Wesley Figgs, a 46-year-old from Bristol, left his job as a senior personal banker to become a full-time solo foster carer and now earns more than double his previous salary. He decided to pursue fostering in 2018 after separating from his husband, Richard, motivated by a desire to be a "role model" to children.
Figgs realised his fostering income surpassed his £25,000-a-year salary, prompting him to quit his banking role later that same year. He now receives more than £4,000 a month from the foster fee paid by the council, which is tax-free, and an additional £1,700 a month in Universal Credit for his adopted son.
Financial Details and Council Payments
Different councils operate varying payment bands depending on the number of children fostered, experience, and skill. South Gloucestershire council, where Figgs lives, pays up to £611 per week per child, on top of a weekly allowance of up to £258 per child. The council also provides an annual £2,750 allowance package to support days out, birthdays, and milestones.
Figgs said: "I knew I wanted more kids. I wanted to be a role model. I was working in a bank, but because of the income you get from fostering, and the universal credit, I realised I could quit." He added: "I was getting over £1,000 a week just for fostering - and that's not even considering the extra benefits you get, like the birthday allowance."
Journey to Fostering and Adoption
Figgs had always wanted children and began the journey after marrying Richard in 2010. They explored surrogacy but found the legal ramifications and costs extremely high, so they considered adoption. Their adoption worker introduced them to a four-year-old boy named Seb, and Figgs described an "instant connection" upon meeting him.
In 2017, Figgs and Richard separated, but they continue to co-parent amicably. Figgs later decided he wanted more children and discovered fostering was an option for single men. He said: "There are lots of myths around fostering. Like you need to own your own home, be married, work, have no pets. But all you need is a spare bedroom."
Figgs set himself up as a foster carer and attended training courses and workshops to prepare. He fostered his first child, a little girl needing short-term care, in 2018. He reduced his working hours to 16 a week before realising that registering as a full-time self-employed foster carer offered better benefits.
Life as a Full-Time Foster Carer
Figgs explained that under Universal Credit rules, fostering income is classed as zero because it is considered support for the child, allowing him to receive maximum benefit levels. He later fostered a little boy needing long-term care and eventually adopted him.
Figgs now lives with two adopted sons, Seb and Romeo, 13, and one boy he is fostering. He said: "When I tell people I foster, I'm really proud of it. I just love being there for the kids, being a role model, it boosts me." He also addressed stigma, noting: "There's a stigma around gay men adopting or fostering. The stuff I read online is disgusting, like people say men who adopt are paedophiles. But personally I've never experienced any abuse. I've had the best journey."
Figgs earns over £50,000 a year from fostering income alone, on top of £20,400 in Universal Credit. He advises others considering fostering: "Do your research. Make sure you know exactly how it works with your council and speak to other carers. But most importantly, ignore the hate. Forget about stigma." He added: "What's more important is what you can provide for the children."
