Foster and kinship carer payment rate

Current payment rates

About the carer payment

All carers receive a standard carer payment based on the age of the child in care. This contributes to the costs associated with looking after children and young people placed in care.  All carers, whether a foster or a family or kinship carer related to the child, receive the same standard carer payment.

Carer payments are not considered a source of income for annual tax purposes, testing eligibility for Australian Government allowances, or when applying for loans from financial institutions. The payment is paid fortnightly by electronic funds transfer direct to your bank account. Every year, we review allowance rates and adjust them according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Expenses covered

Carer payments are designed to cover a range of everyday expenses associated with caring for children and young people, including::

• food and accommodation
• household provisions
• general clothing and footwear
• school books, stationery and excursions
• toys and incidental gifts
• pocket money
• leisure, hobby activities
• outings and entertainment
• daily travel expenses
• haircuts
• incidental child-minding costs
• general expenses relating to personal hygiene items including nappies
• basic medical, dental and pharmaceutical expenses (where these expenses are not related to an ongoing or chronic condition).

2026-27 Carer allowance rates

From 1 July 2026, the Northern Territory Carer Allowance rates will increase by 10%. This increase includes the annual Northern Territory Consumer Price Indexation.

Carer allowances per week

Emergency respite (up to 4 nights)

We will pay for respite care for children on a case-by-case basis to ensure that carers can take short breaks from caring where necessary. Emergency respite care can be arranged for up to 4 nights using the table below. For further ongoing respite exceeding 4 nights, payments will be calculated using the carer allowances weekly rate. Respite payment rates are based on the age and needs of the child in respite care. Ongoing fortnightly payment arrangements are not affected when a child is in respite care.

Payments for caring for children with complex needs

Higher reimbursement rates are provided for children assessed as having more complex needs. The care needs of each child are regularly assessed to ensure the necessary services are provided, and an appropriate level of payment is paid. Higher allowances are called Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4.

Remote area loading

A remote area loading is paid to carers living in remote or very remote locations. Areas that are eligible for the remote area loading include Alice Springs, Katherine, Nhulunbuy and Tennant Creek.

Establishment payment

Carers are eligible for an establishment payment of $1,000 to every new placement (not including respite placements), to help with immediate purchases to ensure the child enters the placement with sufficient personal items. Carers will also be provided with adequate provisions for each placement when these costs are over and beyond the $1,000 establishment payment. The Case Manager will discuss with you the items you can purchase with the establishment payment, and whether there are any other additional start-up items that are essential for a new placement.

Additional child-related expenses

Occasionally children in care may require other items above their day-to-day expenses. These expenses may be covered by the department, but it is always important to check first, as these payments need to be pre-approved before you can be reimbursed. It is also important that such expenses are discussed with the child's Case Manager, as the item or activity needs to be considered in terms of their entire care plan and may need approval from the birth family. Examples of extra expenses that may be covered include specialist medical treatment, advanced educational or sporting equipment and activities, or furniture required to meet special needs of the child.

Payment inquiry line

Email: DCF.Placements@nt.gov.au
Phone:  08 8922 7049