[lyly]

My couple and I started the foster care process on april of 07 since them we already had or background checked or references and all that good stuff they have to do but it's now about 5 months and the social worker keeps giving us excuses. Like i mean she needed to do a waiver for myself and my couple nothing big just something small from a long time ago anyways now shes asking for paper work on my couples visitation rights with hes daughter that we have faxed to her but it still seems like every time she calls she comes up with different things. also does anybody now if having a foster child effect any of your income stadius i mean like if your getting food stamps will they take them away cause you are getting a stipend for a child and also are you alowed to claim that child on your taxes? i would appreciate any feed back thanks, also am from massachusetts

[jjjjmom]

I'm in California and having foster children should not affect anything because the money you receive for the foster children should be used on them mostly. I do claim the children on my income tax because I declare the monies I recieve for them because most of it goes to child care as I work full time. I don't know about receiving any public assistance like food stamps.

Sorry I couldn't help anymore.

[midwestaimee]

I don't think it will affect food stamps. The stipend is not "income" for tax purposes, so it shouldn't affect your subsidies.

My agency really stressed that if you depend on subsidies, you really should consider not fostering. Kids are expensive & the stipend doesn't come close to covering what they cost. But lots of people figure it out. I wish you good luck.

[ALfostermom]

i know my county won't licencse a family if they rely on food stamps and other financial help from the goverment. We have to supply a full financial report along with many other requirements to be licensed. They say you have to be financially able to provide for the children without a board check....

[Howdy]

I think you can only claim a foster child on your taxes if a particular child lives with you for more than half a year.

[brookejohanna]

i just wanted to comment on the foodstamps part... im in oklahoma and in our foster care requierments and policies it states that even families on TANF can apply and be considerd for foster care, food stamps are also ok