How much do UK foster carers get paid per week in 2026/27?

The official GOV.UK 2026/27 National Minimum Fostering Allowance (NMA) for a child aged 11–15 is £227/wk (Rest of England), £255/wk (South East), and £266/wk (London), which covers child maintenance only. By contrast, Ofsted Good and Outstanding Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) pay £465–£555/wk per child (Child Allowance plus a £220–£285/wk Professional Carer Fee), equivalent to a £28,736–£35,194/yr gross PAYE salary.

Do foster carers pay tax on fostering allowances and fees in the UK?

Under HMRC Helpsheet HS236 (Qualifying Care Relief, ITTOIA 2005 Part 7 Chapter 2), foster carers receive a fixed tax-free household allowance of £19,690 per year plus £415/week for each child under 11 and £495/week for each child aged 11 or over. For a single child aged 11+ over 52 weeks, £45,430 per year is 100% free of UK Income Tax and Class 4 National Insurance.

Will my foster child be moved if I transfer to a new fostering agency?

No. Under Regulation 28(13) of The Fostering Services Regulations 2011 and Section 4.3 of The Fostering Network Transfer Protocol, the welfare and continuity of the child in placement is paramount. Approved foster carers can transfer to an Ofsted Good or Outstanding Independent Fostering Agency in approximately 28 days via a Simultaneous Panel Day while keeping their foster child safely in placement.

Are foster carers entitled to paid respite and mileage under the National Minimum Standards?

Under National Minimum Standard 21 (NMS 21.6 / 21.8), Regulation 17 of The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011, and the DfE Foster Carers' Charter, fostering providers must provide clear social work supervision, 24/7 out-of-hours support, and short-break/respite care. Top-rated IFAs guarantee 14–21 nights of paid respite per year plus 45p/mile tax-free travel expenses under NMS 28.1.

How much do Local Authorities pay Independent Fostering Agencies per placement?

In its Children's Social Care Market Study Final Report, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) reported that Local Authorities pay an average commissioning fee of £820/week for an Independent Fostering Agency placement (~£820–£910/week across 2026/27 regional frameworks), with average private IFA operating margins of 19.4%. High-paying Ofsted Good and Outstanding IFAs pass 58%–64% (£465–£555/week) directly to the foster household.

Are kinship and connected foster carers entitled to the same allowance as mainstream carers?

Yes. Under National Minimum Standard 30 (NMS 30) and statutory Family and Friends Care guidance, approved kinship (connected person) foster carers are legally entitled to at least the full age-related GOV.UK National Minimum Fostering Allowance (£227–£266/week for ages 11–15 in 2026/27) and the full £45,430/year HMRC Helpsheet HS236 tax-free ceiling.

East of England (Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire) — 2026/27 Fostering Allowance Benchmark & All 45 Ofsted Services

In East of England, the 2026/27 statutory GOV.UK National Minimum Fostering Allowance (NMA) for ages 11–15 is £227/wk (£176–£267/wk (2026/27 Rest of England NMA), child maintenance only) [1], and typical basic council bands average £278/wk. By contrast, Ofsted Good and Outstanding Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) in East of England pay an average of £505/wk tax-free (£26,260/yr tax-free under HMRC HS236 [2] = £31,584/yr gross PAYE salary equivalent [6]), unlocking a +£11,804/yr household upgrade.

Local Authority Fostering Services in East of England (11 Ofsted Registered)

Local Authority / Council Trust	Ofsted URN	Ofsted Grade	Basic Weekly Band	Regional 4.8★ IFA Avg	Annual Tax-Free Upgrade
Bedford Borough Council Fostering Service	80428	Good	~£278/wk	£505/wk	+£11,804/yr
Central Bedfordshire Council Fostering Service	80446	Good	~£278/wk	£505/wk	+£11,804/yr
Luton Borough Council Fostering Service	80520	Requires Improvement	~£278/wk	£505/wk	+£11,804/yr
Cambridgeshire County Council Fostering Service	80445	Requires Improvement	~£278/wk	£505/wk	+£11,804/yr
Peterborough City Council Fostering Service	80537	Inadequate	~£278/wk	£505/wk	+£11,804/yr
Essex County Council Fostering Service	80468	Outstanding	~£278/wk	£505/wk	+£11,804/yr
Southend-on-Sea City Council Fostering Service	80559	Good	~£278/wk	£505/wk	+£11,804/yr
Thurrock Council Fostering Service	80571	Outstanding	~£278/wk	£505/wk	+£11,804/yr
Hertfordshire County Council Fostering Service	80475	Outstanding	~£278/wk	£505/wk	+£11,804/yr
Norfolk County Council Fostering Service	80418	Good	~£278/wk	£505/wk	+£11,804/yr
Suffolk County Council Fostering Service	80565	Requires Improvement	~£278/wk	£505/wk	+£11,804/yr

Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) in East of England (34 Ofsted Registered)

