Full-time care; Receipt of care allowances and subsidies

In the case of full-time foster care under Section 33 of Book Eight of the Social Code (SGB VIII), foster families take in a child whose biological family cannot provide adequate conditions for upbringing, and care for and raise the child for a specific period of time or indefinitely.

Full-time foster care under Section 33 of SGB VIII constitutes a form of educational assistance granted by the youth welfare office responsible for the case if it has been determined to be necessary as part of the assistance plan process.

When the youth welfare office places a child with a foster family, it undertakes to ensure the child’s necessary support through a foster care allowance.

The amount of the foster care allowance is determined by the respective youth welfare office. The foster care allowance is tiered according to the foster child’s age and consists of the amount covering the costs of material expenses and the costs of care and upbringing. The amount for living expenses is based on the costs that must be paid directly for the foster child—that is, for food, clothing, rent, electricity, heating, school supplies, allowance, toys, membership fees for sports clubs, etc. The costs of upbringing are a contribution intended to recognize the special educational efforts of the foster parents.

The “Recommendations of the Bavarian County Council and the Bavarian City Council for Full-Time Foster Care under SGB VIII” (Recommendation effective January 1, 2024) provide guidance on the amount of the foster care allowance:

• 1,060 EUR for children aged 0 to 6 years,
• 1,202 EUR for the age group 7 through age 12,
• 1,390 EUR from age 13 onward.

If the caregiver is a direct relative of the child (grandparents, great-grandparents) and is able to provide for the child’s support, the foster care allowance may be appropriately reduced to account for the costs of care. Minors and their parents contribute to the costs according to their means, in accordance with the regulations on cost-sharing.

If necessary in individual cases, in addition to the monthly foster care allowance, additional support may be provided for special care needs and/or a contribution toward specific purchases—for example, for the foster family’s initial set-up, important personal occasions (e.g., baptism, First Communion, Confirmation), or vacation and holiday trips for the foster child.

The foster care allowance also includes a right to reimbursement of documented expenses for accident insurance premiums, as well as reimbursement of half of the documented expenses for appropriate retirement coverage for the foster parents. These are reimbursed monthly as a lump sum. Before foster parents take out a corresponding insurance policy, they should definitely speak with their local youth welfare office.

Child benefit for foster children is offset against current benefits in accordance with statutory provisions.

Placement of Children in Suitable Foster Families

If a child’s own family is unable to care for, raise, and support the child on their own, the Youth Welfare Office can place the child with a suitable foster family, either temporarily or permanently. The placement is arranged by the Full-Time Foster Care Service (Foster Care Service).

The types of foster care are:

• Full-time foster families, where the child’s primary place of residence is with the foster family. Depending on the child’s needs, support is provided on a case-by-case basis either as temporary assistance until a possible return to the biological family or as support until the child becomes independent.
• Emergency foster families, which ensure the short-term and temporary placement of young people in crisis situations (Section 42 of SGB VIII, Taking into Care). They provide protection and care until, during an assessment phase, preparations can be made for the child’s return to their parents’ home or, if necessary, long-term support can be initiated.

Action is always taken in close cooperation with the children’s parents (or relatives).

Access to the services offered by the Full-Time Foster Care/Foster Care Service is always provided through the General Social Services.

The child or adolescent is living with a foster family as a foster child pursuant to a decision by the Youth Welfare Office.

After you have taken the child into your family, you will receive a monthly lump-sum foster care allowance from the Youth Welfare Office.

No application is required.

The support payments will continue as long as the child is in full-time foster care.

The Bavarian State Association of Foster and Adoptive Families (Landesverband der Pflege- und Adoptivfamilien in Bayern e.V.) is an organization of foster parents. It provides them with advice and support on all matters.

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