Foster carers

A foster carer¹ is someone who is taking care of a 'looked after' child when they cannot stay in their own home or with a kinship carer. A child is 'looked after' when the local council has a legal responsibility for their wellbeing. Foster carers are generally paid for the care they provide.

¹ Foster care - mygov.scot

Carers can’t be eligible for Carer Support Payment where they have an agreement to provide care as a foster carer for the person they have applied for Carer Support Payment for caring for. This care is considered to be provided under a contract.

Carers who have an agreement to provide foster care for another child or young person (that is not the person they have applied for Carer Support Payment for caring for) can be eligible. This is because the care they are applying for Carer Support Payment for is not the care they are being paid for or providing as part of a contract.

Example 5 – foster carer is also a carer for another child receiving a qualifying disability benefit

Lesley is a foster carer for a child, Rudi, with complex needs. She receives foster carer fees and allowances from her local authority. Even though Rudi receives Child Disability Payment, Lesley cannot get Carer Support, because her care for Rudi is by virtue of a contract. Lesley also looks after her own child Jenna, who is a wheelchair user and receives Child Disability Payment. Lesley can receive Carer Support Payment for caring for Jenna. The fees and allowances that Lesley receives for her foster care work are not considered to be earnings, so they do not affect her eligibility.