[belleiniowa]

It's been awhile since I posted but I won't beat around the bush. We are trying to choose an agency and have been given different responses. We have several children and are self employed I stay at home. We own our home and have no debt at all. Nada, no morgage no cars nothing. We have some savings and I'm careful with a buck. Having said that, we have been told by one agency that our homestudy provider would have to say whether we could afford to adopt, he says "sure" no problem, another agency said we don't make enough to qualify. Has any one else had something like this? Any ideas? Any help appreciated.

[JPDakota]

Our social worker/home study agent was very specific about how much income per person in the household. I never knew if it were a state rule or what. Some countries have rules as well. I don't know if Ethiopia does or not.
We had to do a really extensive financial statement. But I would think that with no debt you should be ok. I mean, its very impressive, at least to me.
Best of luck!

[CalandraLark]

I know of at least one agency (which happens to be an agency that includes Ethiopian adoption) that has specific rules on income of it's own, it's not a usual thing for there to be agency requirements beyond anything that indevidual counties require though. I don't remember there being any specific requirement (as in a clear cut number) for Ethiopia just something about assurances that the child would be well provided for.

[karuhi]

A good homestudy social worker would recognize that you are excellent money managers! Wonderful to be debt free!
In order to qualify to adopt a child internationally, though, you need to make a certain minimum income. I'm not sure where to find it on the US government website, but perhaps someone else has the URL.
Best of wishes as you start your adoption journey!

[Peanut]

When we looked into agencies to adopt our first we ran into that "you don't make enough" thing too.

We gave up on agencies and went on to adopt three healthy newborns Independently. I say look into ALL your available options, someone will be able to help you.
Good Luck!

[kimmom]

I cant get it posted the way it looks before it posts. but you get the idea



2006 HHS Poverty Guidelines
Total Upper In In
in home 48 AK HI
1 9,800 12,250 11,270
2 13,200 16,500 15,180
3 16,600 20,750 19,090
4 20,000 25,000 23,000
5 23,400 29,250 26,910
6 26,800 33,500 30,820
7 30,200 37,750 34,730
8 33,600 42,000 38,640
For each additional person, add
3,400 4,250 3,910

I believe that the amount of income has to meet 125% of these guidelines but I could be wrong. Assests can be considered but Im not sure how. I got this info from the I-864 form because its the only solid financial info that I found. Anyone know if this is accurate for adoption also.

[ManyTimesBlessed]

If you do a search for "poverty guidelines" on Google or another search engine you should be able to find the chart. To adopt internationally you do have to be at 125% of the poverty level for your family size. I don't know if Ethiopia has higher guidelines. You might want to consider Liberia if you can't meet the requirements for Ethiopia (Liberia has very few requirements for adoptive families).

Also, I believe that there are a few options if you don't meet the 125%. I have heard that you can use the equity you have on your house towards the guidelines, but I'm not sure how that works. Additionally, you can get a sponsor for the child. This is just a family member or friend who signs some paperwork saying that they will provide support if you can't take care of the child. A lot of larger adoptive families I know have done this. They know that they can take care of the child, so the document is just a formality in order to keep INS happy.

Hope that helps. ~Rachel

[karuhi]

Rachel,
I love the pictures of your children and the verses!

Karin

[adoptethiopiablog]

yes, you need to make 125% of poverty guidelines or have assets equal to 5 times the amount of shortage in income. For example, if you missed meeting the 125% of poverty guidelines by $5,000, you'd need to have $25,000 in saving or home equity to make up for that $5,000 shortage...

[longingforchildren]

Here are the guidelines for Ethiopia that I have heard so far from a couple different agencies...

"Joint income must be at least $10,000 per member of the household, including your adopted child. A single parent's income must be at least $30,000 a year."

Hope this helps!

[dobela]

We have been looking into this extensively as well. The US requires that you make 125% above poverty (including the potentially adoptive child) before they will approve the paperwork you provide to them. So, if you are a family of 5 and are wanting to adopt one more, then the US wants your faimly to earn at the level for a family of 6. The chart looks like this:


Size of Family Unit
Poverty Guidelines
125 Percent

1
$9,800
$12,250

2
$13,200
$16,500

3
$16,600
$20,750

4
$20,000
$25,000

5
$23,400
$29,250

6
$26,800
$33,500

7
$30,200
$37,500

8
$33,600
$42,000


The number is # of family members, the first amount is the poverty line, and the second is 125%. So, if the child you are adopting makes you a family of 6, then your minimum household income has to be $33,500.

Some agencies just go by this list and use it for their guidelines if the country doesn't have specific requirements of their own. However, there are some agencies that have different, higher standards. I have seen several that say for a family of 6 the total income must be $60000 or more before you can adopt.

[adoptethiopiablog]

Originally Posted by longingforchildren

Here are the guidelines for Ethiopia that I have heard so far from a couple different agencies...

"Joint income must be at least $10,000 per member of the household, including your adopted child. A single parent's income must be at least $30,000 a year."

Those are definitely AGENCY guidelines, NOT Ethiopia requirements. PM me if you want a recommendation for at least one excellent agency that doesn't require such high income.