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Support for
Pennsylvania
Adoptive & Foster Families

OCYF Bulletin 3140-99-01
Adoption Assistance Questions
Other Issues

43. May parents who have adopted and are  receiving adoption  assistance make an informal arrangement  with a relative to  provide care for the adopted child? May the parents transfer their adoption assistance payment to the relative providing the care?

Adoptive parents, like biological parents, may at times be faced with making arrangements for their child's care outside the home without any need for agency intervention. In such a case the parents may make private informal arrangements to provide for the child's care. These arrangements may, at times, involve the transfer of money,

44. Why are post-placement services not included in nonrecurring costs?

Nonrecurring costs are by definition once only costs associated with facilitating an adoption. The costs are not related to maintaining an adoption. Nonrecurring costs include court costs, home study and travel costs associated with bringing together the child and the adoptive family.

45. Is a child automatically eligible for "subsidized child day care" if the child receives adoption assistance?

No, the child is not automatically eligible for subsidized child day care. A child is eligible for the subsidy only if the child's adoptive family meets the criteria for subsidized day care. The family would need to contact their Child Care Information Service to have their eligibility determined.

46. Are adoption assistance payments taxable?

47.  Who is responsible when the child who received adoption assistance turns 18 and the family is no longer able to care for this child?

Although the adoption assistance agreement terminates by law when the child turns 18 years of age, parental support responsibility does not automatically cease when a child reaches 18 years of age.

48. If birth parents die after termination of parental rights but before adoption finalization, will the child receive Social Security survivor benefits?

We recommend that the local Social Security Administration Office be contacted on a case-by-case basis regarding possible survivor benefits that an adoption assistance eligible child may be entitled to receive.

49. In cases where termination of parental rights has not yet occurred, what can be done to provide adoption assistance to the adoptive family? Can a medical assistance card be provided?

If the family is approved as a foster family, the family may receive foster care payments. Adoption assistance may start only when parental rights are terminated.

50. Regarding question #49, what if the agency responsible for the adoptive placement is not an approved foster family care agency (FFCA), must the agency be licensed as an FFCA to make the interim foster care payments?

Yes, the agency must be approved to provide foster care.