Maryland Foster Care Stipend Rates: What Foster Parents Actually Get Paid

People considering foster care in Maryland often wonder whether the monthly payment covers the real costs of caring for a child. The short answer is that it is designed to, but it is not a salary — and understanding that distinction matters before you apply.

What the Stipend Is and Is Not

Maryland's foster care maintenance payment is structured as a reimbursement for the child's specific needs, not as compensation for the resource parent's time or labor. Under COMAR 07.02.25.04, applicants must demonstrate "sufficient income" to support their own household without relying on the state stipend. In other words, you need to be able to pay your rent, utilities, and food bill before the foster care payment arrives. If the stipend is the only thing keeping your household solvent, the LDSS will see that as a financial stability concern during the home study.

That said, the monthly board rates are meaningful, especially at the therapeutic care level.

Maryland's 2024–2025 Board Rates

Payments vary by the child's age and the level of care required.

A differential rate applies specifically to Prince George's County and Charles County — $927 for children under 12 and $942 for those 12 and older. This differential exists because these counties compete with the District of Columbia's higher reimbursement rates, and without it, recruitment would skew toward the higher-paying D.C. system.

Intermediate care rates apply when a child has elevated behavioral or medical needs that require more intensive support, but does not rise to the level requiring a full therapeutic placement. Your caseworker assesses this level at placement.

The 2025 Kinship Rate Increase

Maryland's Moore-Miller administration has pushed through a significant kinship care reform. Relatives who obtain formal "Restricted Caregiver" licensure now receive rates equivalent to the regular foster care board rate, a shift from the historically lower kinship stipends. Reports from 2024–2025 indicate a statewide 33% average increase in youth living with kin, driven in part by this financial alignment.

If you are a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or other relative who has had a child placed in your home through an emergency CPS order, obtaining formal licensing gives you access to these rates rather than remaining on the informal, lower "kinship support" tier. The Restricted Caregiver track has an expedited licensing pathway designed for exactly this situation.

Additional Financial Supports

Beyond the monthly board rate, Maryland provides several supplemental benefits:

Clothing allowance: A one-time allowance of $60–$100 when a child first enters care, depending on age. Ongoing clothing needs are intended to come from the monthly board rate itself, which includes a standardized clothing portion — approximately $83.34 per month for teenagers aged 15 to 20.

Medicaid: All children in Maryland foster care are automatically enrolled in Maryland Medicaid (HealthChoice) at no cost to the resource family. Medical, dental, and therapeutic appointments do not generate out-of-pocket costs for the foster parent.

Child care subsidy: Working resource parents can access a state child care subsidy to cover licensed daycare costs for children not yet in school.

Respite reimbursement: State-funded respite care is available at approximately $30 per night to provide temporary relief for foster families.

SUN Bucks (Summer EBT): Maryland's Summer EBT program provides $120 per child for food assistance during summer months when school meals are unavailable.

Payment timing: Payments are issued around the 23rd of each month and are processed through the CJAMS (Child, Juvenile, and Adult Management System).

Income Requirements During the Home Study

The "sufficient income" standard does not specify a dollar amount. Maryland assesses this through a financial statement you complete during the home study, along with pay stubs, W-2 forms, or tax returns from the prior two years. The test is whether your existing income covers your family's needs without the foster stipend. Household expenses, debts, and the number of people you already support all factor into this evaluation.

There is no requirement to be a high earner. Families with modest but stable incomes pass this test regularly. The concern is financial fragility — not income level.

For a full breakdown of what to prepare for the financial review section of your home study, the Maryland Foster Care Licensing Guide walks through exactly what assessors are looking for and how to present your finances clearly.

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