Payments, allowances and benefits
Fees and allowances are paid when you are caring for a child. All foster carers receive two payments per week: a fostering fee, and an allowance for the child in your care, which is related to their age.
Fostering fees
Once approved as a foster carer you are paid a weekly fee which reflects your skills and experience. Fees vary depending on the type of foster care you offer and the number of children you care for. Our progression scheme provides a clear career pathway for you to progress. You could move up from Generic level to Advanced level as your skills, training and experience increase.
Progression from generic to advanced level will depend on:
- Your assessed core skills
- Length of experience as an approved carer
- Training you have completed
Fostering household fees (from May 2024)
| Standard foster carer | Weekly rate |
|---|---|
| 1 child | £97.24 |
| 2 children | £127.30 |
| 3 children | £142.32 |
| 4 children | £185.03 |
| Generic foster carer | Weekly rate |
|---|---|
| 1 child | £228.80 |
| 2 children | £374.40 |
| 3 children | £478.40 |
| 4 children | £598.00 |
| Advanced foster carer | Weekly rate |
|---|---|
| 1 child | £286.00 |
| 2 children | £499.20 |
| 3 children | £717.60 |
| 4 children | £897.00 |
| Mockingbird hub carer | Weekly rate |
|---|---|
| Mockingbird 0 children | £559 |
| New Horizon foster carer | Weekly rate |
|---|---|
| New Horizon Mockingbird 1 Child | £900.00 |
Allowances
A fostering allowance is paid for each child in your care, to cover their needs. Part of the allowance is a contribution towards extra costs from having an extra person living in your home. This includes energy and water bills, phone calls and wear & tear on appliances. The rest of the allowance is for the child or young person’s food, clothes, trips, pocket money, including:
- one extra week’s money paid for the child’s birthday, towards a present and a celebration
- one extra week’s money paid at Christmas or a festival for a present
- two week's extra allowance paid during the Summer holidays, to help with additional expenditure, including activities.
Allowance payments (from May 2024)
| Ages | Allowance | Birthday | Festival | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 yrs | £170.00 | £170.00 | £170.00 | £170.00 |
| 5-10 yrs | £187.00 | £187.00 | £187.00 | £187.00 |
| 11-15 rs | £213.00 | £213.00 | £213.00 | £213.00 |
| 16 yrs+ | £249.00 | £249.00 | £249.00 | £249.00 |
Full information on payments and allowances is in the Foster Carer Handbook.
Council Tax exemption
As a foster carer for Walsall Council, living in the Walsall Borough, you do not have to pay council tax. When you are approved as a foster carer we arrange for you to be exempt from paying council tax to Walsall Council.
Fostering Network membership included
Walsall fostering service are members of leading charity The Fostering Network. This membership is extended to you, free of charge, when you foster for Walsall. You can benefit from invitations to activities and events for carers, support and a dedicated advice helpline and legal protection insurance. Find out more about membership to the Fostering Network.
Free Max Card
The Max Card is a discount card for foster families. Use your Max Card at venues across the UK to get free or discounted admission. The Max Card helps families save money on days out at castles, zoos, bowling alleys, trampoline parks and more fun activities. Your social worker will apply for the Max Card for you when you are approved as a foster carer.
Refer-a-friend scheme
Current Walsall Council foster carers can benefit from our refer-a-friend scheme. If a person you recommend to the service is approved as a foster carer you will receive £1000.
Find out more
Contact us using the buttons below to ask more questions, find out how to apply or to enquire about transferring to foster with Walsall.
