Foster care allowance calculator
We want to build a community of professional and highly-skilled foster parents, so every child in care can achieve their full potential.
Welcome to our allowance calculator
We understand that finance is an important factor when deciding to foster - particularly because you may need to reduce your current working hours - or stop working completely - depending on your personal circumstances. The fostering allowance covers the cost of a child while providing you with a professional fee for your hard work, skills and dedication.
Find out how much you could receive by using our foster care allowance calculator below.
Your results
Based on your selections of being foster parent with / planning on caring for between the ages of .
You could receive around per year
Please note this is for guidance purposes only.
What does the fostering allowance cover?
The foster care allowance is split into two parts:
- Child allowance – to cover the cost of the child, including food, clothing, activities and more.
- Foster parent fee – a reward payment for their hard work, experience and commitment to the child in their care.
We also provide additional benefits to encourage your wellbeing, as well as creating memorable and enriching life experiences for the young people in care, including:
- 2 weeks of paid respite per year
- £100 annual birthday allowance for the child in your care
- £100 annual festival allowance for the child in your care
Tax relief and exemptions
While your income from fostering is taxable, you’ll receive a £10,000 tax exemption, plus additional tax relief for each child in placement, which generally makes your income from fostering completely tax-free. This is known as the Qualifying Care Relief – a special tax rule set up by HMRC for foster parents.
Plus, if your taxable income is less than your Qualifying Care Relief, you won’t need to pay National Insurance contributions. However, you may still decide to pay voluntary contributions so you’re eligible to claim state benefits, including the state pension.
Find out more
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About us
Founded in 1996 by two social workers who understood that strong relationships held the key to successful fostering.
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Extensive support
We’re committed to understanding your needs and ensuring you have access to a wide range of people available to you, 24/7.
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Find your local team
We have local teams supporting hundreds of foster families and children all across England. Find your local team today.
Read MorePlease make sure you read our terms and conditions because you're agreeing to them by submitting an enquiry. It's also worth reading our privacy policy and cookies policy so you understand how we collect and use your personal data.