When you’re thinking about becoming a foster parent or you’re already caring for kids in the system, one of the biggest questions that comes up is: How much money will I actually receive? It’s not a crass question, it’s just practical. You’re opening your home, your time, and your heart to a child who needs stability, and you need to understand what financial support is available to help you do that job well.
I remember when my cousin first started fostering, she had no idea where to even look for this information. She assumed there’d be a single national rate, but surprise it’s way more complicated than that. Every state, sometimes even every county, has different payment structures. And honestly? The system isn’t super transparent about it, which is frustrating because if you’re going to commit to this, you deserve clear answers.
So I’ve put together this guide to help you navigate foster care payment rates in the USA. Whether you’re researching before you start fostering or you’re already in the system and want to make sure you’re getting paid correctly, this should answer most of your questions.
The Basics: What Is Foster Care Payment?
First, let’s get clear on what we’re actually talking about here. Foster care payments are monthly stipends that states provide to licensed foster parents. These payments are meant to reimburse you for the costs of caring for a child food, clothing, housing, school supplies, activities, transportation. It’s not a salary. You’re not working a job as a foster parent. Instead, the state recognizes that raising a child costs money, and they’re helping cover those costs.
Here’s the important part: these payments are not taxable income. You don’t report them to the IRS, and they don’t count as income on your tax return. This is huge because it means the money you receive goes directly toward the child’s care without getting chewed up by taxes.
this is crucial for the payment you receive is rarely enough to cover everything a child needs. Studies show that many foster parents end up spending their own money to fill the gaps. So while the stipend helps significantly, you should go into fostering knowing that you might be contributing financially beyond what the state reimburses.
The National Range: What’s the Typical Payment?
Before we dive into how to find your specific rates, let’s talk about the big picture. Across the United States, foster care payments typically range from about $300 to $1,200 per month per child, depending on where you live and the child’s age and needs.
Let me break that down a bit more clearly:
Lower end states: Some states like Texas, Florida, and Wyoming pay between $400 and $420 per month for basic foster care
Mid-range states: States like Virginia, Ohio, and Indiana typically pay between $480 and $810 per month
Higher end states: States like California, New York, and the District of Columbia can pay $1,000 to $1,300+ per month
Why the huge difference? It mostly comes down to the cost of living in each state. In California, where rent and food prices are astronomical compared to rural Texas, the state has to pay more to make fostering financially feasible.
| State | Age 2 | Age 9 | Age 16 |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $1,258 | $1,258 | $1,258 |
| New York | $1,103-$1,299 | $1,143-$1,299 | $1,155-$1,319 |
| Tennessee | $897 | $897 | $1,029 |
| Texas | $400 | $400 | $400 |
| Virginia | $486 | $568 | $721 |
| Florida | $417 | $417 | $417 |
As you can see, there’s a massive variation. A foster parent in New York is receiving nearly three times what a foster parent in Texas gets paid.
What Affects Your Payment Rate?
Okay, so the amounts vary by state to state but within your state, there are other factors that can bump up what you receive. Understanding these is important because some parents don’t realize they can qualify for higher rates.
Age of the Child
This is the biggest factor after location. Older kids cost more to raise. A teenager needs more food, clothes in bigger sizes, transportation money (especially if they’re learning to drive), and more expensive activities and social opportunities. So nearly every state pays more for older children.
For example, in California, all ages get $1,258 per month, but in other states like North Carolina, you’d get $702 for a 2-year-old, $745 for a 9-year-old, and $810 for a 16-year-old.
Special Needs or Complex Care Requirements
This is where payments can really increase. If a child has medical needs, emotional or behavioral challenges, developmental disabilities, or trauma related issues, you typically qualify for a higher “level of care” payment.
For instance, in Texas, the payment structure looks like this:
Basic: $27.07 per day
Moderate: $47.37 per day
Specialized: $57.86 per day
Intense: $92.43 per day
Treatment Foster Family Care: $137.52 per day
So a child with specialized needs might earn twice what a child with basic needs earns. This makes sense as child with ADHD, trauma responses, or a medical condition requires more time, expertise, and sometimes money from the foster parent.
