Adoption Subsidy Payments

by Fatherofeight | More from this Blogger

02 Jan 2007 03:24 PM

A very interesting article appeared in the adoption blog this morning. Some of the points intrigued me enough to write about how I feel about the subject. What got my attention was the idea that some people think that adoption subsidies and assistance are not justified. Our family is paid an adoption subsidy and given other benefits such as Medicaid and I do not feel like I need to apologize to anyone for taking it.

Historically, these benefits came with every child that was adopted. We have very good friends that adopted twelve years ago. They are fairly affluent people, not rich, but certainly upper middle class. They really did not think that they needed the money, but the state insisted on paying it to them. Today, it is much more difficult to qualify for any assistance once a child is adopted.

We could not operate our household, which includes five adopted children, without this assistance. That is certainly not why we adopted. In order to do this work, my wife and I took early retirements and left a lot of money on the table. If I had finished out my career to full retirement age, my pension would be triple what it is now and my savings would have seen a similar increase. We live on approximately 25% of our pre-retirement earnings.

We have adopted five maternal brothers, ages two through eight, who qualify as special needs children. It takes two of us to maintain the home and meet all of the children's needs. If we did not receive assistance, I would have to stay employed. I do not mind working; I retired after doing that for thirty years. If I had to work, then we would need a full-time housekeeper / mother's helper. We firmly believe that these boys need a father at home all of the time.

We do take assistance from the State of Texas. We took five badly damaged little boys off of their hands. We rescued these children from an environment where most young men spend their entire lives in and out of the prison system. That would have cost the taxpayers much more money.

The problem is not that the state spends money on adopted children. The real problem is that women are allowed to annually give birth to children that are damaged by their mother's drug addiction, social diseases, and bad habits. The state must step in to insure the health and safety of these children. Some of these women have given birth to many children. Something needs to happen to stop this national calamity.

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rsbg (501) 02 Jan 2007 05:20 PM

Ed, I agree with your article. We are just in the beginning phases (waiting an eternity to get our home study scheduled) of adoption through the state, so I don't know that much about adoption subsidies. But I do know that what the state gives is a small part of what it would cost to keep that child in the system. I don't think there is anything wrong with adoptive parents getting a monthly payment to help raise the children that need homes, especially for a family that has taken in 5 boys!!!!! We are looking to adopt one child, I couldn't imagine having 5! Kudos to you and your wife!!!!

Fatherofeight (2475) 02 Jan 2007 06:07 PM

Thanks rsbg. In Texas, the first hurdle is qualifying under one of the definitions of special needs,then prior to the adoption, you meet with the subsidy person and present a budget to her. It needs to show added expenses for the children that could only be paid by the subsidy. Its good until each one turns 18.

Linda Hansen (1796) 02 Jan 2007 07:39 PM

This is eerie, you really can read my mind!! I just posted a comment on HMA earlier today on my opinion about govt. subsidy for our kids. One of my points was helping willing parents as opposed to the state absorbing the whole cost including the prison time they most likely would accrue as dysfunctional adults because they didn't have loving parents and a stable home. You're good Ed!!

Fatherofeight (2475) 02 Jan 2007 09:15 PM

Great minds think alike! Or, maybe we are both fruit cakes who happen to think the same way.

Linda Hansen (1796) 03 Jan 2007 04:36 AM

I'm opting for the fruit cake theory!

PATTI (580) 03 Jan 2007 07:40 AM

Dear Ed, Maybe someone who can do something about this will read your article. I know together with God's help everyone can do something to help all of these children. Know that you and Nancy are greatly appreciated. PATTI

Fatherofeight (2475) 03 Jan 2007 08:23 AM

Well the legislature is meeting but school funding and border patrol are the top items. They are trying to restructure child protective services but that issue is not number one in the mind of the public, as usual.

Melissa J (13710) 04 Jan 2007 01:28 AM

Great stuff Ed. Thanks for sharing your perspective. Am linking this one in!

Fatherofeight (2475) 04 Jan 2007 02:55 PM

Sorry that I got out my soapbox but this issue gets me going. Thanks.

bridge02 (207) 01 Aug 2009 05:54 PM

Thank you for sharing your story! It is wonderful that not only did you adopt these children, but that they all got to stay together. Very inspiring!!