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.

South East (Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Thames Valley) — 2026/27 Fostering Allowance Benchmark & All 80 Ofsted Services

In South East, the 2026/27 statutory GOV.UK National Minimum Fostering Allowance (NMA) for ages 11–15 is £255/wk (£195–£298/wk (2026/27 South East NMA), child maintenance only) [1], and typical basic council bands average £290/wk. By contrast, Ofsted Good and Outstanding Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) in South East pay an average of £525/wk tax-free (£27,300/yr tax-free under HMRC HS236 [2] = £33,028/yr gross PAYE salary equivalent [6]), unlocking a +£12,220/yr household upgrade.

Local Authority Fostering Services in South East (17 Ofsted Registered)

Local Authority / Council Trust	Ofsted URN	Ofsted Grade	Basic Weekly Band	Regional 4.8★ IFA Avg	Annual Tax-Free Upgrade
Bracknell Forest Council Fostering Service	80436	Outstanding	~£290/wk	£525/wk	+£12,220/yr
Reading Borough Council Fostering Service	80540	Requires Improvement	~£290/wk	£525/wk	+£12,220/yr
Slough Borough Council Fostering Service	80553	Not yet inspected	~£290/wk	£525/wk	+£12,220/yr
West Berkshire Council Fostering Service	80577	Good	~£290/wk	£525/wk	+£12,220/yr
Windsor and Maidenhead Royal Borough Fostering Service	80546	Not yet inspected	~£290/wk	£525/wk	+£12,220/yr
Wokingham Borough Council Fostering Service	80582	Requires Improvement	~£290/wk	£525/wk	+£12,220/yr
Brighton and Hove City Council Fostering Service	80438	Outstanding	~£290/wk	£525/wk	+£12,220/yr
East Sussex County Council Fostering Service	80467	Good	~£290/wk	£525/wk	+£12,220/yr
Hampshire County Council Fostering Service	80472	Outstanding	~£290/wk	£525/wk	+£12,220/yr
Portsmouth City Council Fostering Service	80539	Good	~£290/wk	£525/wk	+£12,220/yr
Southampton City Council Fostering Service	80558	Good	~£290/wk	£525/wk	+£12,220/yr
Isle of Wight Council Fostering Service	80419	Good	~£290/wk	£525/wk	+£12,220/yr
Kent County Council Fostering Service	80476	Outstanding	~£290/wk	£525/wk	+£12,220/yr
Medway Council Fostering Service	80522	Good	~£290/wk	£525/wk	+£12,220/yr
Oxfordshire County Council Fostering Service	80536	Good	~£290/wk	£525/wk	+£12,220/yr
Surrey County Council Fostering Service	80567	Good	~£290/wk	£525/wk	+£12,220/yr
West Sussex County Council Fostering Service	80578	Requires Improvement	~£290/wk	£525/wk	+£12,220/yr

Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) in South East (63 Ofsted Registered)