Licensing Level
Some states have different payment rates based on your training and licensing level. In California, for example, there are multiple “Levels of Care,” and your payment depends on which level of care the child needs:
Level of Care 1: $1,258 per month
Level of Care 2: $1,399 per month
Level of Care 3: $1,543 per month
Level of Care 4: $1,683 per month
Intensive Services Foster Care: $3,248 per month
Number of Children
Each child gets their own payment. So if you’re fostering two kids, you get two stipends. If you’re fostering siblings, sometimes (but not always) states give a tiny discount per child because you’re sharing housing costs, but generally, it’s additive.
Emergency vs. Regular Placement
Short-term or emergency foster care sometimes has higher daily rates because the placement is urgent and harder to fill.
How to Find Your State’s Current Rates
Now we get to the practical stuff. How do you actually find out what your state pays?
Option 1: Check Your State’s Official Website
Every state has a department that handles child welfare or it might be called the Department of Social Services, Department of Children and Family Services, Division of Child and Youth Services, or something similar. These departments publish their foster care rates, usually on their website.
Here’s how to find them:
Google “[Your State] foster care rates” or “[Your State] Department of Social Services”
Look for official government websites (usually .gov addresses)
Find the section on foster parent payments or board rates
Download their rate schedule—it’s usually available as a PDF
For example:
California: cdss.ca.gov (look for Resource Family Care rates)
Washington State: dcyf.wa.gov (look for foster care payment levels)
Texas: dfps.texas.gov (look for residential child care rates)
New York: ocfs.ny.gov
Virginia: dss.virginia.gov
Option 2: Contact Your Foster Care Agency
If you’re already working with a foster care agency—whether it’s a state agency or a licensed private agency. they should provide you with their current rate schedule. If they haven’t, ask. They’re required to be transparent about this. When you’re first considering fostering, any reputable agency will walk you through the payment structure before you commit to becoming a foster parent.
If you’re working with the state directly, you can call your local Department of Social Services and ask for the foster care payment rates. Have your county ready, because sometimes rates differ by county within a state.
Option 3: Use Online Databases
A few organizations compile foster care rates from all states, which can be super helpful for comparison:
World Population Review: publishes state-by-state foster care stipend comparisons
Families Rising: maintains an adoption assistance and foster care rates database
Foster Care to Success: has resources and rate information for various states
Option 4: Check Your Online Payment Portal
If you’re already a licensed foster parent, your state likely has an online payment system where you can see your rates and manage your payments. For example:
Washington State uses the Social Services Payment System (SSPS) Provider Portal
New Jersey uses the NJ DCF Payment Center portal (njdcfpaymentcenter.com)
California uses various county systems depending on which county you’re in
Los Angeles County specifically uses the Foster Care Search System (FCSS)
You’ll typically log in with a username and password, and you can view your monthly invoices and the rates being applied to your case.
Understanding How Payments Actually Work
Just knowing the rate isn’t quite enough as you should also understand how you actually receive the money.
Timing
In most states, foster care payments are made monthly, for services in arrears. This means if you have a child in your care during April, you’ll receive the payment for April in May. This is important because it means your first payment usually arrives 45 to 60 days after the child is first placed with you.
For some states using per-diem systems (like Indiana and Tennessee), the payment is calculated on a daily basis. If a child is only in your home for part of the month, they calculate the daily rate and multiply by the number of days they were with you.
Method of Payment
Most states offer direct deposit, which is faster and safer than checks. When you first become a licensed foster parent, you’ll set up your payment information. Some counties also offer debit cards as a payment option.
Invoice and Claim Process
Here’s something many new foster parents don’t realize: in many states, you have to actively claim your payment. It’s not automatic. You’ll receive an invoice (either by mail or through a portal) showing:
The child’s name
The dates the child was in your care
The applicable payment rate
The total amount due
You then need to verify the dates are correct (sometimes you need to adjust them if a child left mid-month) and “claim” the invoice to get paid. In Washington State, for example, foster parents must claim invoices by phone, online, or mail. It’s not complicated, but if you forget or don’t do it, you might not get paid, so it’s important to know this is your responsibility.
