sign in

The Fostering Network believes that no foster carer should have to subsidise the state to make sure fostered children get the essentials of modern life.

We publish recommended minimum weekly allowances for fostering in the UK, which vary according to the age of the child. These are designed to cover the cost of looking after a fostered child, and do not include any form of reward for the carer.

The Fostering Network encourages local authorities to pay allowances to all carers at least in line with these rates.

Minimum weekly allowances for fostered children, from April 2009 (2008 rates in brackets):

Outside London

Age 0-4: £125.09 (£121.68)
Age 5-10: £142.49 (£138.61)
Age 11-15: £177.38 (£172.55)
Age 16+: £215.74 (£209.86)

In London

Age 0-4: £146.81 (£142.81)
Age 5-10: £167.36 (£162.80)
Age 11-15: £208.42 (£202.74)
Age 16+: £253.10 (£246.21)

The Fostering Network recommends an additional four weeks allowance to cover the cost of birthdays, holidays and a religious festival.

Calculating this year's figures

All the age groups have been increased by 2.8%. The increase is made up of two elements. In November 2007, the Treasury predicted an increase in RPI of 2.6 per cent for 2008 which we took as the indicator for our allowances increase in 2008/09. Following this year’s pre-budget report, the Treasury have revised their figures and the prediction is now a 4.2 per cent increase. The Treasury’s economic forecast prediction for 2009 is a 1.2 per cent increase.

We have calculated that the allowance for next year should be increased by 2.8 per cent. This takes account of the 1.6 per cent shortfall and the forecast for 2009 of 1.2 per cent.

The Fostering Network uses RPI (Retail Price Index) as a key component in its calculations of the increased cost of care as, unlike the CPI (Consumer Price Index) measure, it includes the effect of mortgage payments that are important to include as the cost of keeping a home suitable for fostering is a critical cost of providing foster care. Since 2003-04 the Fostering Network has not produced a breakdown by expenditure of our recommended allowance rates. We decided that a generalised breakdown of allowances was overly prescriptive and the expenditure should be made on the needs of the specific child and using the professional judgement of the foster carer.

Download more information on how we calculate the recommended minimum fostering allowances (pdf).

If you have any questions about the Fostering Network's recommended minimum allowance for 2008-09 or any other matter relating to allowances please contact our Policy and Campaigns Manager, Madeleine Tearse, on madeleine.tearse@fostering.net or 020 7620 6434.