[lapabraham]

Greetings,

I'm looking for anyone that has appealed the subsidy that was presented to them before finalization in the state of PA.

We have a date set for finalization of a sibling group and the custodial county presented us a subsidy plan for ONLY 6 MONTHS reducing the amount by 70% (from the foster amount).

Needless to say we are not signing it and are in the process of writing our letter to appeal (we have 15 days).

We have also found documentation that it is very hard to dispute subsidy rates after finalization, so we are waiting to here back from our cw regarding the hearing date.

If you have experienced this in the state of PA, I'd appreciate any insight or help in this matter.

Thank-you,
Laura

[SAHmom]

We don't live in PA, but wanted to let you know about our situation. We renogiated our daughter's subsidy amount three years after her adoption was finalized based on some 'new' behaviors. We were set to go to have an appeal hearing when the state granted our request just prior to the hearing.

I will pm you the website that has information about adoption subsides.

[Indy]

I don't live in PA either. But I know states do this all of the time! One thing to remember, adoption rates are usually lower than published foster rates.

I have had to deal with three states about this. Two of them after the adoption and one of them before finalization. In one of the situations, the state acted llike they were going to fight it up to the day before the hearing. The day before the hearing, they call and agree to what I was asking for.

My only advice, do not let your emotions rule in this situation. The state will try to use that to their advantage.

[lapabraham]

Thank-you for your experiences and insight.

We are gathering all the information that we possibly can to present to the Welfare Department.

Our cw will reveiw our letter and we are also asking for a lawyer to reveiw, but we don't know if we have the time (15 days) for this.

I will keep you posted as we move forward. I pray that we have the same experience that you did.

-Laura

[lapabraham]

Question:

Did either of you feel the need to move the finalization hearing further out until the subsidy issue was resolved?

Thank-you.