As a foster parent, the greatest reward you will receive comes from seeing the positive impact you make to the life of a child or young person in your care. As one of the most selfless things an individual can do, foster carers enrich the lives of foster children by providing new opportunities and experiences that will influence their outcomes. Here at Capstone, we support this by offering a weekly allowance, competitive pay rates as well as training and guidance from our dedicated team who provide support in all that you do.
However, with the current economic climate in the UK, raising a child can come with various financial implications. That’s why we want to ensure our foster carers are provided with the best benefits and discounts available to them to help them enrich a child or young person’s life.
We have compiled a list of fostering discounts and benefits available to you, which include:
The Max Card is the leading discount card for foster families and families with children who have additional needs. The card allows for free or discounted admissions to various venues across the UK including amusement parks and family attractions.
Find out more here: https://mymaxcard.co.uk/about-us/
This site offers a range of discounts and special offers for foster carers nationwide across shopping, travel, utilities, finance, motoring and insurance.
Find out more here: https://discountsforcarers.com/about
The Blue Light Card was once just for workers in the NHS, emergency services and armed forces. However, as of 2022, foster carers are now eligible for a free Blue Light Card. This card provides a range of discounts both online and in-store from small and large companies across the UK.
Find out more here: https://www.bluelightcard.co.uk/about_blue_light_card.php
As a foster carer, you may be eligible for a discount on your Council Tax if you are able to provide evidence that you are claiming benefits or are a low-income household. Local authorities will decide how much they will support vulnerable communities when it comes to the payment of Council Tax. You can apply for a council tax discount regardless of whether you own your own home or rent. Simply contact your local council to find out what tax discount is available to you.
Find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a government benefit for children and young people under the age of 16 who have additional care or mobility issues. This may be available to foster carers if your foster child is under 16 and has additional care requirements due to health or disability.
Find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children/eligibility
This is a government funded monthly payment scheme that aims to help low-income households or individuals struggling to cover their living costs. This may be available to foster carers as long as they meet the eligibility criteria.
Find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit
Looking for more information surrounding fostering finances? Our team have created multiple guides to help you with all aspects fostering pay. Click the links below to answer the following questions:
Interested in fostering? Find out about the benefits of fostering with Capstone, or get in touch with a member of our helpful team today for more information about our foster parent training courses.
If you’ve got any questions or would like to find out more about fostering with Capstone, fill out the form below.
An experienced fostering advisor from your local area will then be in touch.
Start the conversation today. Our team of friendly advisors are on hand to answer any foster care questions you may have. We can offer you honest and practical advice that can help you decide if becoming a foster carer is the right path for you.
