Fostering allowances and benefits

We firmly believe that our Foster Families deserve to be properly financially rewarded for their dedication and commitment.

That’s why we offer generous fostering allowances that compare very favourably with those offered elsewhere.

On this page, we answer some of the common questions we receive relating to fostering pay.

Do you get paid to foster?

The short answer is yes. You get paid to foster in the form of a fostering allowance.

What is a fostering allowance?

When considering whether to foster, finance is an important factor. Fostering is a full-time commitment and we recognise that our foster parents need to feel financially secure. 

A fostering allowance is designed to help cover the cost of looking after a child or children.

The allowance is made up of a ‘reward’ element, or your professional fee, for undertaking this vital task of fostering and creating a safe, nurturing environment for the children you look after.

The other part of the fostering allowance is a ‘maintenance’ element which ensures a child’s everyday needs (food, clothing, pocket money, etc.) can be met to a high standard.

Your fostering allowance is paid weekly.

How much do Foster Parents get paid?

There is no fixed fostering allowance. The amount you receive as a foster parent depends on a number of factors including:

• Age of the child
• Needs of the child
• The type of fostering you are offering
• Your skills and experience.

AFA has decided not to try to attract people by highlighting how much foster allowance they can receive. We do not believe Foster Parents should be motivated by the financial gains of caring for children. Above all, great Foster Parents are motivated by making a positive contribution to a child’s life.

However, you can chat to our team directly for more information or learn more about becoming a Foster Parent in East Anglia or the Midlands today.

What is your status with HMRC as a Foster Parent?

Foster Parents are classed as self-employed. You will need to register with HMRC and complete an annual Self-Assessment tax return. Fostering payments are subject to special tax arrangements. Therefore, most foster parents pay very low levels of income tax on their fostering payments.

More information about fostering allowances and tax can be found on the HMRC website – click here to view their free online presentation

Can you work and foster?

Some Foster Parents choose to give up full-time work in order to foster. Our Foster Parents receive a sector-leading fostering allowance when they have a child living with them which can enable one foster parent to stay at home whilst the other has outside employment. Some of our Foster Parents have enjoyed the experience so much that they have made the transition to having two full-time foster parents at home. 

Having said that, many Foster Parents do continue to work alongside fostering. The most important thing is that you are still available to provide a high level of care to the children in your care. Your continuing to work needs to be in the best interest of the child. 

It is important to remember that fostering can be demanding. If you do intend to keep working alongside fostering, it might be sensible to speak to your employer about flexible working, or consider whether you can reduce your hours.

Fostering can help support a flexible and rewarding work-life balance that also offers career progression. It can be life-changing not only for children, but for you too. Learn more about what makes a great foster parent here.

What are the other benefits of fostering with AFA?

• Help at any time of the day or night from our experienced, highly qualified team, with specialist support in a number of areas
• High-quality, ongoing training and learning opportunities
• Your own dedicated and experienced fostering social worker
• At least monthly supervision to make sure you’re getting on well.
• Support at all meetings you attend relating to the children you look after
• Ongoing responsive support at a level to meet your and the child’s needs
• Access to support and guidance on managing difficulties so that you are able to offer therapeutic parenting to the children you look after
• Additional support and opportunities for children in your home
• A generous fostering allowance to cover all the child’s expenses
• Activity days and participation groups for all children linked to AFA
• Consultation with you and the children in your home to have a say and guide what AFA provides
• Friendly, local staff who know who you are and vice versa.

Is fostering a job or vocation?

To be considered as a Foster Parent, you must be knowledgeable and fully equipped with a range of skills. Fostering these days involves writing reports to document the child’s progress, as well as attending meetings with other professionals to ensure that the child’s needs are being met. Foster Parents have access to high-quality training and an allowance that covers the expenses of caring for a child, with an additional fee which reflects the skills of the foster parent.

Whilst these traits may make fostering look remarkably like any other “career”, fostering requires a unique level of pure dedication that sets it aside from a traditional “job”.

Foster Parents must have wonderful parenting skills, patience and passion to do a great job. Their motivation should include championing children’s rights and helping the young people they care for prepare for the life ahead of them. It should also involve offering a therapeutic and empathetic approach to parenting.

So, despite the requirement that Foster Parents should display certain qualities, like any other job specification, the selfless nature of the “work” elevates its status above a simple “career”.

One thing is certain, the foundations of fostering will always remain rooted in its vision to provide a safe and nurturing environment to children and young people who need love, stability and acceptance.