financial issues query

[Char22thom]

Hi, my DH and I are seriously considering adoption, he had a vasectomy many years ago in previous relationship and for a number of reasons we have decided not to go down the reversal route. Our LA have not been taking new applications for adopters for the past 6 months, and are going to open applications from May, with the next info meeting being held June. Given the length of time the whole process can take, we would like to attend this initial meeting and get the ball rolling so to speak. Our only hold back is our financial situation. We have around £2000 debt which we are working at decreasing and obv then save some money in order for me to give up work post adoption for a year. We have calculated that we could do this in around 10-12months, but should we do this prior to beginning the process or can we start and do this whilst going through the application stage? What would ppl advise and what would SS be expecting?? x

[researchbookworm]

I can't imagine it being a problem- especially if you can show how you plan to afford time off work in the future. I'd def get the ball rolling as soon as you can. SS don't need you to be debt free- they just need to know that you can afford to bring a child into your life. If you can show how you would do this then you should be fine 🙂

[MrsH1989]

SS said to us that it is okay to have debt as long as they can see you can financially support a child whilst still reducing the debt.

[Rainatnight]

I'd start your application and keep working on the financials while you're doing it. There are some very long waits for children at the moment so you may well have lots of time and most social workers, as others have said, just need to know you can afford a child, and won't have an issue with a 'normal' level of debt.

One couple I know from prep group was given a hard time for a similar amount of debt by their social worker but he wasn't very bright generally.

[Char22thom]

Thanks for your replies, I think that is what we felt and it seem logical but I an aware that SS can defy logic on occasion so I guess we are just concerned that we don't want it to be a stumbling block if waiting another year would resolve the issue then we would wait. I think we will put in our initial interest and attend the meeting and see what is said /we can ask regarding our situation and go from there. I am feeling much more positive and like we are ready to start now, so thank you for that 😊

[Char22thom]

Can anyone tell me at what point do social services request information regarding finances? x

[GodMother78]

Ours requested it after our registration of interest but it says that this would not be used when going for approval.

[Rainatnight]

It might differ from place to place. We're in stage 2 and have only been asked in very broad terms about our income/mortgage etc and haven't had to provide any documentation yet.

[Mrscollydog]

We were asked at the end of stage one, documentation (bank statement, wage slips etc) wasn't checked out till the very end of stage 2 pre panel. We have a loan for a car, so officially a biggush debt but they were happy as we could show regular payments and we could afford to.pay it off. Good luck.