Fostering fees and allowances

FCA's fostering fees and allowances are provided to cover living costs and offer a reward element in recognition of the demands of becoming a foster carer. Fostering fees and allowances provided by FCA take into account the professionalism and significance of the role that foster carers play in the lives of looked after children and young people.

FCA considers foster care as a career, and we believe that our foster carers should be rewarded accordingly. FCA foster carer's fees and allowances are therefore set at a competitive rate.

The amount of fee/allowance that foster carers receive is highly dependent upon the type of placement that is provided. Factors such as the age of the looked after child or young person and if they should have any behavioural difficulties are taken into account.

Cost of living fostering allowances

The fostering allowance fee takes into account the following costs of living:

  • Food
  • Clothing
  • Basic travel
  • Household bills
  • Everyday living

Foster carer tax relief 

FCA foster carers work on a self-employed basis. Foster carers receive very favourable tax treatment on income derived solely from fostering.

Under a tax relief, introduced in 2003, foster carers whose gross receipts from foster care do not exceed an individual limit will be exempt from tax on their income from foster care.

Individual and more general advice on taxation is available from a number of sources including the HMRC website foster carer relief pages.

Foster care training and qualifications 

FCA training for foster carers is provided free of charge. As part of our Team Parenting™ model of foster care, it is our aim to provide FCA foster carers with the very best general and therapeutic foster carer training in order to transfer the highest level of care to looked after children and young people.

Would you like to become a professional foster carer? Register your interest by Calling FCA on 0800 023 4561 or Enquiring Online today.

View our Video Library

The Journey to Becoming a foster carer

Meet the carers

Team Parenting


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Content © Foster Care Associates 2010