As part of our #CostOfFostering campaign, The Fostering Network is calling for a more consistent approach to council tax support for foster carers across Wales.
Foster carers provide stable, loving homes for babies, children and young people 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Currently, half of local authorities in Wales offer some form of council tax support for foster carers:
- 5 local authorities offer up to 100% discount
- 5 local authorities offer up to 50% discount
- 1 local authority offers a 30% discount
We would like to see council tax support be offered consistently across Wales so that all foster carers benefit equally. We currently do not know how many IFAs provide a discount or exemption across Wales, but we are aware some, for example TACT does. We will be exploring what support is offered through IFAs to better understand the council tax support available to foster carers across Wales.
If your IFA offers council tax support for foster carers, please send us an email.
Campaign so far in Wales
We have engaged with foster carers and local authorities across Wales to explore expanding our campaign in Wales following its launch in England. This included discussions with members of our Wales Foster Carer Advisory Board and local authorities that have already introduced council tax discounts or exemptions for foster carers.
Through these discussions, foster carers highlighted the role council tax support can have in helping them feel recognised and valued, as well as the importance of the financial support at a time when allowances or fees have not kept pace with the cost of living in Wales. Local authorities in both Wales and England (where a quarter offer some sort of discount) described it as an effective approach to strengthen recruitment and retention efforts.
Following this, we have developed a briefing on council tax support for foster carers in Wales and a letter template that foster carers and fostering services can use to raise the issue with their Members of Senedd.
Resources for Wales
Council tax exemption briefing
Read our briefing setting out the benefits of council tax exemptions on the recruitment and retention of foster carers, and the current picture of council tax support across Wales.