Foster care allowances  

Weekly tax-free allowances for foster carers - from April 2013

More detailed information about these payments and how they are broken down is contained in the Brighton and Hove foster carers’ handbook.

This can be found at www.brightonandhovefosteringhandbook.org.uk/Finance/payments.html or paper copies can be obtained. The allowances below include a care payment amount and a fee element.

Principles

The following principles underpin the payment scheme:

• It is simple, fair and easy to understand
• It enables Brighton & Hove to be competitive with local independent fostering agencies and other local authorities
• It recognises the complex task of fostering other people’s children
• The care payment will meet the Department for Education’s national minimum  fostering allowance

Basic allowance and fee

You will receive a basic allowance to cover the costs of caring for a particular child or young person and the extra costs related to fostering AND a fee to recognise service, skills and training completed.

There is an expectation that you will budget and manage your allowance as you do for your own families. The basic allowance covers pocket money, fostered children’s holidays, birthday and Christmas presents, school costs, transport, leisure activities and clothing. Additional discretionary payments can be made only in certain limited circumstances, such as placement setting up costs and school trips costing more than £200. We also pay your membership of Fostering Network, which has many valuable benefits.