Our enquiry team can discuss ways fostering can fit in with your own career and family. Call or email us today to learn more.
How do foster carer finances work?
Essex County Council offer foster carers competitive fees and allowances. On average, a foster carer earns around £537.12 per week, based on caring for one 11-15 year old child. This is an annual salary of £27,930.24, most of which is tax-free.
Foster carers receive a weekly fee, plus allowance for each child in their care.
What is a weekly fee?
Foster carers are paid a weekly fee for their time and lifestyle changes. You are not expected to spend this fee on the children in your care.
How much you earn per week depends on the type of foster care you provide and the age of the child in your care. If you foster siblings or more than one child at a time, you will receive a fee per child.
What is an allowance?
On top of a weekly fee, you will also receive a weekly allowance. This is for the child’s food, clothes and any activities they take part in.
Like the fees, the allowance you receive depends on the child’s age and is also paid per child.
Foster carers receive additional tax-free allowances, making the majority of their pay tax-free
Foster carers receive additional tax-free allowances, making the majority of their pay tax-free. This means compared to a private sector job with the same income, our foster carers have a greater ‘take home’ pay each month.
You may also be exempt from tax on a proportion of your non-fostering income.
Find out more about tax arrangements when you foster.