Adoption

karenx

My aunty is a foster carer for children going up for adoption. I know there are some children out there who have been treated so badly by former parents so understand the need for not wanting to work after getting a child to allow them to settle in and get to know their new parents.
Perhaps its a good idea for your partner to start self employed then they can work around things once the child is here, if you are lucky enough to get one!
Try save up every last penny you can every month from now on as children are very expensive! Especially to start with as you will have to buy all new toys,clothes, bed etc!! You may even be lucky enough to have family friends etc who will donate gift vouchers etc to you for you to buy things! Much like when you have a new born baby!

laulau1

Hi just wanted to say good luck with your adoption journey!
Me and my husband adopted our son at 9 months old 18 months ago. WE are now in the process of being approved to adopt a 2nd time. With our son, i took 9 months off. I work for government department and i received full pay for the first 6 months, and then statutory adoption pay for last 3 months. MY husband took 1 month off work, this included the 5 days we needed for introductions. I have to say for us and my son, the time we had off work was sufficient, and to be honest i probably wouldn't have taken the extra 3 months even if i could afford it. I returned to work part time.
I don't know what age child or children you are considering, or what their circumstances will be, but i wouldn't put pressure on yourselves to both be off for a year. It is certainly not expected of you by the social workers. However, if that is what you really want to do, then by all means go for it, i would have loved my husband to have been off with us for longer than a month, but we simply couldnt afford it as he is big earner in our household!
We get tax credits and child benefit. Some local authorities pay a settling in grant for buying essentials. Also, some LA's do pay an adoption allowance, but this is means tested, and as far as i am aware, they are normally attached to sibling groups or children with additional needs.
PM me if you would like any more info, i would be happy to help with any adoption related queries!

laulau1

*sorry that was meant to say he is THE big earner in our household as i earn very little! *

Oldernotwiser

emmalt wrote: »

Thanks Errata. If needs be, I will go back to my job and my husband will stay at home. I have no objections to him becoming a house husband (he is at the moment).

I am home based a lot of the time so would still have plenty of time with any children.

I don't really think that you need both to be off for a year and I think that this will have long term repercussions on your family finances.

When we had children placed with us for adoption I went part time for 6 months and that was perfectly adequate and acceptable.