Contact
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Mail :
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Plymouth Adoption Team Children's Services Plymouth City Council Plymouth PL1 2AA |
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Phone :
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0800 085 8034 |
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Email :
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adoption@plymouth.gov.uk |
Related pages
Links
- Adoption UK
- British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF)
- Adoption Information Line
- Adoption Net
- Pink Parents - adoption information for gays and lesbians
- Every Child Matters - Adoption
- Department of Trade and Industry - Adoption leave and pay
- Tailored Interactive Guidance on Employment Rights (TIGER)
- We are not responsible for the content of linked websites. Visit our disclaimer page for more information.
What financial help will I receive?
We encourage people to consider adopting a child even if they are unemployed or not very well off. Although as with any parenting, you will be expected to meet the child’s financial needs, we offer several types of support to help ease financial burden for certain people.
One-off payments
Buying everything an adopted child needs when they first join your family can be expensive. We may on some occasions seek to assist in some initial costs. We can also help with expenses incurred during the introduction period (eg travel costs and any overnight stays) up to an agreed limit. If it has been agreed that the child should have ongoing contact with someone from their birth family, we may also be able to help you meet the costs that this entails.
Ongoing financial support
Depending on their circumstances, certain children are eligible for a regular support package to help meet their needs. These payments are intended to enable people to adopt children with particular needs, as the children may need specific services not available through the local community resources. Ongoing payments may be considered for older children, children with special needs, emotional or behavioural problems, or groups of brothers and sisters who need to stay together.
The amount payable is means-tested and will be reviewed annually. It is legally viewed as ‘non-profit making’ and so will not be taxable or affect your benefits. Ongoing payments are clearly attached to the child's needs and are intended to cover the cost of specialist services for them such as respite breaks, specialist therapy or educational support.
Other benefits
In addition to the financial support only available to adoptive parents, you will be eligible for the support available to all families. For example, you can apply for child benefit, family tax credit and disability living allowance as appropriate.
Although you will be responsible for meeting the child’s financial needs, we hope that the financial support available will help you give a child a forever family whatever your finances.
