Payments and allowances
Fostering is not about money, but fair financial support matters. We are transparent about every payment our carers receive.
Fostering is one of the most important things a person can do. It's also work — skilled, demanding, and often 24 hours a day. We believe foster carers deserve to be paid properly for that work.
Every carer with Wholistic Fostering receives a weekly allowance made up of two parts: a maintenance element (to cover the cost of caring for a child) and a skills element (to recognise the carer's experience and expertise).
What you'll receive
A clear breakdown of your weekly allowance
The figures below are indicative ranges. Your actual allowance will depend on the age of the child placed with you and your level of experience. We'll always be clear about your individual rate before any placement begins.
Babies and toddlers — includes enhanced support for early years care needs.
Primary school age children — includes school-readiness and wellbeing support.
Adolescents — reflects the additional support needs of young teenagers.
Older young people — includes Staying Put allowances for those over 18 who remain in your care.
All figures quoted are gross, before any tax or National Insurance considerations. The first £18,140 of fostering income per year is tax-exempt under the Qualifying Care Relief scheme, meaning most foster carers pay little or no tax on their fostering income.
Additional payments and support
On top of your weekly allowance, Wholistic Fostering provides a range of additional payments and practical support to help you give every child the best possible experience.
- Birthday and Christmas allowances An additional payment each year to help you celebrate special occasions with the child in your care. (Voucher)
- Holiday allowance A contribution towards the cost of taking a child on holiday with you.
- Clothing allowance A one-off payment when a child first joins your household, and ongoing support for seasonal clothing needs where needed.
- Activity and hobbies support Help with the cost of sports clubs, music lessons, arts activities, and other enrichment.
- Training and CPD All training provided free.
Tax and National Insurance
Most foster carers are self-employed for tax purposes. HMRC's Qualifying Care Relief scheme means you can earn up to £18,140 per year completely tax-free, plus an additional tax-free amount for each week a child is placed with you.
In practice, this means the majority of foster carers pay no income tax at all on their fostering income. We can point you to specialist financial advisors who work with foster carers and understand the detail of the scheme.