[Happy_Cat]

I have an akward question to ask. I am a new foster parent and I've had my little one for about two months and still I have not received any money from the county. I'm absolutely NOT 'in it for the money', but at the same time I feel like if they say they will reimburse us for clothes and pay a per diem then I expect that they will pay in a reasonable manner, but I have not received anything yet. We turned in our invoices weeks ago and we I've inquired about when they cut checks I'm told that it's a busy time of the year. Is it normal to have a 3 to 4 week lag in getting your check after turning in an invoice?

[sdmama]

You need to call your SW and have them follow up. It took us probably three months before we received the small clothing allowance check for our daughter. We never received on for our son. Reimbursements and one time payments probably take longer to shake out.

I'm sure the monthly stipend is being sent to the previous FF. It should not take two months to get things rolling. It should be retroactive to the date of placement.

[Tunay4754]

Here stipends are sent out on the 20th or so of the following month so payment for January would be mailed out around Feb 20th.

Heather

[Tunay4754]

Here stipends are sent out on the 20th or so of the following month so payment for January would be mailed out around Feb 20th.

Heather

[Becki_in_IN]

When we were still foster parents, we didn't receive checks until the middle of the month. So if we got a new placement on August 1st, we wouldn't get the per diem check until Septemeber 15th. We weren't paid for clothing, but used a voucher.

[teacher2mommy]

Here we get a check on or before the 8th of the following month we receive the child. The reimbursments come as we send them in, as well as reimbursments for child care. We have never had to wait for any of it except the reimbursement when you have a worker that isn't on the ball. I would check with her/him.

[athikers]

There can be a considerable delay. Like Becky, in my county I could get a child on August 1 and not get any money for that child until as late as September 16 - 17. It can be hard to get by that first month, especially since no matter how prepared you are, unless you have been REALLY specific about the type of child you want, you will have lots of purchases in the first month of so to get appropriate clothes, car seat, toys, personal care supplies, etc.

[Happy_Cat]

Thank you for all the replies. I hated to even ask, but I'm started to get a little anxious. It doesn't seem like the county has a set day it cuts checks. I would be much happier if it did to tell the truth. Either way, I'm going to be contacting my case worker's supervisor because the social worker basically blew me off to when I asked. I don't mind what the answer is as long as I can get an answer.

[ccpeterson]

Here in Florida we get our check in the mail on the 1st of every month. Our FS was placed with us on May 5th. We got our first check for him on June 1st, and it was payment for May 5th-31st. I hope you get it soon...I know how hard it is waiting, especially if you've had to go out and buy a bunch of new things.

[Happy_Cat]

Yeah, the waiting is hard. This was our first placement so there was a lot we didn't have. Plus he came with no clothes except what he was wearing so we spent quite a little bit on clothing. School starts here in two weeks and getting back what we spent would go a long way towards helping getting ready for school.

[PAmomof1]

It sure can be very hard when you get a new placement. I've been there a few times. It's really hard when they are little and you have to buy carseats and strollers etc.

I live in PA (allegheny County) and whenever I get a new placement, the check comes like clockwork the following month.

The checks are usually in my hands by the 15th of each month. A couple of times they came early (like the 12th)

If the child needs clothes, my cw will authorize an allotment. I usually request from $150-$300. That money is included in the next months stipend also.

I hope everything works out!