Contents
Section 1: Adoption Allowances - Eligibility for financial support
The child’s eligibility for an allowance
Approved adopters’ eligibility for an allowance
Allowances for Foster & Kinship Carers who adopt.
Conditions for payment of Adoption Allowances
How to apply for Adoption Allowance
Adoption Allowance Annual Reviews
Payment of Adoption Allowances
Section 3: Transition expenses and subsistence
How to claim mileage and subsistence
Section 4: Financial arrangements for Interagency Placements
Appendix 1 – Example Means Test
Appendix 2 - How we calculate financial eligibility for Adoption Allowance
Introduction
This guide sets out the responsibilities and considerations of the Council within the financial aspects of adoption and details the processes and procedures involved, which are underpinned by legislation. The guide also reflects the Council’s ethos of care towards children whose plan is adoption, as well as its responsibility to customer service, the management of resources and duty towards the public purse.
Adoption is a complex area of child and family social work and children become adopted by a number of avenues, such as, having been looked after in foster care, relinquished at birth, cared for within a kinship arrangement or adopted by a step-parent. The essential eligibility component linking these children to this guide is them being care experienced or subject to social work involvement in their adoption. This guide is not applicable to step-parent adoptions.
Underpinning Legislative Framework
The Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007 requires local authorities to assess the needs and provide support to those who are impacted by the process of adoption. This guide recognises that many children who are adopted are likely to need support at various stages throughout their childhood up to the age of 18 years.
This guide is also aligned with the Adoption Support Services and Allowances (Scotland) Regulations 2009, specifically in relation to financial assistance accessible to prospective adopters during the adoption process and by way of post-adoption support.