(Last reviewed 04/04/2025)
Introductions
The purpose of the parent and child payment policy is to ensure that the financial support to foster carers and the agency’s expectations are clear. This policy also applies if both, parent and child are looked after.
Total weekly payment to the carer is £952 when both parent and child are in the foster carers home. Should parent be placed before baby is born, the weekly fee would be £490 and the additional £462 for baby is paid once baby is placed. Likewise, if the fostering arrangement were to end with either parent or baby moving from the foster carer’s home, the weekly fee would reduce accordingly. Should the fostering arrangement be for two parents and child or parent and two children, the payments would increase accordingly.
This is broken down into accountable allowance and foster carers allowance:
- Accountable allowance is £122 per week. This allowance belongs to the parent and their child. Foster carer should report how this allowance has been spent. It consists of £53 (child allowance) and £69 (parent allowance) per week.
Savings of£10 per week (minimum) per LAC is included in this allowance. The savings are deducted by the agency automatically from the accountable allowance of £122.
- Foster Carers Allowance is £830 per week whilst both parent and child are in the household, but this would reduce accordingly as above. This allowance belongs to the foster carer. It includes the foster carers fee and cost to cover household expenditures such as rent, utility rates, food and other expenses.
Placement is made – initial allowance for parent and child is always £122. This allowance consists of 3 elements: £53 for child allowance, £69 for the parent and £10 savings (deducted automatically) meaning net allowance belonging to the parent and child that the foster carer receives is £112. If both Parent & Child are looked after then a further £10 for the parent will be deducted and therefore the foster carer will receive £102 for the accountable allowance.
Placement planning meeting takes place. Social Worker must establish if parent is in receipt of benefits. SSW should record the amount of benefit the parent is receiving in Placement Agreement and notify the agency accounts of the amount.
If parent receives benefits the £112 will be reduced by the amount of benefits and the use of remaining amount (if any) should be agreed between the SSW and LA Social Worker and documented in Placement Agreement.
If parent has no recourse to public funds or not in receipt of benefits the parent is entitled to the full allowance of £122 (less savings). Foster carers are expected to monitor how the parent is using this allowance by asking the parent to provide receipts.