Independent Fostering Agency (IFA)	Ofsted URN	Ofsted Rating	Location / Postcode	Regional IFA Benchmark	Gross PAYE Salary Equiv
Achieving For Children	2576030	Good	Maidenhead SL6	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Action for Children Fostering Wessex	SC039572	Good	FAREHAM PO14	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
All4u Fostering Ltd	1255143	Outstanding	Sevenoaks TN14	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Anchor Foster Care Services	SC036598	Good	Chatham ME4	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Asphaleia Ltd	SC060967	Outstanding	Worthing BN11	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Aspire Fostering Ltd	2726899	Good	Canterbury CT1	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Blue Sky Fostering	SC064220	Outstanding	Romsey SO51	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Bridging Gaps Fostering Agency	SC390755	Outstanding	SLOUGH SL1	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
By The Bridge	SC047407	Good	Sittingbourne ME9	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Caldecott Fostering	SC420507	Outstanding	Ashford TN25	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Channels and Choices Therapeutic Fostering	SC463937	Good	Brighton BN1	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Compass Fostering South	SC465949	Good	LITTLEHAMPTON BN16	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Compass Fostering South East	2600900	Good	Whitstable CT5	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Connect Fostering Services Ltd	SC465868	Good	Iver SL0	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Credo Care	2821699	Good	Romney Marsh TN29	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Credo Care Fostering Limited	2821699	Not yet inspected	Lydd TN29	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Diverse Care	SC062695	Outstanding	Chatham ME4	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Ethelbert Fostering Services	SC036583	Good	Ramsgate CT12	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Evolve Therapeutic Fostering Ltd	2606502	Good	Sandwich CT13	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Fairways Care UK	SC038930	Good	Portsmouth PO6	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Family Fostering	SC477723	Outstanding	Ramsgate CT12	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Familyplacement.com	SC033478	Good	Oxfordshire OX12	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
First Steps Fostering Ltd	2732929	Good	Ramsgate CT12	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Fitzgerald Fostering & Consultancy	SC383749	Outstanding	Bracknell RG12	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Five Fostering	SC462226	Good	Hooe TN33	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Flourish Fostering	2568217	Outstanding	Snodland ME6	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Following Whispers Family Service Consultancy Ltd	SC062080	Good	Ramsgate CT12	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Foster Care Associates South East	SC039271	Good	Eastleigh SO50	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Foster Care Associates Thames Valley	SC047677	Outstanding	Milton Keynes MK17	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Fostering Solutions Limited South	SC423396	Outstanding	WINCHESTER SO21	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Fostering Together - for children with disabilities	2574877	Good	Ashford TN25	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Fosterplus	SC065614	Outstanding	MILTON KEYNES MK17	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Fusion Fostering South Central	1212899	Good	Fareham PO16	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Fusion Fostering South East	2593058	Good	Ashford TN25	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Heath Farm Children's Services	SC060386	Good	Whitstable CT5	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Hythe House Support	SC043609	Good	SITTINGBOURNE ME10	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Illuminance Fostering Service	2654713	Good	Milton Keynes MK9	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Inspired Fostering	2646994	Good	Challock TN25	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Integrated Services Programme	SC067361	Good	Chesham HP5	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Isp Rainham	1263501	Good	Gillingham ME8	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
ISP Sussex	SC383539	Good	Albourne BN6	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
ISP Teynham	1256563	Outstanding	Teynham Sittingbourne ME9	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Kasper	SC036530	Outstanding	WHITSTABLE CT5	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Liberty Foster Care	SC397846	Good	LIPHOOK GU30	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Lighthouse Fostering	SC479090	Good	Faversham ME13	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Next Step Fostering Services	SC036540	Outstanding	Faversham ME13	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
NFA South East	SC035553	Good	Crawley RH11	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Orange Grove Fostercare Southern Counties	SC485748	Outstanding	Albourne BN6	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Orange Grove Fostercare Three Shires	SC485761	Good	Milton Keynes MK17	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Ownlife Fostering	SC454491	Good	Dartford DA1	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Parent And Child Fostering Assessments	1156149	Good	Walton On Thames KT12	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
People Who Foster	1259617	Good	Rochester ME2	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Pilgrims Corner Fostering Ltd	SC376060	Good	Canterbury CT4	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Slough Children First	1183495	Good	Slough SL1	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
South Coast Fostering Limited	2580767	Good	Portsmouth PO6	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Step by Step Fostering LTD	2721151	Not yet inspected	Aldershot GU11	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Sunbeam Fostering Agency	SC035026	Outstanding	Slough SL3	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
The Children's Family Trust	SC477622	Good	Waterlooville PO7	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
The Homefinding & Fostering Agency	SC036653	Good	Maidstone ME15	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
TheraParent Fostering	2688004	Good	Waterlooville PO7	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Time out Fostering	SC064113	Not yet inspected	Worthing BN11	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
UK Fostering	SC448220	Outstanding	Dartford DA1	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/yr
Xcel 2000 Fostercare Services	SC036488	Outstanding	SITTINGBOURNE ME10	£525/wk (£27,300/yr tax-free)	£33,028/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%).