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Fostering Allowances

Fostering allowances varies according to the type of fostering you do, and it’s depending on children’s needs. The older the child or young person the higher the fostering professional fee and pay. Sunbeam offers up to £650 fostering allowance per child per week depending on children’s needs. Additionally, we pay other allowance and our foster carers receive many other benefits while fostering with us.

Fostering allowances

As a foster carer, you will receive a fostering allowance which normally covers things like food, clothing, transportation, pocket money, outings and personal household expenses etc. Sunbeam offers up to £650 fostering allowance per child per week depending on children’s needs. Additionally, we give generous bonuses and foster carers receive other benefits while fostering with us.

So you are considering becoming a foster parent but are wondering how you are going to afford it and what will be paid to you as fostering allowances as it can be an expensive job. No need to worry, there is plenty of help available to foster parents to help cover the costs of fostering children and as a reward element weekly fostering allowance is being paid to foster carers which of course depends on children’s needs.

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Type and amount of fostering allowances

The type and amount of fostering allowance that you receive will depend on the type of foster care that you provide as well as who you work for:

Local Authority Foster Care

If you are fostering children via your local authority you will be paid the foster carer’s allowance according to the criteria they set. Foster carer’s allowance varies in each local authority but the rate set by the government starts at £123 per week for babies, right up to £216 per week for 16-17 year olds with an enhancement for London and the South East of England. These are the standard recommended rates and depending on the circumstances, you are likely to receive higher foster carer’s allowance than this.

Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA’s)

Independent fostering agencies pay fostering allowances in a slightly different way; foster parent working with an independent agency will receive a fostering fee of up to £650 per child per week although this will vary according to the needs of the child that is placed, for example:

  • Parent and Baby
  • Remand Fostering
  • Children with complex needs

Private Fostering

Where a private arrangement has been made between a parent and a foster parent, the responsibility for any foster fee or allowance falls to the parent. In this circumstance the foster carer is responsible for claiming the correct benefits for the child like tax credits and housing benefit. There is no state remuneration or fostering allowance payable in this case.

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    Fostering allowances

    As a foster carer, you will receive a fostering allowance which normally covers things like food, clothing, transportation, pocket money, outings and personal household expenses etc. Sunbeam offers up to £650 fostering allowance per child per week depending on children’s needs. Additionally, we give generous bonuses and foster carers receive other benefits while fostering with us.

    So you are considering becoming a foster parent but are wondering how you are going to afford it and what will be paid to you as fostering allowances as it can be an expensive job. No need to worry, there is plenty of help available to foster parents to help cover the costs of fostering children and as a reward element weekly fostering allowance is being paid to foster carers which of course depends on children’s needs.