Debt and Adoption

sadandembarressed

Hi Everyone, we are in the process of adopting a child and have been asked to complete a financial statement. We are currently sorting out our DMP with cccs. Whilst we won't be flush with money, we will be able to support this child. There is no evidence that our bank, or a credit check is made. What should we do?

Shineyhappy

I cant help I am afraid but I just wanted to wish you all the best with the adoption process and hope it all goes smoothly for you.

lemma1968

sadandembarressed wrote: »

Hi Everyone, we are in the process of adopting a child and have been asked to complete a financial statement. We are currently sorting out our DMP with cccs. Whilst we won't be flush with money, we will be able to support this child. There is no evidence that our bank, or a credit check is made. What should we do?

Hi there

As part of your home study by Social Services you have to disclose all relevant information regarding your finances. It is one of the many issues that each adoption agency would require to ensure that they are not placing an already vulnerable child in a dodgy placement. E.g. they would want to assess if it could affect you keeping a roof over your head as well as any child they place in your care, it is also an indication of how good your judgment is and how you deal with problems.

If you tell them the situation it may not affect the process at all - they will assess how bad it is and what level of risk of disruption to the child may ensue. It is up to each adoption agency to make their own decisions accordingly.

What will be damaging is if you do not disclose and they find out independently because Trust is a major issue here. If you are seen to be hiding one thing then it puts question marks over everything you say and do.

Not knowing how bad your financial situation is I cannot help further.

Speak with your Social Worker - he/she will be more than willing to talk you through it.

Best of luck with it.:A :A :A

southernscouser

sadandembarressed wrote: »

What should we do?

Be totally honest. You haven't committed a crime by getting into debt and you are going the right way about sorting it out.

Best of luck. :beer:

sadandembarressed

Wow, some excellent advice. We have a joint income of £2500. The cccs advise that we will have (after all deductions) £450 per month to pay towards our debt of 70k. I had a business on the side which has cost me more than it has earned me. Mortgage is £950 and Bills are about £300. The rest is for food and all the other things that come along.

lemma1968

Does that £70K include mortgage?

It is likely that your SW will want to go through with you how you got into so much debt, what motivated you to start doing something about it e.g was it the threat of court proceedings, was it a general lightbulb moment, was it your desire for a child etc? What is the likelyhood of it re-occurring will be another factor I suspect.

It may seem intrusive but many of these children have been through enough as it is so they inevitably err on the side of caution.

Sea78

You could try posting a SOA (see Southern Scouser's sticky at the top of the board for details) and we could see if we can help further? Anything you can ebay/amazon etc?
Good luck with the adoption process.
Sea xx

Giljay

Hi,
Was suprised to hear of the request from SW re your finances - we adopted 6 years ago and - to our knowledge - no financial checks were made. I suppose it is reasonable though as the interest of the child must come first.
Good Luck with the adoption - it is THE best thing we have ever done!:j

arlybarly

hi sadandembarassed
one of my close friends adopted 7 years ago and she was on her own with a mountain of debts, this didnt really come into question even though she was worried about it at the time, 7 years later shes still in debt and she wants to adopt again.

misspoppy

Hi

just a little thing for you to think about, will one of you be expected to give up work for 6 months or so when the child/children arrive? if so you should have a plan as to how your will afford your repayments.

I hope it all goes well for you.

lemma1968

arlybarly wrote: »

hi sadandembarassed
one of my close friends adopted 7 years ago and she was on her own with a mountain of debts, this didnt really come into question even though she was worried about it at the time, 7 years later shes still in debt and she wants to adopt again.

There is such an acute shortage of good adopters that Adoption Agencies are looking for good warmhearted people who can listen and meet the needs of children. They are not after just placing with families that only have substantial incomes. It takes more than money to make a good family. if your debt is under control I doubt there will be a problem so long as you are honest about it.

Don't fret about it, as I said speak to your case worker if you are really anxious about it. They are not there to trip you up, they want you to succeed just as much as you want to adopt.

Adoption is a marvellous gift.;)