Foster care allowance in Flanders
Who receives the foster care allowance?
The amount is paid out in full to
- the foster parent, in the case of long-term foster care.
- the placement beneficiary, in the case of short-term foster care.
The placement beneficiary will continue to receive the foster care bonus if this was awarded prior to 1 January 2019, and providing there has been no change to the placement.
My child is placed in a foster family in Brussels or Wallonia, who gets what?
Children in foster care are entitled to their child benefit. These are paid in full to the foster family.
Sometimes the placement measure also provides for the payment of a monthly flat-rate allowance to one of the parents who is still in contact with the child or shows an interest in the child.
This allowance is a fixed sum (depending on indexation) which does not influence the amount paid to the foster family. If you are entitled to it, KidsLife will be informed, you do not have to do anything to get it.
If the placement service decides, this allowance can be paid to the child itself in a blocked savings account. KidsLife will also take care of this, so there is no need to apply.
Foster care terminology
Long-term foster care
This type of foster care places a child with a family for longer periods of time, in the event that it’s no longer possible for them to remain at home. A foster family placement of more than one year is considered long-term foster care. If possible, the child maintains contact with their parents.
Short-term foster care
This type of foster care is intended to swiftly provide the child with a clear and sustainable solution: a return to the parental home, long-term placement with a foster family, or placement in another facility ... Short-term foster care typically lasts several months.
Supportive foster care
This type of foster care gives children who have been placed in a facility full-time the opportunity of spending a weekend or holiday somewhere else. It can also provide a solution in the event that a vulnerable parent (with no social network of their own) is temporarily unable to take care of their child.
Emergency foster care
Children or adults who require urgent and prompt foster placement due to a crisis situation can be placed with an emergency foster family. The child (or adult in the case of adult foster care) can usually return home following a short stay. If this isn’t possible, then a long-term solution will be sought.
The difference between child and adult foster care
Child foster care concerns minors (0 to 18 years) in problematic home environments, with behavioural or emotional issues, or with a disability or psychiatric condition. Adult foster care concerns adults with a disability or psychiatric condition.
As a KidsLife customer you will automatically receive your Foster Care allowance. Not yet a customer? Then quickly request your Growth Package from KidsLife.
