The FY2026 rates Verified Oct 18, 2026
Georgia pays foster parents a daily per diem (your case manager may call it a "board rate"). It's a reimbursement for the child's day-to-day costs, set by the child's age. DFCS publishes the regular per diem for its family foster homes in the COSTAR manual, Section 3001. The newest rates it lists:
"Effective July 1, 2025: Child age birth through 5 $29.20 Child age 6 through 12 $31.51 Child age 13 and older $34.27"
| Child's age | Per day | ≈ Per 30 days* |
|---|---|---|
| Birth through 5 | $29.20 | $876.00 |
| 6 through 12 | $31.51 | $945.30 |
| 13 and older | $34.27 | $1,028.10 |
*Our math: the daily rate × 30. Months with 31 days pay a little more. Rates are for DFCS family foster homes; private-agency (CPA/RBWO) homes are paid through their agency at different levels.
We use this box for something we couldn't confirm with an official source, or that is changing. See it on our list of everything we're still confirming
Not yet confirmed for this fiscal year
Georgia's fiscal year 2027 began July 1, 2026. As of October 18, 2026, COSTAR has no rate block dated July 1, 2026 or later, and we haven't found a DFCS document that says whether the July 2025 rates continue. Ask your case manager to confirm your current rate before you budget. We'll update this page when DFCS publishes FY2027 rates.
What the per diem must cover
Policy expects the per diem to stretch across everything ordinary in a child's life. In practice, veteran foster parents will tell you it usually doesn't cover all of it — you will spend some of your own money. Better to know now.
Per diem is for…
- Food and household costs
- Clothing upkeep & replacement
- Personal allowance for the child
- School supplies & activities
- Everyday transportation
Paid separately
- Initial clothing allowance at placement
- Medical & dental (Medicaid / GF 360°)
- Childcare via CAPS (priority group — served ahead of the waitlist)
- Respite care — up to 10 days/fiscal year
- Some travel, by prior approval
When the money actually arrives
Per diem is paid in arrears on a 30-day reimbursement cycle: you complete a monthly invoice, and payment for that month arrives the following month — direct deposit typically lands around the 15th. For a new placement, that means roughly four to six weeks before the first payment. Budget for the gap — and get the initial clothing allowance moving on day one, because that's a separate request.
Is it taxable?
Generally no. Foster care payments are excluded from federal income tax under IRC §131, and Georgia follows. Whether you can claim your foster child as a dependent is a separate question with more moving parts — see Foster care and taxes in Georgia, and confirm your situation with a tax professional.
If the care is more demanding
The county director can add a special per diem of $0.50–$1.75 per day for children whose care requires substantially more. For children with significant medical, behavioral, or developmental needs, a specialized rate is requested through the placement office — ask your case manager to initiate it; you can't file it yourself. If you're with a private agency, the RBWO program designation (Traditional, Base, or Maximum Watchful Oversight, plus specialty designations) drives the rate instead.
The honest bottom line
The per diem offsets real costs; it is not income, and no one fosters for the money. If the math is the thing holding you back, call your case manager about the separately-paid supports above — most families leave money on the table simply because nobody told them.
Sources & verification
- DFCS COSTAR Section 3001, Family Foster Care Programs — regular per diem rates effective July 1, 2025 (code 01, PDF p. 22)ffs.dhs.ga.gov Oct 18, 2026
- DHS financial manual §2301.1 — special per diem ($0.50–$1.75), payment mechanicsffs.dhs.ga.gov Jul 2, 2026
- fostergeorgia.com — per diem overview, 30-day invoice cyclefostergeorgia.com Jul 2, 2026
- DFCS policy manual (PAMMS) §16.5 — specialized per diempamms.dhs.ga.gov Jul 2, 2026
This page summarizes policy in plain language and is not financial or legal advice. Rates change every July 1; if today is past our verified date, ask your case manager to confirm before budgeting.