Financial support

What financial support is available?

Adoptive families may be eligible for a range of financial support options, including:

Adoption leave and pay

Adoptive parents are entitled to statutory adoption leave and pay, similar to maternity and paternity benefits. This allows time to bond with your child and adjust to family life.

Support plan

When matched with a child or children, you’ll have a support plan that sets out the financial support available.  This may include costs during introductions, and payment of legal fees relating to your child’s adoption. 

Pupil premium plus

Adopted children in state-funded schools are eligible for additional funding. This helps schools provide tailored support to improve outcomes for adopted pupils. Please inform your child’s school that your child is adopted, and they will claim this. The school will decide how to spend this, and you can let them know your views. 

Early years pupil premium

If your adopted child is aged 3 or 4 and attending early education, they may qualify for extra funding to support their learning and development. Please inform your child’s school that your child is adopted, and they will claim this. 

Discretionary payments

Local authorities may offer discretionary financial support, such as: 

  • Help with travel costs for contact arrangements 

  • Support with therapeutic services over and above the money available through ASGSF 

  • One-off grants for specific needs 

If you would like to explore this, please contact Adoption Counts and we can explain who is eligible, and how to apply. 

Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) 

This government fund helps cover the cost of therapeutic services for adopted children and their families. Services may include: 

  • Therapeutic parenting specialist training 

  • Family therapy such as DDP 

  • Life story work 

Applications to the fund are made by Adoption Counts, following an assessment of your family's needs.  

Benefits

Families are entitled to a range of benefits, including disability living allowance should a child or young person have additional needs. You can find out more here Benefits calculators - GOV.UK 

How to access support

To explore financial support options: 

  • Contact Adoption Counts adviceteam@adoptioncounts.org.uk or call us on 0161 521 8847. 

  • We will ask about your situation and can give advice on eligibility for financial support. We may complete an assessment with you and this will identify what is the right support for your family. 

Useful contacts and resources