How much do foster carers get paid in Solihull?
Money may not be your first concern when you start your fostering journey, but we know it matters. We want to reward the incredible work that our foster carers put in, as well as the time and care needed to look after a child who needs a loving home.
As a Foster for Solihull carer, you will receive a weekly payment package to acknowledge the work you do, and support the child in your care.
Fostering fees & allowances
Our fostering payments are based on the age of the child and your current skill level. Every payment is split into 2 parts, the fostering fee and the fostering allowance.
The fostering fee is based on your skills. As you progress through our dedicated training program, your fostering fee can increase to reflect your new skills and knowledge.
The fostering allowance is based on the age of the children in your care, and is to pay for days out, additional clothing and toys. You will also receive a pocket money supplement to pay to the child in your care.
I thought about being a foster carer for many years, then finally in 2019 I decided to apply. It’s honestly the best thing we’ve ever done, I’m so glad we did it.
Additional allowances and annual leave
On top of these fees, foster carers can receive additional payments of anywhere up to £1,039 for a child aged 0-4, to £1,502.30 for a young person aged 16. This can cover costs like birthdays, religious, cultural holidays, clothing, equipment and school uniform.
We know how important it is for foster carers to feel rested, respected and ready to look after children. We have no set limit to the amount of respite that all of our carers are entitled to, and your supervising social worker will work with you to decide the right amount of respite per foster carer.
Foster carers can claim an additional 36p per mile for journeys specific to your foster child on top of your weekly allowance (up to 60 miles of travel per week is included in your regular fostering allowance payment).
Foster carers and tax
As a foster carer, you could be exempt from paying tax on all or most of your fostering earnings depending on:
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How many children you look after
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Whether or not it is a complete tax year
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Whether or not there are other carers in your household
You may also be eligible for means-tested benefits, as your fostering allowance is not usually counted towards your total income when calculating your eligibility.
For more information about tax benefits as a foster carer, please get in touch with our team, who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
*On average, foster carers in Solihull receive £417 per week. However, the actual amount you will earn depends on a few things like if you are approved for specific children or a range of children, how many children you have on placement in your home, their ages and other factors that are based on the needs of the children in placement.