Local authorities are not-for-profit, so unlike some independent fostering agencies, all funding directly supports the children in care and their foster families.
Foster carers receive generous financial support, which varies by local authority based on the type of fostering, your skills, the number of children, and placement length.
Payments are usually split into two parts: an allowance for the child’s needs, like food, clothes, activities, and transport, and a foster carers’ fee, which recognises your skills, time, and commitment.
Additional funds are provided for birthdays, holidays, and cultural celebrations, either as a lump sum or monthly payments.
Local authority fees and allowances
Fees and allowances vary across our local authorities. Click on your local authority below to find out more about the generous packages and financial support available.
- Achieving for Children (Kingston, Richmond and Windsor & Maidenhead)
- Bracknell Forest
- Hampshire
- Isle of Wight (info not currently available on their site)
- Kent
- Medway
- Milton Keynes
- Oxfordshire
- Portsmouth
- Reading
- Slough
- Southampton
- Surrey
- West Berkshire
- Wokingham
Did you know?
Foster carers are considered self-employed and are subject to specialist tax rules. This means they can be exempt from paying tax on all or most of their fostering income, depending on certain factors.
More information about tax rules for foster carers can be found by visiting GOV.UK or the Fostering Network’s website.
Want to know more?
For more information about pay and allowances in your local area please get in touch.