Payment Portals and Online Access
Most states now have online portals where you can:
View your current payment rates
Access your monthly invoices
Claim payments
Update your direct deposit information
See payment history
If you don’t have access to a portal but think you should, ask your caseworker. You’ll typically need to set up an account with a username and password, and you might need to register with your license number or identification.
Special Rate Requests
If your situation changes, you might be able to request a higher payment rate. For example:
Your child’s needs increase (behavioral issues develop, medical condition worsens, etc.)
Your child’s needs decrease (they improve with therapy, medications work better, etc.)
You’ve taken on additional training or certification
Either you or your caseworker can submit a request to your local department of social services. This is especially important if a child in your care develops new needs you shouldn’t be paying more money out of your own pocket if the state should be covering it.
What the Payment Covers
The foster care payment is meant to cover:
Food and nutrition
Clothing and shoes
Personal hygiene products
School supplies and educational materials
Recreation and activities
Transportation to school or activities
Some medical expenses (though Medicaid usually covers health care)
Child care (in some cases)
Allowance for the child
What it’s not usually meant to cover:
College education (though some states have programs for this)
Special therapy or counseling (Medicaid covers this)
Your personal expenses
Your vehicle’s general maintenance (though mileage to appointments might be reimbursed)
Tax Implications for Foster Parents
Since these payments aren’t taxable income, you don’t report them on your federal tax return. However, this doesn’t mean taxes are completely irrelevant to you as a foster parent.
You can potentially claim the Child Tax Credit for foster children who live with you for more than half the year and meet other IRS requirements. This is separate from the foster care payment and can be a significant tax benefit.
Also, if you receive the Child Tax Credit, the foster care payments don’t affect your eligibility as they’re completely separate.
Important note: Make sure you understand your state and local tax situation. While federal foster care payments aren’t taxable, there might be state-specific rules or implications for other benefits (like SNAP) that are affected by fostering income. Ask your caseworker or a tax professional if you have questions.
Red Flags: Making Sure You’re Paid Correctly
Before we wrap up, here are some things to watch for to ensure you’re being paid at the correct rate:
You’ve been paid the same rate for a child whose needs have increased. If a child’s behavioral or medical needs change, your rate should potentially change too. Don’t accept it if your caseworker says, “Well, we’ll just leave it the same.” Request an assessment.
Your payment suddenly dropped without explanation. Payment changes should be explained to you. If your amount decreased, ask why. Maybe a child left your home (which would explain it), or maybe there’s an error.
You’re not receiving a payment you’re entitled to. Know the timeline. If it’s been 60+ days since a child was placed and you haven’t received a payment, follow up. Call your local child welfare agency.
Your rates are significantly lower than neighboring states. This is normal due to cost of living, but if you’re right on a state border, you might want to confirm the rates are actually correct.
Getting Help and Asking Questions
If anything about your foster care payments is unclear, here’s who to contact:
Your immediate caseworker: They’re your first point of contact for any questions about rates, payments, or special requests.
Your local Department of Social Services: Typically has a foster care line or payment inquiry line. Many states publish these numbers on their website.
Your foster care agency: If you’re working with a licensed private agency, they should explain payment structures and help with payment issues.
Foster parent support organizations: Groups like Foster Care to Success, Every Child Matters, and state-specific foster parent associations can provide resources and sometimes advocacy if you feel you’re not being paid correctly.
Figuring out foster care payment rates isn’t the most glamorous part of becoming a foster parent, but it’s important. You deserve to know exactly what support the state will provide before you commit to caring for a child. And if you’re already fostering, you deserve to make sure you’re being paid what you’re entitled to.
The system isn’t always simple, and the variation across states is significant. But with the right information and the right people to ask, you can get clarity on your situation and ensure you’re compensated fairly for the important work you’re doing.
If you’re seriously considering fostering, reach out to your state’s child welfare agency and ask for their current rate sheet. Compare it to neighboring states if you’re curious. Talk to foster parents in your area about their experiences. And then make your decision knowing exactly what the financial side of fostering will look like for you and your family.
kidzoot
