Payments and rewards

How much and how often you will be paid as a foster carer is an important element within your overall consideration process. Foster carers perform an essential role, so whilst money should not be a primary motivation, it is right that you are properly remunerated for the hard work and care you will provide.

You will receive an excellent weekly payment for each child in your care

The Brighton & Hove payment scheme is simple, fair, and easy to understand. It is competitive alongside local independent fostering agencies and other local authorities, and it recognises the complex task of fostering.

  • If you are brand new to fostering, you can expect to receive (in total), between £335 per week for a child under 4 and £421 per week for a young person aged 12-18.
  • After 5 years, you can expect to receive (in total), between £381 per week for a child under 4 and £467 per week for a young person aged 12-18.
  • For a parent and baby placement, you will receive the weekly total for a child under 4, plus the weekly total for a young person aged 12-18, plus an £89 enhancement.

If you already foster for an agency or Local Authority, we will either closely match your current pay or exceed it.

 

Payments Table 2021/22

    Age Of Child
Experience   0-4 5-11 12-18 Parent &
Baby
Newly approved: Allowance (per child) £165* £208*  £251*  £416**
  Fostering Fee £170 £170 £170 £429
  Weekly Total £335 £378 £421 £845
After two years: Allowance (per child) £165*  £208*  £251*  £416**
  Fostering Fee £183 £183 £183 £455
  Weekly Total £348 £391 £434 £871
After five years: Allowance (per child) £165*  £208*  £251*  £416**
  Fostering Fee £216 £216 £216 £521
  Weekly Total £381 £424 £467

£937

*£5 savings contribution will be deducted

**Allowance covers living costs for parent and baby. If parent is under 18, £5 savings contribution x2 will be applied

Your payment will consist of two parts

The payment each Foster Carer receives consists of an allowance and a fee.

  • Allowance: Foster carers receive a weekly fostering allowance which is designed to cover the cost of caring for a fostered child. This covers things such as food, clothes and toiletries. The allowance depends on the type of fostering you do, the age of the young person in your care, and the number of years you have been fostering.
  • Fee: Fee payments are made on top of the allowance to recognise a foster carers’ time, skills and experience.

 

Additional benefits

As a foster carer you are also entitled to a range of benefits and discounts. We will pay for you to become a member of The Fostering Network, who work continually to secure a range of discounts. Current discounts include;

  • 52% off tickets for a host of attractions across the UK, including Alton Towers, Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures theme parks, Madame Tussauds, SEA LIFE centres and sanctuaries, Blackpool Tower Circus and Eye and much more.
  • 10% off entry at Go Ape outdoor adventure centres.
  • Up to 10% off holidays and short breaks with Haven, Hoseasons and cottages.com.
  • 15% off a huge range of arts and craft supplies from Baker Ross.
  • 10% off online orders from Foyles, the independent bookstore.
  • 40% off online orders of party games from Big Potato Games
  • £10 off any three-month subscription to Little Cooks Co
  • 10% discount on home insurance policies through Towergate Insurance
  • Specialist mortgage advice and a discounted arrangement fee of £150 for a completed mortgage with The Mortgage Brain
  • A fixed fee / discounted tax return service with Williams Giles

 

Tax, National Insurance and benefits

All foster carers are treated as self-employed for tax purposes. It can feel daunting to understand how fostering affects your tax and National Insurance contributions, but The Fostering Network have a range of resources to help Foster Carers better understand what it means for them and their finances, and our team are available to talk you through any questions you may have.

Here are some helpful links;

 

Fostering alongside employment 

Becoming a foster carer does not have to mean giving up employment. It’s true that foster carers are expected to be available to care for children, support contact between a child and their family and to attend meetings, training and support groups, but depending on your circumstances, you can sometimes foster and continue to work flexible hours; it just may make a difference to the type of fostering that you can do. Visit our fostering alongside employment page for more information.