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Allowances by council

Thurrock Council: foster carer allowances 2026-27.

Thurrock Council publishes the weekly allowances it pays its own foster carers: £415 to £568 per child for 2026-27. These are the council’s figures, taken from its website on 30 October 2026.

Thurrock publishes one weekly total per child that combines the maintenance payment for the child's costs with the carer's reward payment, for amounts applying from 1 April 2026. Care Skills is the standard rate and Care Skills+ is for children with more complex needs; a higher High Need Rate, with a £310 weekly reward payment, is paid in exceptional circumstances.

Weekly allowance by age

Age of childPer week
0 to 4Care Skills: maintenance and £207 reward payment combined£415
5 to 10Care Skills: maintenance and £207 reward payment combined£440
11 to 15Care Skills: maintenance and £207 reward payment combined£473
16 or overCare Skills: maintenance and £207 reward payment combined£516
0 to 4 (Care Skills+)Maintenance and £259 reward payment combined£467
5 to 10 (Care Skills+)Maintenance and £259 reward payment combined£492
11 to 15 (Care Skills+)Maintenance and £259 reward payment combined£525
16 or over (Care Skills+)Maintenance and £259 reward payment combined£568

Also published by the council

  • A separate payment each year for birthday presents
  • A further payment for festival presents, such as at Christmas or Eid
  • A paid break of up to four weeks a year, separate from the family holiday
  • Exemption from council tax for carers who live in Thurrock and foster with Thurrock Council

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 Thurrock (2).

Source

Foster carer payments and support (Thurrock 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 Councils usually change their rates each April; if this page is out of date, tell us and we will correct it.

Other councils in England