Central Bedfordshire Council: foster carer allowances 2026-27.

Central Bedfordshire Council publishes the weekly allowances it pays its own foster carers: £189 to £278 per child for 2026-27, plus a fee for the carer. These are the council’s figures, taken from its website on 29 October 2026.

Central Bedfordshire pays a weekly child allowance by age plus a flat weekly fee for the carer, which rises from £100 to £175 after two years. The council's page does not state which year the rates apply to, so check the current figures with the fostering team before you apply.

Weekly allowance by age

Central Bedfordshire Council weekly fostering allowance by age band, 2026-27
Age of child	Per week
0 to 4	£189
5 to 10	£208
11 to 15	£238
16 and over	£278

Fees paid to the carer

Central Bedfordshire pays a weekly foster care fee for each child on top of the child allowance, rising after two years of fostering.

Central Bedfordshire Council weekly fostering fees, 2026-27
Level	Per week
Tier one (first two years of fostering)	£100
Tier two (fostering for over two years)	£175

Also published by the council

Annual birthday allowance equal to one week's child allowance
Annual holiday allowance equal to two weeks' child allowance
Welcome fee of £1,000 for newly approved mainstream carers
Long service payment of £500 after five years, rising by £500 for each further five years
£1,000 for referring someone who becomes an approved foster carer

How this compares

The national minimum allowance in England is £176 to £309 a week depending on the child’s age and the region (GOV.UK, 2026-27). The allowance covers the child’s costs; any fee is the part that is for you, and it is where councils and independent agencies differ most.

Independent agencies covering the same area publish their own weekly totals, often higher, with more expected of the carer. Use the pay calculator to see a year’s figure and the tax relief, or compare what services publish.

Thinking about fostering here? Compare every service that covers the area: Fostering agencies in Central Bedfordshire (2).

Source

Fostering payments, allowances and benefits (Central Bedfordshire Council), checked 29 October 2026. Councils usually change their rates each April; if this page is out of date, tell us and we will correct it.