South Carolina foster care payments run between $700 and $863 per month, depending on the child’s age. The money is a reimbursement for the cost of caring for a child placed in your home by the Department of Social Services, not a wage, and under federal law it is not taxable income. Every child in care also receives Medicaid, and additional funding is available for clothing, older youth, and children with higher needs.
Monthly Board Rates by Age
As of July 1, 2025, SCDSS pays regular foster homes on a per-day basis that works out to these monthly amounts:1South Carolina Department of Social Services. Board Rate
- Ages 0–5: $23.33 per day, or about $700 per month
- Ages 6–12: $27.27 per day, or about $818 per month
- Ages 13–20: $28.77 per day, or about $863 per month
The rate is intended to cover food, clothing upkeep, personal hygiene items, and the child’s share of household utilities. Most foster parents report that day-to-day costs exceed the reimbursement, particularly for teenagers, but the board rate is the guaranteed minimum for every regular placement.
Payments are issued monthly in arrears — you receive reimbursement for the prior month, calculated on the number of days the child was actually in your home.
Kinship Caregivers Receive the Same Rate
Licensed kinship foster parents, meaning relatives or close family friends who become licensed to care for a child placed by DSS, receive the same board rate as non-relative foster parents. South Carolina law states that a licensed kinship caregiver “may receive payment for the full foster care rate” along with any other benefits available to foster parents.2South Carolina Legislature. South Carolina Code 63-7-2320 – Kinship Foster Care Relatives who take in a child without going through the licensing process do not receive the board rate.
Higher Rates for Specialized and Therapeutic Placements
Children with significant medical conditions, behavioral challenges, or trauma histories often need a level of care beyond what the standard rate covers. South Carolina uses tiered placement categories with higher daily rates, and the most intensive therapeutic placements can reach into the thousands per month.
Eligibility for a higher rate is tied to a formal assessment of the child’s diagnosis and functional needs, and the state periodically reviews the placement to confirm the child still requires that level of care. Foster parents must complete additional training beyond the standard licensing requirements to take these placements, and the specifics vary by tier.
Clothing Allowance and Other Extras
SCDSS provides an initial clothing allowance for any child who remains in foster care at least four days after placement. It’s a one-time payment to help outfit a child who often arrives with very little. The current amount depends on the child’s age and DSS policy, so ask your caseworker for the figure that applies to the child placed with you.
Birthday and holiday stipends aren’t on the statewide list of standard benefits. Some counties or local foster parent associations offer seasonal support, and your caseworker will know what’s available in your area.
Medicaid for the Child
Every child in South Carolina’s foster care system is eligible for Medicaid covering medical, dental, vision, and behavioral health services. Eligibility is tied to the child’s placement in DSS custody, so there is no separate application.3South Carolina Department of Social Services. Medicaid Eligibility for Foster Care and Adoption Medical costs for the child should not come out of your board rate.
Young people who are still in foster care when they turn 18 remain eligible for Medicaid through age 26, regardless of income after leaving care.4Medicaid.gov. Coverage of Former Foster Care Children
Taxes, SNAP, and the EITC
Foster care board payments from the state are not taxable income. Federal law excludes qualified foster care payments from your gross income entirely, including both the standard board rate and difficulty-of-care payments for children with disabilities or special needs, as long as the child was placed by a state agency, tribal government, or licensed placement agency.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 131 – Certain Foster Care Payments
The exclusion has caps that most families never hit. For foster individuals age 19 or older, you can exclude payments for up to five people. Difficulty-of-care payments are capped at ten individuals under 19 and five age 19 or older. One narrow exception: payments you receive specifically for maintaining an empty bed for emergency placements are taxable and must be included in your gross income.6Internal Revenue Service. Publication 17 – Your Federal Income Tax
SNAP
Under federal SNAP rules, a foster child in your home is treated as a boarder, and you choose whether to include them in your SNAP household. If you exclude the child, the foster care payments don’t count as income for your case, and any income belonging to the child (such as disability benefits) is also excluded. If you include the child, the foster care payments do count.7eCFR. 7 CFR 273.1 – Household Concept For most SNAP households, excluding the foster child is the better financial choice.
Earned Income Tax Credit
A foster child placed in your home by a state or local government agency, tribal government, tax-exempt licensed placement agency, or court order can qualify as your dependent for the EITC. The child must live with you for more than half the tax year, and temporary absences for school, medical treatment, or juvenile detention still count as time lived with you.8Internal Revenue Service. Qualifying Child Rules Because the board payments themselves are tax-free, they don’t raise your adjusted gross income, so claiming the credit with a foster child in the home can be a meaningful benefit.
Chafee Funding for Older Youth
Older foster youth are eligible for additional financial support through the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood. Eligibility covers youth currently in foster care between ages 14 and 21, youth who left care at 14 or older for reunification, and those who aged out at 18.9South Carolina Department of Social Services. Chafee Funded Services
Chafee funds pay for expenses the board rate was never designed to cover:
- Education costs like school activity fees, tutoring, GED expenses, SAT and ACT prep, college application fees, and senior year costs such as prom and graduation
- Employment support including job skills training, professional certifications, interview clothing, and work uniforms
- Transportation such as bus passes, driver’s education, vehicle repairs and insurance, and travel to work or school
- Housing transition costs like utility deposits, rental deposits, furniture, and emergency housing assistance
The federal Education and Training Voucher program layered on top provides up to $5,000 per year for eligible current and former foster youth pursuing post-secondary education. Your caseworker submits Chafee funding requests on the youth’s behalf.
Setting Up Payments
SCDSS pays by electronic deposit. Before your first payment, you’ll complete the Authorization Agreement and Enrollment Form for Electronic Vendor Payment with your banking details. New authorizations go through a 10-day verification before the first payment can be issued, and any later change to your bank account requires a new form. Skipping that step delays payment.10South Carolina Department of Social Services. Authorization Agreement and Enrollment Form for Electronic Vendor Payment
Your caseworker also has to enter the placement into the state’s tracking system with the correct entry date. That placement record is what triggers the payment calculation. If a child has been in your home and payment hasn’t arrived within a reasonable window, the first thing to check is whether the placement was logged correctly.
Respite Care
SCDSS recognizes that caregivers need breaks. Respite care lets another licensed foster parent care for your foster child temporarily while you recharge, and you request it through your caseworker. The arrangement depends on finding an available licensed home that fits the child.11South Carolina Department of Social Services. FAQ – Foster Care Asking early is better than waiting until you’re depleted; caseworkers expect these requests.