Foster parents in Utah receive a daily maintenance payment from the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) that depends on the child’s age and assessed care level, and the amount is meant to cover the child’s food, clothing, shelter, and supervision rather than serve as income. So the honest answer to how much foster parents get paid in Utah is: it varies by placement, and DCFS adjusts its rate schedule from time to time. On top of the daily rate, families can receive mileage reimbursement, clothing and one-time allowances, childcare help, respite pay, and full Medicaid coverage for the child.
What the Daily Rate Depends On
Utah Administrative Code R512-302 sets the payment structure. The daily rate covers board, room, care and supervision, basic clothing, and personal incidentals for each child in the home.1Utah Office of Administrative Rules. Utah Admin Code R512-302 – Out-of-Home Services, Responsibilities Pertaining to an Out-of-Home Caregiver Two things drive the number: the child’s age bracket and the child’s assessed care level.
DCFS uses three age brackets, generally 0–5, 6–11, and 12 and older, with older children carrying a higher daily rate to reflect greater food and clothing costs. Each child is also assigned a care level:
- Level I (Basic) is standard foster care for children without significant medical or behavioral needs.
- Level II (Specialized) pays a higher daily rate for children needing additional supervision or services.
- Level III (Structured) is the top tier, for children with documented medical or behavioral conditions requiring intensive daily care.
One point catches many new foster parents off guard: payment follows the child’s assessed need, not the level the foster parent is licensed for.1Utah Office of Administrative Rules. Utah Admin Code R512-302 – Out-of-Home Services, Responsibilities Pertaining to an Out-of-Home Caregiver A parent licensed at Level III caring for a Level I child receives the Level I rate. The daily rate is then multiplied by the number of days the child was in your home that month.
Getting the Current Dollar Amounts
DCFS updates its rate schedule periodically, so the exact figures shift year to year. The most reliable way to see current numbers for each age group and care level is to ask your DCFS caseworker or regional office. The schedule is sometimes posted on the DCFS website and shared during licensing.
Payments Beyond the Daily Rate
Clothing and One-Time Payments
Foster care maintenance can include one-time payments beyond the daily rate for things like an initial clothing allowance when a child arrives, additional baby supplies, gifts, lessons, equipment, recreation, and non-tuition school expenses.1Utah Office of Administrative Rules. Utah Admin Code R512-302 – Out-of-Home Services, Responsibilities Pertaining to an Out-of-Home Caregiver The child and family team recommends these payments and DCFS approves them, so amounts depend on the child’s situation rather than a fixed schedule.
Mileage Reimbursement
DCFS reimburses foster parents for driving a child to parent or sibling visits, court hearings and family team meetings, medical and dental appointments, and the child’s school of origin.1Utah Office of Administrative Rules. Utah Admin Code R512-302 – Out-of-Home Services, Responsibilities Pertaining to an Out-of-Home Caregiver As of mid-2024 the rate was $0.44 per mile, and DCFS directs caregivers to check the DHHS website for the current figure.2Utah Division of Child and Family Services. DCFS Foster Care Mileage Reimbursement Form Trips to the store, friends’ houses, a non-origin school, and recreational activities aren’t reimbursable. If you transport more than one foster child in the same trip, you submit mileage for only one. Everything must be logged on the DCFS-provided form.
Childcare Subsidy
Foster parents who work at least 15 hours per week can apply for Employment Support Child Care through the Utah Department of Workforce Services. The program covers parents, foster parents, approved relatives, and legal guardians of children under 13, or under 18 for children with special needs.3Utah Department of Workforce Services. Employment Support Child Care The subsidy is based on household size and income, and you may still owe a co-payment if your provider charges above the state rate.
Respite Care
Utah pays a daily respite rate so primary foster parents can take a temporary break. Respite rates follow the same care levels as regular placements, so a Level II child triggers a Level II respite rate. Your caseworker authorizes the stay and tracks the funding.
Health Coverage and School Meals
A child in DCFS custody who is receiving a foster care maintenance payment qualifies for full Medicaid in Utah, whether through federal Title IV-E eligibility or a separate state Medicaid program. For children entering care before eligibility has been determined, the Custody Medical Program provides immediate coverage so there’s no gap.4Utah Medicaid. Foster Care Medicaid Foster parents generally aren’t paying out of pocket for medical, dental, or mental health care.
Foster children are also categorically eligible for free school meals under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Schools can directly certify a foster child for free breakfast and lunch without an application from you.5USDA Food and Nutrition Service. CN Reauthorization 2010 – Categorical Eligibility of Foster Children If the school hasn’t flagged it, tell the office the child is in foster care.
Taxes on Foster Care Payments
Foster care maintenance payments from Utah DCFS are excluded from gross income under Section 131 of the Internal Revenue Code. That covers both the standard daily rate and any difficulty of care payments for children whose physical, mental, or emotional needs require extra attention.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 131 – Certain Foster Care Payments You don’t owe federal income tax on the payments.
The exclusion has caps. Difficulty of care payments are excludable for up to 10 foster children under age 19 and up to 5 who are 19 or older. Regular foster care payments (not difficulty of care) are excludable for up to 5 individuals who have reached age 19.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 131 – Certain Foster Care Payments A typical family fostering a few children under 19 sits well inside those limits. Even so, DCFS may ask you to submit an IRS Form W-9 as part of its standard payment setup.
When the Money Arrives
Utah pays foster care maintenance in arrears. A payment you get in mid-February reflects the days a child was in your home during January. Register your banking information for electronic deposit so payments aren’t delayed.
If a child changes placement mid-month, the payment is pro-rated to the exact number of days the child spent with you. Report banking changes or issues to your regional DCFS finance office promptly, and ask your caseworker if you need copies of your payment history. Monthly authorization depends on the daily attendance records and behavioral logs you keep, which your caseworker reviews before releasing payment.