Adoption

[Dusty Bin]

We are in the process of adopting a girl.

Both my wife and I work for the same company. Our Human Resources manager led us to believe that we would be entitled to paid adoption leave for up to 26 weeks, but when making enquiries out of work it now seems we are NOT entitled to statutory adoption pay (SAP) as there is a loophole that because we fostered the girl before proceeding to adoption we do not then qualify for the SAP.

Is this correct? Where can we find out more information? What are we entitled to in terms of pay?

[redcrx]

Try ACAS on www.acas.co.uk
only one of you may be entitled to leave, not both. And if you are entitled then its the same as Statuatory Materity Pay ie �108ish per week for 26 weeks

http://www.acas.co.uk/index.aspx?articleid=115 0

[Dusty Bin]

Thank you redcrx. Some good info on the site you linked to.

Seems that our HR manager may not be fully clued up to what we're entitled to.

The ACAS site doesn't touch on this much, but what are the entitlements for an employee who is not adopting a newly placed child from an adoption agency, but instead has decided to take up an option of adopting a child that was previously placed in their foster care with a view to reintegration with the birth parent(s) - a possibility which has since been ruled out as a non-starter?

[redcrx]

I am not familiar with these benefits and laws so i would suggest a call to ACAS directly for further information.

personally i doubt you would be able to claim if the child was already living under your care for a period before the adoption, purely because i think, like with maternity pay, its to assist with the readjustment of a new family member rather than a financial assistance.

I think you will find that you are unable to do much more than maybe take paid holiday if you need time together.

As i say though, give ACAS a quick call just to check.