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.

West Midlands (Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Stoke) — 2026/27 Fostering Allowance Benchmark & All 75 Ofsted Services

In West Midlands, 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 £260/wk. By contrast, Ofsted Good and Outstanding Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) in West Midlands pay an average of £490/wk tax-free (£25,480/yr tax-free under HMRC HS236 [2] = £30,501/yr gross PAYE salary equivalent [6]), unlocking a +£11,960/yr household upgrade.

Local Authority Fostering Services in West Midlands (14 Ofsted Registered)

Local Authority / Council Trust	Ofsted URN	Ofsted Grade	Basic Weekly Band	Regional 4.8★ IFA Avg	Annual Tax-Free Upgrade
Birmingham City Council Fostering Service	80429	Not yet inspected	~£260/wk	£490/wk	+£11,960/yr
Coventry City Council Fostering Service	80456	Good	~£260/wk	£490/wk	+£11,960/yr
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council Fostering Service	80464	Requires Improvement	~£260/wk	£490/wk	+£11,960/yr
Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council Fostering Service	80549	Not yet inspected	~£260/wk	£490/wk	+£11,960/yr
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council Fostering Service	80554	Inadequate	~£260/wk	£490/wk	+£11,960/yr
Walsall Council Fostering Service	80574	Good	~£260/wk	£490/wk	+£11,960/yr
Wolverhampton City Council Fostering Service	80583	Good	~£260/wk	£490/wk	+£11,960/yr
Herefordshire Council Fostering Service	80474	Inadequate	~£260/wk	£490/wk	+£11,960/yr
Shropshire Council Fostering Service	80552	Good	~£260/wk	£490/wk	+£11,960/yr
Telford and Wrekin Council Fostering Service	80570	Not yet inspected	~£260/wk	£490/wk	+£11,960/yr
Staffordshire County Council Fostering Service	80561	Requires Improvement	~£260/wk	£490/wk	+£11,960/yr
Stoke-on-Trent City Council Fostering Service	80564	Requires Improvement	~£260/wk	£490/wk	+£11,960/yr
Warwickshire County Council Fostering Service	80576	Good	~£260/wk	£490/wk	+£11,960/yr
Worcestershire County Council Fostering Service	80584	Not yet inspected	~£260/wk	£490/wk	+£11,960/yr

Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs) in West Midlands (61 Ofsted Registered)

Independent Fostering Agency (IFA)	Ofsted URN	Ofsted Rating	Location / Postcode	Regional IFA Benchmark	Gross PAYE Salary Equiv
Abacus Fostering	SC457784	Good	Birmingham B18	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Active Care Solutions	SC484141	Outstanding	OLDBURY B69	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Atrium Foster Care	2738676	Good	Birmingham B21	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Birmingham Children's Trust Fostering Agency	1273591	Good	Birmingham B6	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
By the Bridge Midlands	2794311	Not yet inspected	Birmingham B37	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Capstone Foster Care (South East) Limited	1237336	Outstanding	Birmingham B38	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Child Care Bureau Fostering Services	SC034788	Outstanding	Moseley Road WR2	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Clifford House Fostering	SC416290	Outstanding	BROMSGROVE B60	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Compass Fostering West	SC360525	Not yet inspected	Worcester WR2	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Diverse Fostering Limited	2542463	Outstanding	Stoke-On-Trent ST6	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Elite Fostering Limited	1280530	Good	Oldbury B69	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Evergreen Foster Care Service	2509056	Good	Stoke-On-Trent ST7	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
F5 Foster Care Limited	1277076	Good	Birmingham B25	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Families First Fostering Ltd	2573764	Outstanding	Stone ST15	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Family Fostering Partners	2624643	Good	Leominster HR6	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Focus Foster Care Ltd	1249881	Good	Kenilworth CV8	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Foster Care Associates Midlands	SC045338	Outstanding	BROMSGROVE B60	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Fostering Solutions Ltd	SC060642	Good	Stafford ST18	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Foundation Fostering Limited	1264335	Good	Worcester WR1	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Freedom Fostering	SC037304	Good	WOLVERHAMPTON WV1	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Fusion Fostering North East	1255753	Good	Wolverhampton WV11	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Happy Hearts Foster Care	2649488	Good	Birmingham B16	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
icanfoster	2576457	Good	Telford TF7	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Ideal Fostering	SC472125	Good	Walsall WS2	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Ikon Fostering Limited	SC486357	Good	WALSALL WS1	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Impact Fostering LTD	2794418	Not yet inspected	Birmingham B9	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
ISP Midlands	2795066	Outstanding	Stoke Prior B60	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Love2Foster Ltd	2792823	Not yet inspected	Spitalfields CV12	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Match Foster Care	SC442843	Outstanding	Droitwich WR9	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Midlands Fostering Families Service	SC042455	Good	Great Cornbow B63	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Mulberry Foster Care Ltd	1236131	Outstanding	Ross-On-Wye HR9	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
National Fostering Agency	SC470279	Good	Birmingham B37	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
New Chapters Fostercare Agency	SC487945	Outstanding	Shrewsbury SY4	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
New Life Fostering Agency	SC447166	Inadequate	Birmingham B24	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
New Routes Fostering	SC034855	Good	BIRMINGHAM B46	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Nexus Fostering Midlands and West	2810756	Not yet inspected	Telford TF2	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Oakwood Fostering LTD	2863552	Not yet inspected	Balsall Heath B12	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Orange Grove Fostercare Staffordshire	SC485797	Good	Stone ST15	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Paramount Foster Care	2509967	Not yet inspected	West Bromwich B70	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Park Foster Care	SC055725	Good	Stoke-On-Trent ST1	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Phoenix Fostering	SC357652	Good	Leominster HR6	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Progress Children's Services	SC036627	Outstanding	Wolverhampton WV4	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Pyramid Care CIC Fostering	SC453308	Outstanding	Droitwich WR9	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Pyramid Care Fostering Services Ltd	2808098	Not yet inspected	Spetchley WR5	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Quality Fostering	SC068494	Not yet inspected	Leamington Spa CV32	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Red Kite Fostering	SC417504	Not yet inspected	KINGTON HR5	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Rees Parent and Child Fostering Ltd	2845011	Not yet inspected	Droitwich WR9	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Sandwell Children's Trust Fostering	1267324	Good	Oldbury B69	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
St. Christopher's Fellowship	SC458341	Good	West Bromwich B70	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Sunbeam Fostering Agency	SC425236	Good	COVENTRY CV5	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Sunflower Fostering	2725635	Good	Shifnal TF11	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
SWAP Foster Care	SC409413	Good	Bedworth CV12	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
SWIIS Foster Care Ltd	SC037164	Outstanding	BIRMINGHAM B15	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
The Children's Family Trust	SC034804	Outstanding	Bromsgrove B60	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
The Foster Care Charity	2744403	Good	Malvern WR14	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
The Midlands	1233309	Good	Wolverhampton WV11	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Triangle Project	2731149	Outstanding	BIRMINGHAM B37	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
United Fostering Services Limited	2672815	Not yet inspected	Coventry CV6	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Voice Fostering Ltd	SC451077	Outstanding	Solihull B90	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Wholistic Fostering Ltd	SC476942	Good	Tipton DY4	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/yr
Young People At Heart	2541624	Good	Hereford HR2	£490/wk (£25,480/yr tax-free)	£30,501/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%).