Foster parenting is a gift and it also comes with new routines, responsibilities, and expenses. Approximately 391,000 children spent time in U.S. foster care last year. Do foster parents get paid? Yes, but not a salary. As an employee, you don’t receive a paycheck. You get that money each month to cover the child’s basic costs such as food, clothes, school supplies and transportation and expenses around your home. This is not money from the profit side, but from the caring side. It allows you to focus on what truly matters: stability, love. Well, let’s dig into this blog and read everything.
Understanding Foster Parent Payments
I have had the privilege of working closely with family support and foster care systems, and I know how critical financial assistance can be to helping foster families provide long-term stability. Foster care is not for profit; it’s a place to give a child who needs one a home. Monthly stipends are paid by either a government agency or a licensed foster care agency to the foster parents.
These funds are for basic needs, food, transportation, clothing and utilities to help parents spend less time worrying over finances and more time investing in emotional care. Just to be clear: These funds are not wages. These are reasonable maintenance payments designed to ensure the child’s best interests always come first.
Key Takeaways
- Some 391,000 children were in U.S. foster care last year, indicating an ongoing need for financial aid.
- Average payments are approximately between $700–$1,500 per month in the U.S., £150–£400 weekly in the U.K. and $900–$2,000 monthly in Canada.
- Specialized or therapeutic placements are paid more because they require more care, training and time.
- Studies have found that higher stipends lead to lower rates of placement breakdowns and increase child stability and caregiver retention.
- Allowance increases very rarely keep pace with inflation, so you should factor in an additional 10-15% above the recommended amount each year.
How Much Do Foster Parents Get Paid?
Foster care payments are based on the child’s age, region, and specific needs. The following are very rough estimates based on figures collected by the agencies and government standards.
United States
- Average monthly payments: $700 – $1,500 per child
- Greater hourly rates (as much as $2,000 or more) for special needs or behavioral children
- Some states, like California, Texas, and New York use such tiered systems in which rates rise for specialized care
United Kingdom
- Average weekly fee: £150 to £400 per child
- If you are an experienced or ‘professional foster carer’, you can earn up to 500+ per week for complex cases.
- The rates vary by local authority and the carer’s experience.
Canada
- Average monthly benefit is between $900 to $2,000 per child
- Additional exceptions should be made for medical and therapy emergencies.
- These are normal care allowances not extra grants or one-off support payments.
These figures represent standard care stipends, not additional grants or one-time support payments.
What Does the Foster Care Payment Cover?
The foster care payment is designed to include a number of day-to-day costs incurred with the child:
- Nutritious food and daily meals
- Clothing, toiletries, and hygiene products
- School and extracurricular activities
- Transportation and healthcare needs
- Utilities, housing expenses and outings
Many agencies offer extra allowances for birthdays, school outings and holidays, to ensure that every foster child has an opportunity to feel included and celebrated.
Are Foster Care Payments Taxable?
In many countries, payments made to foster parents are not taxable. They are “reimbursements,” not wages.
In the U.S., when a foster care per diem is paid through a licensed agency, the IRS does not treat it as income so long as it is used to care for children. But it’s a good idea to keep good records and consult with a tax adviser, or, for more information, contact your local fire department.
Can You Make a Living as a Foster Parent?
The simple answer is no. Payments for foster care are meant to support the child, not as income for the caregiver.
The stipends cover the basic costs, but they don’t substitute for a job or salary. Ask any experienced foster parent and they’ll tell you the real reward is not monetary. It’s the satisfaction of changing a child’s life by providing safety, guidance, and love when they need it most.
Do Foster Parents Get Paid More for Special Needs Children?
Yes. When caring for children with medical, emotional, or behavioral challenges, foster parents receive higher stipends to reflect the additional time, training, and care required.
These higher rates may cover:
- Medical supplies or adaptive equipment
- Therapy or counseling sessions
- Special training for the caregiver
Foster Care vs. Adoption Payments
There is a big difference between fostering a child and adopting one. Foster care is a temporary situation; adopting someone makes you their legal, forever parent. Foster care payments stop when a foster child is adopted, since legal responsibility becomes solely that of the adoptive parents.
But in some adoptions, especially of a foster child with special needs, adoptive parents can still receive an ongoing subsidy or support grant to help offset the costs of caring for the adopted child.
If you’d like to know more about this move, see our guide on
Foster Care vs. Adoption. It details how both processes function, what factors to consider financially when choosing between them and which option might be best for your family.
Expert Insight: Why Payments Matter
Foster parents bear not only money, but also toil in mental strain. From sleepless nights to therapy sessions and school switches, the experience can be chaotic and incredibly rewarding. Financial support is not “payment for love.” It’s one way to make love sustainable, so families can spend their time nurturing rather than worrying about bills.
One caseworker put it wisely, as follows:
“Having some financial support allows foster parents to focus on stability, not survival.”
Final Thoughts
Yes, foster parents are paid, but not as employees or for profit. These are support allowance instruments of enabling and sustaining fostering.
The precise figure varies depending on where you live and how the child’s needs align with your training. But the thing that never changes about fostering is this: The heart behind it isn’t financial; it’s human.
Becoming a foster parent provides a child with hope, stability, and an opportunity for something better. And while money can buy the basics, it’s love that really saves lives.
Frequently Asked Questions
You’re paid once you receive a placement of foster children; training is usually unpaid.
Most agencies pay once a month, though some areas pay biweekly.
Yes, but they must be flexible enough to serve the child’s daily needs.
Payments are usually prorated for the days that the child was in your care.
Yes, many agencies provide additional per diem for birthdays, holidays or leave.
