Are foster child and foster adult care payments included in annual income?

Foster child and foster adult care payments are not included in annual income calculations for various assistance programs. This is primarily because these payments are intended to cover the costs associated with caring for an individual and do not represent disposable income for the caregiver. By excluding these payments from income calculations, the policies aim to ensure that caregivers are not disadvantaged financially when they take on the responsibility of fostering.

In many assistance programs, the focus is on determining the financial capacity of a household without penalizing those who are providing care for foster individuals. Including these payments as income could create a barrier for potential caregivers, discouraging individuals from taking on the significant responsibility of fostering. Therefore, the exclusion of these payments supports the fostering system by enabling individuals to provide a home for children and adults in need without added financial strain.