[DianeScraps]

One of our foster daughters is eligible (and the county is recieiving) social security payments due to her fathers death

Bio-mom keeps hounding me to find out if the child will be able to recieve the payments after adoption.

Social worker isn't much help . . .

Anyone know?

Diane

[SnoFLKDrms]

I live in Michigan but I believe the answer to your question is Yes. I dont know why the Bio Mom would want to know this because she in fact would not receive any of those funds.

At adoption you either will receive Social Security Payments for the child or An Adoption Subsidy if you have applied for this and it has been approved.
However you will not receive both.

Usually the adoption subsidy for a child is a little more than the social security payments so most A parents who are looking out for the best interest of the Adoptive Child will choose the Adoption Subsidy.

One phone call to your Adoption Worker or Social Security can clear it up. I think I would ask my Worker how does it work and if the child will receive one or the other.

But in general the children are entitled to the social security payments until the turn 18.

Good Luck.

[leaabc123]

Whatever happens make sure you get a new SS# for the child after adoption is completed.

[DianeScraps]

Unfortunately our adoption worker is new ( I think we will be about her 2nd case finalized)

Birthmom wants to know because she knows that if we were to recieve it (in addition to subsidy) we would put it away for her.

I think she also wants the child to have 'something' more tangible to her birth father, as we don't even have a photo of him, and his extended family refuses to provide any information.

I have already requested new social security numbers (which the county is balking at) since bio mom has 'claimed' the children on her taxes the whole time they have been in foster care (3 years).

Thanks

Diane

[hotspice58]

Not sure but I wouldn't think so. In adopting, you're saying the child is yours. You should be eligible for the adoption subsidy but not SS.

[b4truth]

also, hello IRS...
i mean, how can this mom claim these children and the state not do anything?? the state is footing the bill for these children why should she benefit with the IRS deductions??
i would be very careful... something does not seem right to me. she may be interested in keeping SS for herself somehow since she has already successfully swindled the govt (IRS).

i do not think SS money makes a child feel "closer" or any connection to their father. sounds ridiculous for the biomom to say that: IMO.

good luck!!

[DianeScraps]

Well, from what I have found, in my area MANY birthparents w/ children in Foster care were told they COULD claim the children since they paid 'support' (in our case it was less then $30 per month!!!)

And the social workers told the foster parents that they could not claim the children becuase of the reimbursement. (which from everything I can find is not correct)

We did claim the girls on our income taxes w/o a problem though

[Michellemomof5]

Our adopted daughter also receives SS due to a death. How it worked out for us was that she is a special needs adoption. Initially they told us that they would deduct the social security amount from the subsidy that we would get. To me that was not right, as how would I explain to her that I used her social security money each month for her care?

She is a subsidized adoption due to her needs and the social security in my opinion is hers for in the future. They felt that it was a form of child support.

Anyway, we fought it and won. Her subsidy is one part and she receives social security that goes in the bank. With her needs she is going to need that as an adult.

In regards to the social security number. They did not change her number. They really discouraged it due to complicating the whole social security issue.

[Imdamommy]

I also read on the Social Security web site, that the ss # could not be changed if SS payments had already been received under that #.

Not what I wanted to hear. We really wanted to get new ss#'s for our kids.

[DianeScraps]

uggg! ! ! ! That really bothers me!

The visit to the Social Security office is on my 'schedule' for this week, so I will let you know what happens