Do Foster Carers Pay Council Tax?

Do Foster Carers Pay Council Tax? 

At Family Fostering Partners, we understand that financial considerations are important when deciding to foster, and many prospective foster parents ask: Do foster carers pay council tax? The answer depends on your circumstances, but there is good news—foster carers often qualify for council tax relief under specific conditions. 

Understanding Council Tax Relief: Do Foster Carers Pay Council Tax? 

Council tax relief is administered by your local authority, and the rules can vary from council to council. However, fostering income is disregarded when assessing eligibility for this relief. This means that if fostering is your sole or primary income and your savings are below £6,000, you may be eligible for council tax relief. 

Is Relief Guaranteed for Foster Carers? 

Do foster carers pay council tax? It’s worth noting that council tax relief is means-tested. This means that any income or savings beyond fostering allowances could impact your eligibility.  

Every local council has slightly different criteria, so it’s essential to check the specifics in your area as the question ‘do foster carers pay council tax’ will differ depending on your local authorities’ criteria. At Family Fostering Partners, we are happy to assist you in accessing the right resources and guidance for your council’s application process. We also provide fully paid membership to Foster Talk, who provide further resources and legal advice to our foster parents.  

Financial Support with Family Fostering Partners 

To make fostering as accessible as possible, we provide a financial incentive scheme called ‘Be There to Care’. This is a bespoke, one-of-a-kind scheme designed by us at Family Fostering Partners, and not offered by any other agency or local authority. In short, those who are giving up full time work in order to foster are eligible for the ‘Be There to Care’ scheme. This is in addition to the weekly payments you will receive for looking after a child, more information on this can be found on our foster carer payments page.  

The “Be There to Care” scheme is designed to provide financial support to foster parents as they prepare to welcome their first child into their care. For up to 10 weeks, foster parents receive a weekly payment to help cover living costs, ensuring they are financially secure and available to accept a suitable placement. This payment gives our foster parents the time and resources they need to focus fully on their new role. At Family Fostering Partners, we’re committed to helping our carers succeed from the very start of their fostering journey. 

Click here to hear from Eddie, who was approved to foster with us but at the time, was awaiting his first placement. 

More Than Just Financial Help 

Fostering is more than just a job; it’s a commitment to transforming young lives. Not only are we able to answer your questions such as ‘do foster carers pay council tax?’ and ‘what is a fostering allowance’,  but we also offer a comprehensive support package, including 24/7 guidance, training, and access to peer networks. At Family Fostering Partners, we are here through every step of your fostering journey to ensure you feel confident and capable in your role. 

Join Us and Make a Difference 

If you’ve been thinking about fostering and want to know more about the support available or ‘do foster carers pay council tax’, then we’d love to hear from you. At Family Fostering Partners, we believe that knowledge is power, and the power of fostering can transform lives—not just for the children in your care, but for our foster parents too. Contact us today to learn more about council tax relief, and the ways we support our fostering families. 

Visit Family Fostering Partners or call us on 0330 0948816 to begin your fostering journey.