Maintenance payments before adoption order

[TulipsfromAmsterdam]

Wondered if anyone knows whether or not an allowance is usually paid after placement and up until the adoption order is granted? Have heard conflicting information and don't want to ask adoption team if this is not usual. TIA

You don't get any allowance automatically, however if you have agreed an adoption allowance I presume that gets paid from placement. You are entitled to all the regular benefits that parents can apply for (such as child benefit and tax credits) from the Monday after placement. When you're on adoption leave tax credits disregard the first £100 or so a week of your income, I found I was entitled to a lot more than I thought I'd be!

I have an adoption allowance, which I have recieved from placement because my DD2 was placed as an older child with identified special needs and behavioural issues

I've known adopters to be paid 'settling in grants' as well, normally when they are adopting sibling groups and children with medical needs. The grant is either just given to you for anything, OR covers the buying of essentials which are needed (eg. bed) and you get the money when you produce the reciepts. Depends on the policy of the LA

I've not heard of any other payments, but all LA's do things differently. Some might give other money.

However, in the current economic climate, many LA's are trying to cut down on the money they give to adoptive parents - it's harder to get adoption allowance and settling in money than it usedt to be in many places

Watching with interest here - I got the paperwork through today to apply for an adoption allowance, and in the papers it states I am applying for an allowance to be paid after an adoption order is made - I thought they were from placement to the order, it doesn't make sense to me to only be awarded the allowance after AO?

Tulips in my LA the allowance is not offered to adopters being placed with single younger children or those without additional needs, but the settling in grant is currently being offered to all adopters and is £500.

Banana - Adoption Allowance is supposed to be a longer term thing, because you would benefit from financial help to meet your childs needs. You always recieve it after finalisation - but some LA's will only let the allowance start after the AO goes through, others like mine are happy to pay from placement. My allowance is about the highest the placing LA gave for single children at the time, which is a bit under £500 a month, agreed until she turns 18. Most adoptive parents who get it, get less than me per month. Especially since the recession and cuts when LA's have cut the allowance and tightened the criteria to get it!

As opposed to settling in grants and the like, which are payments made on or just before payment, and are only given before the AO. Those are one off payments or you are only given money a couple of times. As opposed the AA is basically a weekly/monthly benefits payment for adoptive families

Excuse me, I mean "on or just before PLACEMENT" not payment

Ooh I would have loved a settling in grant . My agency didn't offer anything, not a penny.

Thanks for the replies. It seems every area is different and ours seems to be one where there is no settling in grants or allowances offered. We already knew there would be no adoption allowance paid after the order as our LA decides this as soon as possible once lo looks likely to be adopted apparently.

Lilka that's helpful thank you. It makes no sense to me if the LA will pay me an allowance after the order but not before, when I will be on adoption leave and financially worse off. I will see if my scatty SW knows when my LA pay it from. Assuming I get assessed as needing anything - the only adopter I know in RL who gets an adoption allowance has a DD with very significant needs which meant her mum could not work, so I'm not holding my breath.