Fostering Allowance

Our foster carers work hard and devote their time, expertise and love to those children who have not had the best start in life. We understand that the more support you have, the more confident you will feel in your role as foster carer. 

How much money do foster carers receive?

One of the most common questions we get asked is “how much do foster carers get paid?”   

As a Barnardo’s approved foster carer, you receive a fostering fee and allowance as soon as you start caring for a child or young person. Our carers receive on average £495 per week, but fees and allowances can go up to £630 depending on a number of factors, including: 

• the type of foster care you are providing
• the number of children you care for
• the age of the child(ren) you look after
• the child's or children's needs. 

The payment you receive from Barnardo's will be made up of two elements. 

• The maintenance allowance for each child you care for to help with costs for things like food, clothing, pocket money and birthdays.
• The foster carer fee, a taxable income in recognition of your fostering role. 

If you want to find out more about fostering allowances, get in touch with your local fostering team. Find your local fostering service.

Foster carers don’t receive a Barnardo’s pension, so we advise you to arrange a private pension plan. It is also important to consider that carers do not receive any fees or allowances for any period that you do not have a child in placement. 

Do foster carers pay tax? 

Foster carers now benefit from a fixed tax exemption of up to £18,140 per year (less if you foster for a shorter period), so you don’t have to pay tax on the first £18,140 income (after expenses) you make from fostering.   

On top of the £18,140 exemption, foster carers also get tax relief for every week that a child is in their care. This means you don’t have to pay tax on some of your earnings over £18,140: 

The Government has confirmed that starting in 2024-25, the qualifying care relief will be increased in line with inflation. 

You can also find more information on the Government website here.

Note: All tax relief and exemption information sourced from the GOV.UK website. 

What other support do foster carers get? 

Barnardo's offer a comprehensive preparation, training and support programme for our foster carers. You can benefit from extensive training, both face-to-face and online, helping you to gain new skills and enhance existing ones and we'll be with you every step of the way. 

As well as having direct contact with a dedicated and qualified social worker, you'll have 24 hour access to our caring team of social workers and the confidence of knowing that you can talk to them confidentially.

We also offer support groups where you get the opportunity to meet with other foster carers and social workers to discuss your fostering experiences. The support groups are attended by new and established foster carers, allowing each person to benefit from others' support and expertise. 

As a Barnardo’s foster carer, you will also benefit from membership with The Fostering Network (opens in new window), a body which represents foster carers in the UK. Membership gives you access to an informative website, regular newsletters and discounted training. 

Find out more about the training and support Barnardo's provide for foster carers.