Once you become an approved foster carer and have a child placed in your care, you will receive a fostering allowance to enable you to provide for the child. You will receive payment via BACS every fortnight to your account.

Email us at fostering@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Call us on 0800 052 0078

Text FOSTERING to 60777

girl at laptop with carer

The amount you receive is dependent on the age of the child that you care for and your skills level as a foster carer. We believe that it is important that foster carers are supported to progress through our skills levels to receive an allowance which acknowledges their experience and level of skill. 

Fostering allowances

Child’s age

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

0-4 years

£164

£231

£273

£394

5-10 years

£187

£252

£296

£449

11-15 years

£231

£285

£328

£470

16+ years

£273

£340

£361

£470

All our foster carers receive additional annual allowances for the children in their care i.e., holiday, birthday, and Christmas/festival payments, all of which are age related.

All foster carers across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are also paid mileage at a rate of 45p per mile.

Our foster carers who require setting up costs to enable them to care for a child or young person will have access to a maximum of £1000. This is in agreement with their fostering social worker and includes items such as bedroom furniture, baby equipment e.g., travel systems, car seats etc.

Should you need to buy clothing for a child who moves in to live with you in an emergency situation, a reimbursement of up to £100 will be given following a discussion with your supervising social worker and the child’s social worker.