Making Sure You Receive Your Full Allowance
At Match Foster Care, we want every foster carer to receive everything they are entitled to. Your weekly allowance is paid automatically while a child is in your care, so there is very little you need to do to receive it.
The most important step is to understand your allowance from the start. Before a placement begins, we explain the rate that applies and any extra payments, such as for birthdays, festivals and holidays. If anything is unclear, ask your supervising social worker. They are there to help, and with low caseloads they have the time to talk things through.
It also helps to keep simple records of what you spend on the child in your care, such as receipts for clothing, school items and activities. This makes it easier to plan, to show how the allowance is being used for the child, and to complete your tax return. We keep our paperwork to a minimum, so this does not need to take up much of your time.
Finally, let us know if a child's needs change. If a child needs more support than when they first arrived, we can review the placement with the local authority to make sure the allowance still reflects the care you provide. Find out more on our Fostering Allowance Explained page, try our finance calculator, or get in touch with our team.
Questions About Your Allowance?
Our team will explain how fostering allowances are paid and what you are entitled to as a new foster carer. If you would like to talk it through, get in touch with our friendly team or request a free brochure.
