Do kinship foster carers receive an allowance?

The key distinction is whether you are caring for a child under an approved fostering arrangement or under a different legal order. An approved kinship foster carer is normally paid a fostering allowance for each child placed with them. The payment is intended to contribute towards the child’s day-to-day costs and is separate from any fee or reward that a fostering provider may offer.

What determines the amount?

• the child’s age and individual needs;
• whether the placement involves additional support, equipment or travel;
• the local authority or fostering agency’s allowance policy; and
• whether the placement is temporary, emergency or fully approved.

There is no single UK-wide rate for kinship foster care. Each local authority and fostering agency publishes or applies its own rates, and these can be reviewed from time to time. Before accepting a placement, ask for the current allowance rate, what it covers, when it will be paid and whether extra costs can be considered separately.

What does the allowance usually cover?

A fostering allowance is intended to help meet ordinary costs such as food, clothing, personal items, household bills, activities, transport and spending connected with the child’s care. It should not be treated as a fixed payment for the carer’s personal income. The amount may need to cover costs that are higher than those of caring for a child already living in the household, particularly where contact arrangements, school travel or specialist items are involved.

Some providers also pay a separate professional fee or skills payment. This is not automatic and is different from the allowance for the child. Ask whether any payment beyond the basic allowance is available and what conditions apply.

What about Regulation 24 placements?

A child may be placed with a relative or connected person under temporary approval while checks and the full fostering assessment are completed. This is commonly known as a Regulation 24 placement in England. The carer should ask the local authority to confirm the financial arrangements at the beginning of the placement, including the rate, payment start date and how the position will change if the temporary approval ends or full approval is granted.

When might a kinship carer not receive a fostering allowance?

Payment is not normally made as a fostering allowance where the child is living with you through an informal family arrangement. Different rules can also apply if you care for the child under a Child Arrangements Order, a Special Guardianship Order or an adoption order. Those arrangements may come with their own financial support, but it is not the same as a fostering allowance and may involve an assessment of the child’s needs and the family’s circumstances.

Benefits and other support may also be relevant. Depending on the legal arrangement, household income and personal circumstances, you may need to check entitlement to benefits, tax credits or other assistance separately. Do not assume that a fostering allowance will be treated in the same way as earnings for every purpose. The responsible local authority, benefits adviser or HMRC can explain how a particular payment is treated.

How is the allowance agreed?

• Tell the social worker or fostering team that you need a clear breakdown of the proposed financial support.
• Check the allowance rate for the child’s age and whether additional needs attract extra funding.
• Ask which expenses require prior agreement, such as specialist equipment, travel or contact-related costs.
• Confirm the payment schedule and the process for reporting changes to the placement.
• Keep receipts and records for agreed additional expenses.

Financial support should be discussed openly during the assessment and before a placement begins. A written agreement should set out the allowance, any additional payments, the responsibilities of the carer and the support available from the local authority or agency. If the child’s needs change, request a review rather than assuming the original allowance will automatically increase.

For a precise answer, contact the local authority responsible for the child or the fostering agency assessing you and ask whether the proposed arrangement is foster care, temporary Regulation 24 care or another type of kinship placement. That legal status determines which allowance and support framework applies.