Northern Ireland foster care allowances uplift

The Department of Health (Northern Ireland) have published details of the uplift to foster care allowances for 2022/23 in Northern Ireland. The increase is on average 3 per cent, comparable to national minimum allowances in England (outside of London and the South East). 

It has been well documented that this year, all families are facing unprecedented increases in their cost of living, with inflation currently at 10.1 per cent.  

Weekly fostering allowances are designed to cover the full costs of looking after a child or young person in foster care. No foster carer should be out of pocket as a result of caring for a child on behalf of the state. 

The Fostering Network's State of the Nation 2021 report found that over a third of foster carers said that their allowances do not meet the full cost of looking after a child. This survey was carried out in Summer 2021.   

Governments across the UK should undertake a comprehensive review of the minimum levels of fostering allowances set in their respective countries using up to date evidence to ensure that they cover the full costs of looking after a child. 

If foster carers are to continue providing stable, loving homes for children and young people, they must be well funded to do so. It is the responsibility of all UK governments to ensure this happens. 

ENDS

Notes to editors:

In Wales, England and Northern Ireland there is a national minimum fostering allowance and each year, these allowances are uprated to reflect the increase in the cost of living.  

The increase to the foster care allowance in Northern Ireland is on average 3 per cent (approximately) on current NI scale rates (a range of 2.4-3.9 per cent increase depending on age band) noting that existing 2021-22 foster care other allowances rates (for e.g., enhanced allowances, short breaks) will be uplifted similarly, in line with scale rates increases/3 per cent. Mileage has increased by 1p (c. 3 per cent) to 41p per mile. 

On 7 March 2022 Health Minister Robin Swann announced an additional one-off funding package in response to the challenges caused by the pandemic, representing £25 per week for each child or young person in foster care between January and March 2022.