What you’ll be paid

You will receive at least the national minimum weekly allowance to cover the costs of caring for a child.

The amount varies depending on where you live, the service you work with, the age and needs of the child, and your experience.

Your fostering service will let you know what you can expect to receive.

Tax and benefits

When you start fostering, you will need to register as self-employed and file tax returns. You will be entitled to Qualifying care relief, a tax arrangement designed specifically for foster carers.

Fostering can also affect the benefits you receive. If you are already claiming benefits, you will need to tell the organisation that pays you that you are receiving a foster care allowance.

For current figures and further information, visit the Help and support for foster parents in England guidance. Your fostering service can help if any of this is new to you.

Training

Before approval, you’ll be invited to attend a Skills to Foster preparation course to help you understand what fostering involves. After approval, you’ll complete an induction and the Training, support and development standards within 12 months (18 months for family and friends carers).

Training covers child development, behaviour management, and keeping children safe, and it’s there to help you feel confident and prepared.

Think of training as support, not a test. Your fostering service will guide you through everything at a pace that suits you.

---

Find out what fostering is like from people with first hand experience