The Highland Council: foster carer allowances 2026-27.
The Highland Council publishes the weekly allowances it pays its own foster carers: £177.68 to £283.35 per child for 2026-27, plus a fee for the carer. These are the council’s figures, taken from its website on 2 November 2026.
The Highland Council pays a weekly allowance for each child by age, and its 2026-27 rates match the Scottish Government's recommended allowance for this year. Specialist and intensive carers receive a weekly fee on top, and every child in placement attracts birthday, summer and Christmas payments.
Weekly allowance by age
| Age of child | Per week |
|---|---|
| 0 to 4 | £177.68 |
| 5 to 10 | £206.71 |
| 11 to 15 | £206.71 |
| 16 to 18The allowance stops on the young person's 18th birthday unless the carer is told otherwise | £283.35 |
Fees paid to the carer
The council's schedule shows weekly fees for specialist and intensive carers, plus lower half-week fees for stays of three nights or less; it does not show a full-week fee for mainstream carers, so ask the fostering team which fee would apply to you.
| Level | Per week |
|---|---|
| Specialist carersPaid for the eldest child in placement | £514.68 |
| Intensive foster carers | £794.15 |
Also published by the council
- A birthday payment of one week's allowance for each child
- A summer payment of £215 for each child
- A Christmas payment of £107 for each child
How this compares
The national minimum allowance in Scotland is £177.68 to £283.35 a week depending on age (Scottish Recommended Allowance, 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.
Source
Highland Council Fostering & Adoption Allowances 2026/2027 (The Highland Council), checked 2 November 2026. Councils usually change their rates each April; if this page is out of date, tell us and we will correct it.