Concurrent fostering/adoption and finance

[Newdad1981]

Hi all. I’m new to mumsnet so bear with me. My wife and I will soon have a child placed with us in Northern Ireland under the concurrent fostering scheme. The hope being that we adopt that child . We are finding it really difficult to find out about finance. Especially what happens when my wife’s year of maternity runs out.
If the child has not been adopted by us then can she go back to work ( I don’t think she can) or can we claim something other than the child’s weekly allowance for food etc. We really are not in it for the money but I’m so worried about paying the household bills. I suppose the question is after her maternity runs out does she become an unpaid foster career? Thanks

[topcat2014]

I would imagine (although we are not doing this route) that things follow the 'normal' parenting route, in that you pay for everything yourself.

The local authority gets a good deal, I suppose, in that they don't have to pay out like they would to a full time FC.

[Ted27]

I think it would probably be best just to check with your agency, but personally I can't see how she could be prevented from returning to work. I'm not in NI but I went back to work before I had our adoption order and know lots of people who did in England.
You probably should look at your eligiblity for statutory benefits such as tax credits and child benefit.
Having said that, I think prospective adopters shoud be aware that the needs of the child may prevent a return to work and you should plan accordingly - I'm still part time after 6 years.

[Cassie9]

I did foster to adopt in England so not sure how helpful this will be. I technically returned to work before adoption order was granted, although I used annual leave. The agency were fine with it. Lo was settled. His weekly fostering allowance continued a week or two after the order was granted.

[Thepinklady77]

I am going to pm you! I am from NI and have a vast knowledge of concurrency in NI. Too be honest you need to look at the local context and much of the advice re foster to adopt/concurrency that you will receive on here will be from an England perspective which will be vastly different from here. I will pm you shortly.