Has anyone adopted a child while claiming disability benefits?

Androgen

Hi,

Me and my partner have been looking into potentially adopting in the future, and I can't see anything in the criteria that bans disabled people or people on benefits, but I wanted to ask and see if anyone has actually had success being approved as an adoptive parent while claiming a disability benefit?

I think the main worry is that if we apply to adopt we won't be approved due to the disability benefit (since it suggests that we need help with looking after ourselves) or that we could lose entitlement to the disability benefit if we're approved because "if you can look after a child then you clearly don't have any problems", does anyone have any experience with this?

Ellyyg

Hi
That is an exciting journey to start with your partner! From my search and some FAQs I can't really see anything about disability posing any issues with adoption, if it's not preventing you from caring for yourself or child and if the rest of the criteria is met
https://www.first4adoption.org.uk/who-can-adopt-a-child/

In regards of benefits, you're allowed to have children on benefits, however if you're worried about this affecting your entitlement or assessment you might want to speak to a local welfare benefits advisor.

poppy123456

HI,

There's lots of people that have children and claim disability benefits so this won't affect your ability to adopt a child and it won't affect your disability benefits either.

Androgen

Thanks everyone for replies - I know you can have children while on benefits but figured they may view it differently if you're adopting them, we're going to talk to some agencies about it before we decide

poppy123456

It makes no difference if it's a child you've given birth to, adopted or a step child. The reason you can't see anything in the criteria is because it doesn't exist.

calcotti

poppy123456 said:

It makes no difference if it's a child you've given birth to, adopted or a step child. The reason you can't see anything in the criteria is because it doesn't exist.

I think the OP may be more concerned about whether the fact they claim disability benefits will affect whether or not they are approved to adopt.

OP, obviously the ability to look after a child is going to be a factor so I would expect the impact your disabilities have on you to be a consideration. I wouldn't expect the fact that you claim financial support to which you are entitled due to those disabilities to make any difference. Please note however that I know nothing about adoption procedures and my comments are not informed by experience.

jayde38

Yes. Many, many years ago my husband and I adopted a little boy. We both have disabilities but managed fairly normal lives. However, it was far from straightforward.

We were rejected by the first 2 agencies without even being assessed. According to one well known children’s charity “disabled people are far more likely to become abusers”. Anyway, we eventually found that local authorities were the way to go. It took three years to get through the process but that was mainly due to the social workers resigning every 6 months.

The social workers will expect you to defend your right to exist. One asked me how I knew that I wasn’t going to die tomorrow. (Yeah, really). I replied, ‘how do you know that you won’t ?’ I won’t lie, it was hell but end result was well worth it.

Supposedly, the adoption process has been made easier now. However, having made enquiries about fostering recently we came across the same discrimination, so I’m not so sure about that.

Anyway, good luck!

jayde38

On your benefits point, this should not affect it. You will just need to explain how you made adjustments in order to allow you to adopt.

For example, my husband is blind so when he collected our son from school he used a taxi. Read him ebooks etc.