[MomwithFive]

My family doesn't know how they determine subsidies so I thought I'd ask here. We receive PACT monies related to emotional/behavioral issues (ptsd, attachment therapy) on top of the regular foster parent rate.
Once adopted, does the child still qualify for this?

[Mkuhlmann06]

In our situation, we had to submit a letter to the adoption board and ask for adoption subsidies. We asked for 1) one time expenses to finalize the adoption, 2) the medicaid card, and 3) a daily/monthly stipend. The daily/monthly stipend basically replaces the foster rate and is usually less (and in some cases, much less or none) of the foster rate.

Depending on the child's needs, you and the state/county, etc, will negotiate an adoption stipend rate. It will be an agreement you sign before finalizing the adoption.

Also, don't forget, if your child is special needs (and most in Foster Care are), you qualify for the adoption tax credit ($10k+) after you finalize.

Im sure others have some more helpful information...as Im still new to all this.

[MomwithFive]

adoption tax credit ($10k+) after you finalize. >>

I don't think this would apply to us as, if we owe taxes, it's a small amount and may not be anything this year.

[teachbear]

The tax credit can be taken over five years. As well as if you have the child in your home for more then 6 months and no one else can claim them on the taxes then you get to claim the child as a dependent. Foster care payments in most states don't count toward support.

[naca]

I don't think this would apply to us as, if we owe taxes, it's a small amount and may not be anything this year.

I just wanted to jump in here really quick. You still qualify for the tax credit even if you dont owe anything on your taxes! I do not have the proper terminology to explain it well but I will try :
Say you pay in $5000 in taxes from your paychecks over the course of the year. When your taxes are figured you are receiving a refund of $3000.. Then the adoption credit kicks in and gives you back the other $2000 that you paid in over the year.. So your refund would be $5000.. I hope that made sense!
We never have to pay taxes & always get a refund of $2-3,000 every year.. We adopted our FD last summer and got to use a portion of our adoption tax credit and got back closer to $9,000 this year. Plus you carry over whatever you dont use for up to 5yrs..

[mrsred]

The original post was regarding adoption subsidy. In most states, if you are adopting a special needs (or oldr) child from the foster system you are entitled to adoption subsidy. The greater the child's needs the higher the subsidy. Since our adopted son did nothave any dx (although he definately had problems) he is recieving the basic rate. Our adopted daughter had a dx of ODD, ADHD and RAD. Her subsidy is more than twice as much as his is. SO. get documentation of any and all special needs your daughter has. Aslo, you should be able to have it written into the agreement that she receive both medical coupons and any mental health care (therapy, pysch meds, evals, etc) she may need up till she is 18. I have a friend that's daughter was dx as bi-polar after the doption was finalized. When she went back for the follow-up (in our stae adoption subsidy is reviewed every five years - it can be increased or decreased at that time) the judge upped her subsidy substantially. But, it is always easier to get that in place prior to adoption, so document, document, document.

[MomwithFive]

Thanks. I should get this from the therapist?

[mrsred]

momwithfive, yes, from your therapist, from our pediatrician, if child is school aged, school records.... etc, etc. anything that shows that yor child has special needs. If you have to attend weekly therapy, you should document how far ou have to drive, how much time it takes to get there. My friend could not work a full time job, she needed something very flexible so that she could take off at a moments notice when dd had a melt down. These are the types of things you need to show them.

[wife2grumpy]

I took my J in to see a neurologist today, they said he was an overly hyper active child and has autism tendency's. He also said they want to check him for bipolar and schizophrenia seeing some of my concerns lead in that direction. His bio mother is bi-polar, his grandmother id manic depressave, and uncle is adhd, odd, bi-polar and violent, I notified my case worker, and plan to tell the adoption worker about the subsidy. I am relative placement my sister never told any one her daughter was told she was most likely schizophrenic when she was 15 or so and needed intense counseling. so now I am trying to make sure that J has a perfectly normal life, with the resources to keep him happy.

[fiveofsams]

Originally Posted by MomwithFive

My family doesn't know how they determine subsidies so I thought I'd ask here. We receive PACT monies related to emotional/behavioral issues (ptsd, attachment therapy) on top of the regular foster parent rate.
Once adopted, does the child still qualify for this?

When we adopted 2 of our foster children, we got the foster rate until they are 21 and their medical card. Hope this helps