Foster Carer Pay UK 2026: How Much Do Foster Carers Earn?

One of the most common questions people ask before fostering is: "How much will I be paid?" The answer depends on several factors — your agency, the child's needs, and your location.

How Foster Carer Pay Works

Foster carers in the UK receive two types of payment:

• Maintenance allowance — covers the cost of caring for the child (food, clothing, travel, activities). The government sets minimum rates.
• Fee or reward element — payment for your time, skills, and availability. This varies widely between agencies.

2025/26 National Minimum Allowance Rates (England)

The government sets National Minimum Allowances (NMA) each year, with rates varying by the child's age and your region. For 2025/26 (from 1 April 2025), the weekly rates received a 3.55% uplift:

• Ages 0–2: £170/week (Rest of England), £189 (South East), £198 (London)
• Ages 3–4: £176/week (Rest of England), £196 (South East), £201 (London)
• Ages 5–10: £194/week (Rest of England), £216 (South East), £225 (London)
• Ages 11–15: £220/week (Rest of England), £247 (South East), £257 (London)
• Ages 16–17: £258/week (Rest of England), £288 (South East), £299 (London)

These are minimum rates. Most agencies pay above this — especially IFAs, which typically offer an additional fee of £200–£600+ per week on top of the maintenance allowance.

IFA vs Local Authority Pay

IFAs generally pay higher weekly fees (£350–£600+) but you're self-employed. Local authorities pay lower fees but may offer pension contributions, holiday pay, or council tax discounts.

Tax Treatment

Foster carers benefit from HMRC's Qualifying Care Relief (QCR). For 2025/26, the tax-free allowance is made up of a £19,690 fixed household amount per year, plus £415 per week for each child under 11 or £495 per week for each child aged 11 and over. If your total fostering income falls below this threshold, your taxable profit is nil. Most foster carers pay no income tax at all.

HMRC's full guidance on Qualifying Care Relief is available at gov.uk.

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Sources: Help with the cost of fostering (gov.uk) · Fostering finances (The Fostering Network) · NMA rates from gov.uk NMA publication
Last verified: March 2026