Short break foster carers - payments & support

Daily allowances, start‑up funding, and mileage support for short break carers.

As a short break carer, you’ll be classed as self-employed, which means you have flexibility but also a few responsibilities we’ll help guide you through.

To assist our short break carers and to show how much we value the service you provide, we offer the same startup fee as we do our long-term carers, which is up to £500. This is to put towards anything that is needed for a child coming to stay in your home. 

Allowance and Support

• Startup fee: Up to £500 to help you prepare your home for a child’s stay.
• Daily allowance: £91 per day, which combines your fee and the child’s maintenance allowance.
• Mileage: We cover travel costs for matching visits, short breaks, and training events

Although Aberlour Fostering cannot advise on tax information, we are on hand to guide you towards the Fostering Network (Scottish office phone number: 0141 204 1400), who offer supportive workshops and helpline information for specifically guide you in this area.

• The Fostering Network – Foster Carer Finances

Fostering allowances are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.

• For current tax-free allowances that simplify the process of foster carers, please visit the HMRC website.

We know that welcoming a child into your home, even for a short time, is a big commitment. These allowances are just one way we aim to support you in making that experience as positive as possible.