After AO

[gymmommy]

Feeling in limbo and hoping for some help from those who have already adopted. We have no idea what happens now. We do not have anything in writing from SS re. adoption allowance, we have already started to receive payments but no idea how long it will be for, had no advice on do we apply for Child Benefit or whatever it may be called now and had no info or rules for indirect contact which has no specific amount of times on the court documents. Now of course the simple thing would be to ask our SW but would like to know what I should be asking. Also no idea about post adoption support and no mention of Life Story or later life letters. Sorry know that's a lot we need to know haha

[fasparent]

All adoptions and details are personal too you as too others are, think all you mention and your concerns you should discuss with your sw and adoption team , you should be allocated with after adoption worker , make a written list and record everything when you discuss all issues.

[GirlsWhoWearGlasses]

You should have been getting Child Benefit since the day your LO moved in. There's a form on the DWP site that you download and fill in. I think we got a certificate w date of placement that we sent in with it.

I would chase the later in life letter heavily. Your wee one will get a much better quality letter now, while it's relatively fresh and their SW is still around.

And congrats on the AO

[FamiliesShareGerms]

As Girls says, if you qualify for CB income wise you could have been claiming before now (they can backdate up to three months, I think)

Have you got details of LO's child trust fund? That was the single hardest thing to find out from our SW...

SW should be drawing up an agreement for letterbox contact (I'm assuming that's what you mean by indirect contact?), which all parties sign up to and sets out frequency along with any limitations eg can see a photo in SW offices but not take it home.

Ask if there is a mailing list to go on for post adoption events

Push hard for later life letter etc - they become harder to get as time goes on

Have you got all documents like red book, passport, birth certificate?

[gymmommy]

Thanks everyone. No we didn't know we could claim anything before now. I think we also didn't want to ask too much re. finances. Our SW gone AWOL since months before AO, we assume busy with other cases. Will chase DC's SW re later life letters and yes fasparent think you're right I need to speak to SW asap. Thanks Girls. No families we haven't looked into Trust Fund so will have to see where that is. Yes letterbox is what I mean, although court document says letters and photos to be exchanged. Fortunately we have the red book and birth certificate. Getting on the mailing list is great advice thanks.

[bumpiesonamission]

Gymmommy, as a SW I am so embarrassed on behalf of the profession. I would be lynched if I had had an AO granted with the case in this state.

You need to contact your SW and the IRO. If you don't get anywhere you must feedback to the Adoption Advisory Service in your area, the ones who approved the match and placement.

The Later life letter, letter box agreements/information and life journey book are going to be massively important.

Please also consider a complaint, this is awful

crawls back into halo topped hole

[bumpiesonamission]

Also, your signature would have had to have been on the Adoption Support Plan for the judge to have approved it.

[gymmommy]

Bumpies we actually had/have a great relationship with both SW's. Possibly they just thought we were quite independent and didn't need as much help/info. The only paperwork we signed was the court papers submitted for the adoption, and then it wasn't all filled in which probably wasn't a brilliant thing to do . Looks like I need to get some answers on Monday to tie up all the loose ends. It was a very complicated, drawn out process, not that I'm making excuses for the SW's but I have felt sorry for them.

[UnderTheNameOfSanders]

Yes, please apply for CB asap. you should have been getting it since placement.

If letterbox hasn't been discussed prior to this I would go for yearly, no photos. Pick an 'easy' time of year away from Christmas, birthday and exam time (May/June).