What it means to be a kinship foster carer, how you become one and available support.
Kinship foster carers financial support and benefits
Financial support and government benefits available to kinship foster carers.
This advice applies to: England and Wales
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Overview
As a kinship foster carer, you are entitled to a foster care allowance. This can affect other benefits you might receive.
Find and contact your local council children’s services for details of what you are entitled to. You may be able to get extra help to pay for things like birthdays, holidays and religious festivals.
There may be further financial help if you or the child you care for are disabled or have a long-term illness.
Foster care allowance
As a family and friends foster carer, you can get a foster care allowance to help you with the costs of caring for a child. The amount you get depends on how many children you are fostering, their age, their needs, your experience and where you live.
For guidance on the current rates of fostering care allowance, visit help with the cost of fostering.
Foster care allowance and tax
You’ll need to register as self-employed and file annual tax returns when you are fully approved as a family and friends foster carer. You can earn a certain amount from fostering before you have to pay tax (called a tax exemption). You’ll still have to pay tax on any earnings you get from another job.
You qualify for tax relief for every week a child is in your care.
Government benefits
Foster care allowance can affect other benefits you may receive. You should let whoever pays your benefits know if you are getting fostering allowance from your local council.
You may be able to claim one of the following government benefits to help you with day-to-day living costs and the cost of caring for a child.
Universal Credit
Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit for people of working age who are on a low income. You can be working, looking for work, sick or disabled, or caring for children.
You cannot claim the child element of Universal Credit if you receive a foster care allowance. However, being a kinship carer does not affect the child element you receive for your biological children.
Learn more about Universal Credit for kinship carers.
Pension Credit
If you are over state-pension age, you may be able to get Pension Credit, which is separate to your State Pension. You cannot claim the child element of Pension Credit if you receive a foster care allowance.
However, being a kinship carer does not affect the child element you receive for your biological children.
Support from Kinship
Here at Kinship, we offer a range of free support for all kinship carers, including workshops, online advice and information, and support groups.
To find services, information and support in your local area, including information about your local children’s services, use our Kinship Compass tool.
You can also contact the Kinship advice team for free, non-judgmental advice and information if you live in England or Wales.
Related advice and information
There are a number of benefits you may be eligible for if you, or someone you care for, is disabled or has a long-term illness.
Find out how you become a kinship carer, and what to expect from the process.
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