Foster caring is one of the most wonderful things you could ever do, but before applying, it’s likely you have many questions. One of the most common is, ‘Do I get paid to become a foster carer?’

Obviously, supporting a child involves not only helping them emotionally, but feeding and clothing them; it also makes sense that you receive a financial fee for putting your heart on the line, and bringing a child into your life.

Foster carers get generous tax breaks.

The answer as to whether you get paid to become a foster carer is a resounding ‘yes’. You do indeed receive fostering allowances and payments, not just to support a child, but as a fostering fee for you. As a foster carer, you will also enjoy generous tax breaks. Payments depend on numerous factors, including the child’s age and whether they’re part of a sibling group.

Since foster carers count as being self-employed, they can often pay little or no tax.

You can see an example of payment on our website, on the fostering payments and allowance section.