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Foster Care Reimbursement Rates

The uniform foster care rate is the amount of money foster parents receive to cover the cost of caring for a foster child. The basic rate is established by the State of Wisconsin and is intended to cover the cost of basic necessities such as food, clothing, housing, personal care, school supplies, transportation and other expenses. The basic rate is dependent upon the foster child's age. It should be noted that the basic rate is considered reimbursement for the child's expenses and is not considered income or wages for caring for the child.

Monthly foster care rates for the year 2008 are as follows:

Supplemental and Exceptional Rates

If the foster child has a serious emotional, behavioral, medical or other special needs, the foster parent may in addition to the base rate, receive a supplemental payment. If the child has extraordinary needs which require a high level of specialized care and supervision, the foster parent may receive an exceptional payment.

For tax purposes, foster parents are not required to report income they earned for the care they provide to a foster child, assuming that the foster child is not claimed as a dependent tax deduction.

Clothing Allowance

A foster child may be entitled to a clothing allowance if:

1. The foster child has few clothing items and this is his/her first placement
2. The foster child has few clothing items and it has been at least 4 months since the child was last in out-of-home placement.

The amount of  the clothing allowance is based on the child's age. Clothing allowance rates for 2008 are as follows:

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