These are the allowances recommended by the Fostering Network to cover the costs of fostering a child. They are reviewed each year. They do not affect any tax you pay or benefits you receive.

Age 16+                        £155.05

Please also note the additional payments you can receive as detailed below.

These payments are made for each child in addition to the age-related allowances as above.

Accreditation levels reflects the skills foster carers achieve through training and experience on the job. Most carers move up to level 2 after their first year and can attain the higher levels after this.

This is a specialist scheme for people with experience of working with challenging young people. Carers receive £440 per week for each young person they foster plus age-related allowances as above.

This is a specialist scheme offering short term homes to young people remanded into local authority care by the courts while they await sentencing. Remand carers receive £134 per week for each young person they foster plus age-related allowances as above. £57.89 per week is paid as a retainer when there is no placement.

Birthdays. We automatically pay an extra one week’s fostering allowance just before a child’s birthday.

Christmas and other religious holidays. We pay an extra one week’s fostering allowance at the beginning of December or in time for another major religious festival if this is more appropriate.

Holidays. We pay an extra two week’s fostering allowance for holidays. Please let your supervising social worker know your holiday plans well in advance and they will arrange payment of the holiday allowance. You can still claim your holiday allowance for day trips if you are not going away on holiday.

Children enjoy going on holidays with carers. Taking a foster child on some holidays with you may mean additional expense for transport and accommodation or other expenses. So long as you discuss this with us well in advance, we can help with this.

When a child first comes to you we will ensure that they have all the clothing, bedding and equipment they need. Replacement items are usually paid for out of the weekly allowance.

We pay for school uniforms when a child starts school or changes school.

We give all our carers help, advice and up to date information about tax and benefits and how to complete the necessary paperwork.

Fostering allowances do not usually affect any benefits you receive or tax you pay. The amount you receive on the accreditation scheme and through our specialist schemes are taxable and may affect some benefits.

All foster carers can claim a tax allowance of £10,000 per year (2008/9) against their fostering payments. If carers are only registered partway through the tax year they can claim a pro rata amount.

In addition to this carers can claim a tax allowance of £250 (2008/9) per week (or part week) for each foster child over the age of 11 and £200 (2008/9) per week (or part week) for every foster child under the age of 11.