What happens to foster to adopt payments after an adoption order?
Foster to adopt payments generally end when the adoption order is made, because the child is no longer looked after by the local authority. Your family may be eligible for separate adoption support, such as an adoption allowance, but this is assessed and agreed under adoption support arrangements rather than continuing automatically.
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After the adoption order, the financial arrangements should be reviewed under adoption support procedures rather than foster care procedures. Any adoption allowance or other financial help must be confirmed separately, with the terms set out by the relevant local authority or adoption agency.
What may change is the type of support available. Adoption support can include a regular allowance, a one-off payment, or help with particular costs connected with the child’s needs. It is not a continuation of the fostering payment, and it is not granted automatically simply because a foster to adopt placement has become an adoption.
The assessment may consider matters such as:
- the child’s needs and any additional support they require;
- the impact of those needs on your household finances;
- your family’s financial circumstances and resources;
- any other payments or support already available; and
- whether the proposed support should be regular, time-limited or linked to a particular expense.
The written agreement should explain the amount, frequency and duration of any adoption allowance, together with how and when it will be reviewed. It should also make clear what happens if your circumstances change, the child’s needs alter, or another source of financial support becomes available. Read this information carefully before agreeing to the adoption plan, and ask for an explanation of any term you do not understand.
Check the transition arrangements before the order is made. Ask the local authority or adoption agency to confirm:
- the date on which fostering payments stop;
- whether any final fostering payment or agreed expense reimbursement is still due;
- whether an adoption support assessment has been completed;
- when any agreed adoption allowance will begin; and
- how future reviews will be handled.
Keep copies of the fostering agreement, adoption support assessment, allowance agreement and payment records. These documents can help if a payment is delayed, an agreed cost is unclear, or you need to provide information for a later review.
An adoption order can also affect your wider household finances, including the way you report income or claim means-tested benefits. The treatment will depend on your individual circumstances and the type of payment involved, so do not assume that an adoption allowance will be treated in the same way as a fostering allowance. Discuss any potential effect with the relevant benefits office, HMRC or an independent adviser.
If no adoption allowance has been offered, that does not necessarily mean that no adoption support is available. You can ask for the decision and assessment to be explained, including whether support could be reconsidered if the child’s needs or your circumstances change. Your fostering or adoption professional can also help you understand the paperwork and identify which organisation is responsible for each part of the arrangement.
If a fostering payment reaches your account after the adoption order, do not assume it is an ongoing entitlement. It may be a final payment, an expense reimbursement processed late, or an administrative error. Contact the local authority or adoption agency to ask what the payment covers and whether any action is required.
Keep the payment separate until you have written clarification, particularly if the amount differs from the agreed schedule. Record the date, amount and explanation you receive. If the payment was made in error, the organisation may ask for it to be returned, so keeping clear records can help prevent confusion about your household finances.
Get guidance on foster to adopt payments after an adoption order
Speak with our fostering team for guidance on reviewing your payment arrangements and understanding what support may be available after an adoption order.