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Fostering - payment
Foster carers receive an allowance to cover the cost of caring for a child. The Department for Education set guidelines on the rates of these payments every April.
As a foster carer at Achieving for Children, and with a child in placement, you’ll receive a fostering reward fee in recognition of your valued role as a foster carer. These are paid to our approved foster carers according to the child’s needs and the carer’s skills and experience and includes:
- A banded reward fee based on your experience and skill level
- A supplementary fee, paid per child in placement if the child reaches a threshold level of need or complexity
Minimum weekly allowance
The minimum allowance you will receive depends on where you live and the age of the child you care for. Below is an example for London:
| Age 0 to 2 | Age 3 to 4 | Age 5 to 10 | Age 11 to 15 | Age 16 to 17 | |
| London | £198 | £201 | £225 | £257 | £299 |
Read the full details of fees and allowances
Short break carers receive a percentage of the rate paid to other carers, based on the number of nights’ accommodation they provide for a child.
Payments for fostering don’t usually affect state benefits. Guidance about tax, national insurance and pensions is provided in the foster carers’ handbook.
All foster carers receive training, every year. This actually starts with a preparation course, which serves as your introduction to fostering prior to assessment and approval.
You’re expected to complete mandatory training and meet the government’s Training, Support and Development standards during your first year, as well as to attend ongoing training to build on your skills each year.
Additional payments
Set-up allowance
To help you prepare for your first placement, we provide a one-off set-up payment of £500 per household. This is designed to cover the costs of essential items such as furniture, bedding, storage, or safety equipment, (decorating or home improvement costs are not included) to make sure you’re fully equipped to welcome a child into your home.
Welcome payment
In addition to the set-up allowance, newly approved mainstream (non-connected/kinship) foster carers will receive a £500 welcome payment as a thank you for joining our fostering community.