance on the questions to raise, but the organisation responsible for the placement must confirm the terms that apply to your individual circumstances.
Before relying on any payment, check what it represents rather than assuming it is a foster to adopt allowance. A payment described as a fee, reimbursement or other support may have different conditions from the allowance paid for caring for a child, including different rules about receipts, eligibility and tax. Ask the responsible organisation to provide the payment description and conditions in writing, so you understand its purpose before making financial plans.
Discuss Foster to Adopt Payments Before Placement
If you are considering a foster to adopt placement, contact Become a Foster Family to discuss the financial questions you should raise with your fostering agency or local authority before making any commitments.