Foster care compensation (fosterhjemsgodtgjørelse) is the financial framework for foster parents in Norway. It typically combines (1) a payment for the work/availability of foster parents and (2) reimbursement for the child’s day-to-day expenses. In practice, municipalities can vary in how they set levels and document decisions — which makes transparency essential.
Important: This article is educational and not legal advice.
What compensation usually includes
- Basic fee / remuneration: Compensation for the foster parents’ work and responsibility.
- Expense coverage: Reimbursement for the child’s costs (clothing, activities, equipment, etc.).
- Frikjøp (release from ordinary employment): In some placements, one foster parent may be expected to be home full-time or part-time; this should be clearly regulated and documented.
Why written decisions matter
Compensation decisions affect stability. If a placement is underfunded or unclear, the foster family may struggle to meet the child’s needs — or the child may experience unnecessary moves. Do Better Norge’s position is simple: everything that affects the child’s daily life must be documented, reasoned, and reviewable.
Key documents to request (or insist on)
- Foster home agreement (fosterhjemsavtale) and attachments (economic decisions, follow-up plan, contact plan, etc.).
- Written decision describing the remuneration and expense model, including any frikjøp periods and criteria.
- Clarification of what is covered as expenses vs. what is expected to be paid by foster parents.
- Procedures for adjusting compensation when the child’s needs change.
2026 note: pension compensation when foster parents are “frikjøpt”
Bufdir states that foster parents who are released from work (frikjøpt) should be compensated for lost occupational pension accrual, planned to apply from 1 January 2026, with expectations that municipalities prepare implementation in advance. This matters for long placements and for fairness in recruitment.
Do Better Norge perspective
- Predictability: Children need stable placements; stable placements require predictable economic terms.
- Transparency: Municipal variation should not create “postcode justice” where children receive different support based on municipality.
- Separation of incentives: The economic model should never push decisions toward removal or long-term placement without proper reunification efforts.
Official resources
- Bufdir: Payment and rights when you are a foster parent
- Bufdir: Foster home agreement (fosterhjemsavtale) and attachments
- Bufdir: Recommendations on economic frameworks for foster homes
Tip: If you disagree with a compensation decision, ask for the legal basis and the written reasoning. Keep everything in writing.
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