Staffordshire County Council: foster carer allowances 2026-27.

Staffordshire County Council publishes the weekly allowances it pays its own foster carers: £178.18 to £267.50 per child for 2026-27, plus a fee for the carer. These are the council’s figures, taken from its website on 30 October 2026.

Staffordshire's 2026-27 Payment for Skills scheme pays a weekly allowance for each child in five age bands, with a skills fee on top at Levels 2 to 4 that rises with the child's age and the carer's level. Carers with relevant childcare experience can be considered to start at Level 3, and intensive foster carers receive a weekly availability fee.

Weekly allowance by age

Staffordshire County Council weekly fostering allowance by age band, 2026-27
Age of child	Per week
0 to 1	£178.18
2 to 4	£182.24
5 to 10	£201
11 to 15	£239.57
16 to 17	£267.50

Fees paid to the carer

Level 1 carers receive the allowance only, Levels 2 to 4 add a skills fee on top that varies with the child's age, and Level 4 fees range from £305.62 to £412.23 a week.

Staffordshire County Council weekly fostering fees, 2026-27
Level	Per week
Level 2, child aged 0 to 1	£56.14
Level 2, child aged 2 to 4	£57.26
Level 2, child aged 5 to 10	£66.36
Level 2, child aged 11 to 15	£91.28
Level 2, child aged 16 to 17	£104.30
Level 3, child aged 0 to 1	£136.85
Level 3, child aged 2 to 4	£138.11
Level 3, child aged 5 to 10	£162.89
Level 3, child aged 11 to 15	£210.91
Level 3, child aged 16 to 17	£234.57
Intensive fostering availability feePaid on top of the allowance	£613.17

Also published by the council

Birthday grant worth one week's allowance for the child's age, paid automatically
Christmas or festival grant worth one week's allowance for the child's age
Summer holiday grant worth two weeks' allowance per child, paid in July
Mileage at 45p a mile with prior agreement

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 Staffordshire (11).

Source

Fostering Payment for Skills Scheme 2026-2027 (Staffordshire County Council), checked 30 October 2026. Councils usually change their rates each April; if this page is out of date, tell us and we will correct it.