Website of the UK government

Support and training

All foster carers are reviewed every year and receive any training that's needed to ensure they are suitable to continue fostering. They are also given a supervising social worker who visits on a regular basis to offer advice and support for foster careers and their families.

Fosterline

The advice line 'Fosterline' provides information and advice for foster carers and people thinking about becoming foster carers. Subjects covered include: allegations of abuse, benefits, training, breakdown of foster placements, and legal matters relating to fostering. The advice line is open from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday, and the freephone number is 0800 040 7675. They can also be contacted at fosterline@fostering.net

Do foster carers get paid?

All foster carers get an allowance to cover the cost of caring for a child in their home, and some carers may also get paid in recognition of their skills, commitment or time. Fostering agencies may make one payment to cover both of these. At the moment the amount of money given is decided by each local authority and fostering agency, but the government is developing a plan to set a national minimum allowance for foster carers.

Do foster carers pay Income Tax?

The current rules mean many UK foster carers now pay no tax on the money they earn from fostering. Foster carers can be exempt from tax on all or most of their fostering income, depending on:

• how many children they look after
• whether or not it is a full tax year
• whether or not there are other foster carers in the same household

There is a fixed tax exemption of up to £10,000 per year (less if for a shorter period), which is shared equally among any foster carers in the same household. After that, foster carers get tax relief for every week (or part week) that a child is in their care. For every week (or part week) that a child aged eleven or older is with them, the foster carer's tax relief is £250 per child. For every week (or part week) that child aged under 11 is in their care, the tax relief is £200 per child.

For more detailed information on the tax relief system for foster carers, download the leaflet below.

• Foster carer relief Opens new window

Do foster carers get a pension?

Foster carers are entitled to a scheme called Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP), which helps them to get a basic State Pension. This is because their opportunities to do paid work are limited while they are foster caring.

From 2010, HRP will be replaced by weekly credits for parents and carers (including foster carers). These will count towards basic State Pension and additional State Pension. If you reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010, any years of Home Responsibilities protection you received will be converted to credits.

• Find out more about Home Responsibility Protection
• Further information on the State Pension and the additional State Pension (money, tax and benefits section)