Bexley Fostering Service pays each foster carer on a weekly basis for every child placed in their care. The payments that the foster carers receive is made up of child maintenance allowance and foster carer reward. 

Child maintenance allowance

This covers the cost of everything you need to care for a child. The amount of the maintenance allowance paid is dependent on the age of the child in the care.

Foster carer reward

This is the amount we provide foster carers per child in appreciation for the incredible work they do.

Total amount per child in your care (per week)

This is the total amount that a foster carer receives for each child they are caring for per week, broken down by the age of the child.

Payment examples

Example 1

Richard and Mark foster a 6 year old child.

Weekly payment:

• Maintenance payment - £260.35
• Foster carer reward - £195.83
• Total weekly payment - £456.18

Example 2

Ana and John foster two children aged 3 and 12 years.

Weekly payment:

• Maintenance payment for the child aged 3 (0 to 4 years) - £206.75
• Maintenance payment for the child aged 12 (11 to 15 years) - £323.74
• Foster carer reward - £391.66 (2 children)
• Total weekly payment - £922.15

Additional payments

Foster carers also receive additional payments throughout the year. This can be a standard payment for example, child’s birthday, Christmas or religious festival, holidays or a payment related to a child’s specific needs.

Tax exemptions

Foster carers are entitled to an additional tax relief.

Foster carers do not pay tax on the first £18,140 they earn from fostering. They also don’t have to pay tax on some of their earnings over this amount – that’s because they receive tax relief for every week a child is in their care.