Independent Fostering Agency (IFA)	Ofsted URN	Ofsted Rating	Location / Postcode	Regional IFA Benchmark	Gross PAYE Salary Equiv
Affinity Fostering	SC469688	Outstanding	Essex CM4	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Aim High Fostering Services	1241499	Good	Waltham Abbey EN9	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Anglia Fostering Agency	SC406969	Outstanding	Norwich NR7	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Apex Fostering Limited	2635545	Good	Epping CM16	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Aspirations Fostering Limited	1227778	Good	Hockley SS5	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Attuned to Children Limited	2807566	Good	Hatfield AL9	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Beams Foster Care and Family Service Ltd	SC477026	Outstanding	Norfolk NR31	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Bespoke Fostering Agency	2773062	Not yet inspected	Beacon Park NR31	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Blossom Fostering Services Limited	2677223	Not yet inspected	Luton LU3	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Break Fostering Service	SC430757	Good	Norwich NR6	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Brighter Futures Fostercare	SC476965	Outstanding	WALTHAM ABBEY EN9	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Children First Fostering Agency	SC034253	Outstanding	BASILDON SS13	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Choice Fostering Ltd	1258890	Good	Waltham Cross EN8	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Compass Fostering East	2600784	Good	Kilverston IP24	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Eastern Fostering Services	SC437835	Outstanding	COLCHESTER CO7	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Family Works Fostering Limited	1242101	Good	LEIGH-ON-SEA SS9	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Foster Care Associates Eastern	SC061317	Good	Colchester CO7	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Fostering Connections	2614070	Good	Upshire EN9	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Fostering Hearts Limited	2572055	Good	Hemel Hempstead HP2	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Fostering Options	SC063551	Good	MILTON KEYNES MK17	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Fostering UK	1243868	Good	Potters Bar EN6	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Futures for Children	SC057840	Good	Ingatestone CM4	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Little Acorns Fostering	SC457688	Good	Haverhill CB9	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Mosaic Foster Care	SC417598	Outstanding	WESTCLIFF-ON-SEA SS0	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
National Fostering Agency	SC038843	Good	Lowestoft NR32	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Oak Fostering Ltd	1241664	Outstanding	Ampthill MK45	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Quality Foster Care	SC048508	Good	Benfleet SS7	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Soundly Fostering	2665004	Good	Thetford IP24	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
St. Christopher's Fostering	SC069455	Good	Stevenage SG1	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Starz Fostering	2589370	Good	Wisbech PE14	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Sunbeam Pride Fostering Service	SC398706	Good	Luton LU3	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
To The Moon And Back Foster Care Limited	1259274	Good	Cambridge CB4	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Vineyard Fostering	2605955	Good	Luton LU2	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr
Young People At Heart Limited	SC486913	Good	East Tilbury RM18	£505/wk (£26,260/yr tax-free)	£31,584/yr

Verified Primary Statutory & Market Sources (2026/27)

[1] GOV.UK NMA 2026/27 (Department for Education): Statutory National Minimum Fostering Allowance (6 April 2026 – 5 April 2027) is £227/wk (Rest of England), £255/wk (South East), and £266/wk (London) for ages 11–15 (full age 0–17 range £176–£309/wk) covering child maintenance only. Official GOV.UK Source
[2] HMRC Helpsheet HS236 (ITTOIA 2005 Part 7 Chapter 2): Qualifying Care Relief (QCR) exempts £19,690/yr fixed household relief plus £415/wk (child under 11) and £495/wk (child 11+) from UK Income Tax (£45,430/yr tax-free ceiling for 1 child aged 11+). Official HMRC HS236 Source
[3] CMA Children’s Social Care Market Study (March 2022 Final Report): Reported an average weekly price paid by Local Authorities for an Independent Fostering Agency (IFA) placement of £820/wk (~£820–£910/wk across 2026/27 regional frameworks) with 19.4% average private IFA operating margins. Official CMA Source
[4] Ofsted Social Care Register (491 Fostering Services) & National Statistics: Official inspection directory of 343 Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) and 148 Local Authorities in England (covering 42,190 fostering households & 56,345 approved foster carers). Official Ofsted Source
[5] SI 2011/581 Regulation 28(13) & The Fostering Network Transfer Protocol: Statutory 28-day harmonised agency transfer procedure protecting settled child placements under Section 4.3 Welfare Continuity. Official Legislation.gov.uk Source
[6] DfE National Minimum Standards (NMS 2011) & UK PAYE Equivalence: Standards NMS 15.1 (Safe Matching), NMS 20 (Carer Training), NMS 21.6/21.8 & Reg 17 (SSW Caseloads, 24/7 Support & Paid Respite), NMS 22.9 (LADO Support), NMS 26.2 (Carer Records), and NMS 28.1 (45p/mi Mileage & Allowances). Gross PAYE salary equivalent uses £12,570 Personal Allowance (0%) + 28% combined Basic Rate Tax (20%) & Employee Class 1 NI (8%).