Fostering Allowance Calculator
At Match Foster Care, we have specifically developed this fostering allowance calculator to help foster parents in the UK understand their fostering income. The calculator lets you see how much you could expect to receive in fostering allowances if you are planning to become a foster parent for a full year as a career.
Calculations are based on how many children you will be welcoming in your home and their age groups: 0 to 4, 5 to 10, 11 to 17.
Your fostering allowance can also vary depending on special needs, as in some cases, foster parents will receive a more significant allowance to enable them to better care for children with specific behaviours or requirements. Rest assured that Match Foster Care has a multidisciplinary team available at all times for support and guidance, with regular training programmes, meetings, and an in-house nurse to support you through your fostering journey.
Finance Calculator
Don’t worry, you will be able to go back and change these afterwards to see how your results could change.
Hear Directly from Our Carers
Helpful Answers for Foster Carers
Yes — foster carers in the UK receive regular payments once a child is placed in their care. These payments are made up of two parts:
What Foster Carers Are Paid:
- Fostering Allowance
- Covers the cost of caring for the child (food, clothing, school supplies, etc.)
- Covers the cost of caring for the child (food, clothing, school supplies, etc.)
- Reward Payment
- Recognises your time, dedication, and role in supporting a young person
- Recognises your time, dedication, and role in supporting a young person
At Match Foster Care, foster carers are paid every two weeks while actively fostering. The total amount depends on the child’s age, needs, and your level of experience.
Do I Need to Be Available Full-Time?
Not necessarily. Many of our foster carers continue to work full-time or part-time. What matters is that you have enough flexibility to support a young person when needed — and we’ll explore this with you during your fostering assessment.
If you’re an approved foster carer, you might be wondering: Do foster carers pay tax on their income? The good news is that in most cases, fostering income is tax-free.
Tax-Free Allowance for Foster Carers
Thanks to the UK Government’s qualifying care relief, 99% of foster carers pay no tax on their fostering income. This generous tax-free allowance means that most carers won’t owe any tax at all — even if they foster full-time.
Do I Need to File a Tax Return?
Yes — even if your income is tax-free, all foster carers must:
- Register for Self Assessment with HMRC
- Submit a tax return online each year
This is a legal requirement, but don’t worry — our finance team will work with you directly to make the process simple and stress-free.
Need Help with Foster Carer Tax?
We support all our foster carers with tax guidance and admin support, so you can focus on providing care — not paperwork.
Yes — you can work and be a foster parent in the UK. Fostering is flexible, and many people successfully balance fostering with part-time or even full-time work.
Balancing Work and Foster Care
Being a foster parent means being available to support a child in your care, sometimes at short notice. However, this doesn’t mean you have to give up your job. Many of our foster carers continue to:
- Work part-time
- Work from home
- Manage flexible hours
- Pursue freelance or remote work
As long as you can meet the needs of the child and provide consistent care, your career does not need to stop.
We’ll Help Assess Your Availability
During the assessment process, we’ll work with you to:
- Understand your work commitments
- Ensure you have sufficient flexibility to foster
- Tailor the fostering role around your lifestyle and goals
You do not need to be available on a full-time basis to become a foster carer.
Ready to Explore Fostering While Working?
We’re here to help you find a balance. Whether you work part-time, full-time, or are self-employed, we can help you determine if fostering fits into your life.
Foster care can be either temporary or long-term, depending on the child’s needs and the care plan set by the local authority. In the UK, there are three main types of foster care:
1. Respite Foster Care
Short-term breaks for families or other foster carers.
- Duration: A few hours, weekends, or holidays
- Purpose: To give primary carers a break or support children in crisis
2. Short-Term Foster Care
Temporary placements while decisions are made about a child’s future.
- Duration: A few days to several months
- Purpose: Often used during court proceedings or emergency placements
3. Long-Term Foster Care
Ongoing placements where a child stays with the same foster family for years.
- Duration: Until the child turns 18 — and sometimes beyond
- Purpose: To provide stability when returning home or adoption isn’t possible
So, is foster care temporary?
It can be, but not always. Many foster placements are short-term, but some children need long-term, stable homes where they can grow up as part of a family.
Want to Learn More About the Types of Fostering?
We’ll help you understand which type of fostering suits your lifestyle and how you can make a lasting difference — whether for a weekend or a lifetime.
