Nova Scotia Foster Care Per Diem Rates and Financial Support Breakdown

One of the most common questions prospective foster parents ask — and one of the least clearly answered on any official website — is what the financial support actually looks like. DCS provides per diem payments, placement allowances, and a set of supplementary supports, but the specific numbers are rarely published in one place and are not indexed to cost of living in any transparent way.

The payments are designed to cover the cost of caring for a child, not to provide household income. Nova Scotia's 22.7% child poverty rate and the particular vulnerabilities of the 766 children in the Minister's care as of March 31, 2025, make this distinction worth understanding clearly before you apply.

Core Per Diem Rates

The per diem is intended for the child's direct costs, including food, household supplies, and the child's portion of utilities. Nova Scotia uses two age-based rates:

• Age 0-9: $19.00 per day ($570/month equivalent; $6,935/year)
• Age 10 to 18+: $27.50 per day ($825/month equivalent; $10,038/year)

These rates apply to standard foster placements. Confirm the payment schedule with your district.

The per diem is intended for the child's direct costs rather than household income. For tax treatment, seek current advice for your specific situation.

Placement Allowance

When a child is first placed in your home, DCS issues a one-time placement allowance of $200 immediately. This is intended to cover immediate start-up costs: school supplies, additional clothing, hygiene products, and other items the child arrives without. It is paid per placement, not per year.

Special Occasion Allowances

Foster parents in Nova Scotia receive supplementary allowances for specific occasions:

• Christmas allowance: $400 per child annually, issued in November
• Graduation allowance: A one-time payment of up to $750 for a child graduating from high school

Mileage and Transportation

Foster care involves a substantial amount of driving: medical appointments, school enrollment, family contact visits, DCS meetings, and court dates. Nova Scotia reimburses transportation costs as follows:

• Routine transportation: $50 per child per month
• Case-related travel: Approximately $0.5932 per kilometre

Ask your district which case-related trips qualify and how to submit a mileage log.

Babysitting Reimbursement

When foster parents need childcare for a child in placement, the reference rate is $10.60 per hour for the first child and $4.00 per hour for each additional child. Ask your district which babysitting arrangements and claims qualify.

Keep receipts and track hours. Babysitting claims are submitted with your regular financial reporting to your district worker.

Respite Care Rate

Respite care provides foster parents with planned breaks, typically when a child temporarily stays with another approved foster family for a weekend or short period. If you are providing respite care for another foster family's child, the rate is generally capped at $56.00 per 24-hour period.

If you are a regular foster parent receiving respite services, ask DCS how your per diem is handled during the respite period.

Enhanced Rates

Children with significant medical, developmental, behavioural, or therapeutic needs may qualify for an enhanced placement rate. Enhanced rates apply to specialized care; confirm the applicable rate and criteria with DCS.

What the Per Diem Does Not Cover

The per diem is intended for the child's direct costs, not to serve as household income or compensate labour.

What often catches new foster parents off guard:

• The first week or two after placement can involve upfront costs (clothing, bedding, school enrollment fees) that the $200 placement allowance does not fully cover. Having a personal buffer of $300-500 ready avoids stress during the transition.
• School-related costs — field trips, school photos, sports fees — are typically not separately reimbursed and come from the per diem. Communicate with your district worker about any exceptional costs.
• Therapeutic services for children with identified needs may be funded separately. Confirm the arrangement with DCS for each child before assuming coverage.

Comparing to Other Provinces

Nova Scotia's per diem rates are mid-range among Canadian provinces. Ontario's rates are higher in absolute terms but similar when adjusted for cost of living. New Brunswick's standard rate is lower. Alberta provides a broader supplementary allowance structure. The point is not that Nova Scotia's rates are inadequate — it is that they are designed to cover costs, not reward caregiving, and that clarity about the numbers before you apply prevents resentment later.

The Nova Scotia Foster Care Guide includes a complete financial worksheet covering monthly per diem projections by age group, first-year cost estimates, and a guide to submitting mileage and babysitting claims without common errors that delay payment.

See more Nova Scotia guides →