How much does a foster carer get paid? This is a common question everyone asks, read on to find exact figures on how much foster parents are paid.
If you’re considering becoming a foster carer, it’s likely you also have questions about fostering finances. Read our comprehensive guide to receive the unfiltered facts and figures about fostering pay and allowances.
At Excel Fostering, we understand that conversations about fostering pay can be uncomfortable. That’s why we work closely with our carers and prospective foster parents to remove the stigma around fostering salaries to ensure you feel both supported and well-informed.
So, how much do our foster parents get paid? At Excel Fostering, our foster carers can receive up to £43,680 per fostering arrangement. For the vast majority of people, this is entirely tax-free!
As a foster carer, much of your time will be dedicated to supporting and creating a safe environment for your foster child – which is why fostering allowance is provided to support you and your lifestyle, whether you’re a long or short-term carer.
However, how much our foster carers get paid each week varies based on a series of factors, including:
Yes - as an Employee Ownership Trust, we are proud to offer competitive rates for all our foster placements. However, this amount varies depending on your unique fostering arrangement. Here are some specific examples of the types of foster placements available and the average weekly salary for each:
The demand for support for foster children with complex requirements is growing. As a result, we have developed a long-standing, highly successful programme called MATTS. MATTS provides carers with clinical support, additional training and resources to enable them to accommodate specialist therapeutic placements. Fostering allowances for children and carers supported by MATTS, including respite payments, are up to £650 per week. So, if you look after a child under this arrangement for a whole year, your total income will be up to £33,800 per child. All necessary training for therapeutic foster care is provided by our team at Capstone, meaning the majority of our carers are eligible to provide care under our MATTS service.
Total allowances for our standard arrangements - including respite payments – are from £420 to over £500 per week, which is £1,820 to over £2,200 per month or £21,840 to over £26,000 per annum. We provide an annual £200 gift for ongoing carers at the re-approval stage and 14-nights short stay support.
Fostering allowance for parent and child placements start from £840 per week, to comfortably support you and the parent and baby in your care. At Excel Fostering, we’ve seen an increase in demand for mother and baby fostering arrangements, as more parents seek additional support and guidance when raising their newborn. Though usually short-term, these placements are also incredibly rewarding for our foster carers.
The weekly allowance paid to carers is made up of two parts:
There are standards set by the government for independent agencies, such as Excel Fostering, to use as a guideline when compensating their foster carers. Click here to learn more.
Foster carers receive a specialist tax allowance called Qualifying Care Relief. This means that carers who qualify for care relief are entitled to:
Foster carers who support children under 11 will receive an additional £405 of tax relief per week, per child. Foster carers supporting children and adults aged 11 or over will receive £485 of tax relief per week, per child.
In turn, many foster parents aren’t required to pay any tax on their fostering income. However, you will still need to register with HMRC as self-employed and keep a record of the ages and dates of when you foster children for your annual tax return form.
Yes, you are still eligible to receive benefits as a foster parent. However, the benefits you receive could change once you become a foster carer. Some of the benefits you could be entitled to include:
Begin by filling out the enquiry form below. Alternatively, if you want to learn more about fostering pay or need additional advice on how much foster parents get paid, contact us on 0800 012 4004.
If you’ve got any questions or would like to find out more about fostering with Excel Fostering, fill out the form below.
An experienced fostering advisor from your local area will then be in touch.
Start the conversation today. Our team of friendly advisors are on hand to answer any foster care questions you may have. We can offer you honest and practical advice that can help you decide if becoming a foster carer is the right path for you.
