Texas subsidy negotiations...

Seriously, almost everyone I've ever met gets the max per kid. One lady only got $100/mo for an 11yo. When she called to inquire about the subsidy when she didn't receive it, the woman sent her out paperwork saying she should be getting the full amount so please fill out the paperwork so they could process it. Your adoption worker will give you the subsidy paperwork (is there any reason we can't share these things with people so they know what they are looking at sooner?). You'll fill it out. You'll get the subsidy because they are as sibling group. You may or may not receive a lump check in 1-3 months (for one-time expenses) from finalization. We did not (I thought about checking on it; but I'm a chicken). My friend got like $700something for a sibling group of five (which is approximately a fifth of what she claimed).ETA: $400 is what a basic child receives. $545 is what a moderate or specialized child receives. They GET the subsidy because they are siblings. What amount they get is based on their level of care. Don't worry about the caseworker. Some of these people need to do their own jobs and not other people's. I had an investigator posing as a doctor. Another in our doctor's practice asked if CPS is passing out medical degrees to workers these days. BTW, investigator was wrong.

I honestly never had to educate myself with the next level of subsidy. My kids only qualified because of sibling adoptions which was the 400. Again I know there is more you can possibly get with proof of out of pocket expense but unless medicaid pays for all that the kids need I doubt they will give you more then the 400. You need to show proof of bills and expenses. Even if its time off work, gas, special equipment at home, projected special schooling, therapy anything that you have to pay that medicaid won't.

servnjah the $700 something, was that the lump sum or her stipend each month? $700 wont even pay for daycare for a week. I was expecting 1490 a month for them 545+545+400. I guess I will have to just wait and see. Hopefully it will move quickly.

We added on to our home, about 30k worth to adopt 3 brothers. I never saw a cent of any of that in the one time expense stuff. Dont hold your breath on that! lol

The adoption worker doesn't decide the amount. There's a "subsidy negotiator" who does that.Every time we've adopted (four times in the last two years), there was no real negotiation. If the child qualified, then we got $400 if the child was basic and $545 if the child was above basic. There was no discussion of lower amounts than that. (Obviously the child would get zero if they didn't qualify at all.)

The 700 she was referring to, so your not more confused, is about this section in the subsidy paperwork you will fill out about what are any one time expenses you may have (to be reimbursed) to accomodate your child. Appartly this lady got some of it back. I never saw any of mine. Honestly expect 400 for each child and be pleasantly suprised if you get more.

ok thanks for all the help, now to come up with the $200 dollars for our FBI check. I hope this all goes smoothly, I am not real sure what the "adoption" home study will need since they said it is different than the kinship home study we had. I guess as always it is a wait and see game, kinda like the military just with CW not drill sergeants lol.

Anyone in region 3 that have had this experience? I am just getting ready to submit my subsidy paperwork and have been really trying to fill it full of monthly expenses. I wanted to ensure I could negotiate the full amount. However, its sounds like there is no real negotiations. I am curious if this is region 3 and if you can share monthy costs you included?

shnbenedict, I am in region 3 and that is what I have felt like. I have not gotten my paperwork yet.

Costs to include would be daycare, transportation, therapy, doctor copays, summer camps for adopted children, tutoring......whatever you can think of. Daycare alone would cover more than the subsidies! Ask the medical professionals for copies of the twins' medical files and include that. Note how often they require medication to be provided each day. I cannot imagine that your twins wouldn't qualify for the $545 (not that it is such a grand hunk of money :coffee: )

Here's how it works in region 3. You get the paper work and fill it out. It's basic worksheet of expenses. If a child has special needs, then they get the special needs rate and if not they get the basic rate($400). There isn't a negotiation really. That would imply a discussion where you had to argue for it. The details you give about their medical conditions will be enough to show they qualify for the higher amount. The adoption worker doesn't have anything to do with the subsidy. You will get a call from the subsidy worker. Make sure you have copies of any and everything you give to your AW considering how rude she's been, so if your medical papers get lost on the way to the subsidy worker, you will have another copy.

My AD qualified for the higher rate, but she's tube fed, mild cp, and was hearing impaired at the time. She was a basic level child while we fostered and these various issued developed. Because she was basic level we had to fight to get the higher subsidy even with all her issues. My boys qualify for the 400. One throws horrific tantrums and damages property. The other one we had to convince them about, and he's probably worse off than brother. He has FAE but it wasn't documented, and delayed developmentally. They had him at $200. So they don't necessarily have only two amounts to go with. Also, daycare/private school is not taken into account at all. Needing extra tutoring or therapy, yes.I'm in region 3 also

Have not read all the replies, but this is the way I understand it after adopting two kids thru fc. Both my kids are considered special needs. They both at the time of adoption qalified for subsidy; medicaid. You expenses need to be above and beyond "normal" care and you have to prove it. We have had to submit milage to therapies, reciepts and documentation on why certain therapies are needed. It was a huge pain!!! My son who has a long list of things that are diagnosed. He does not get full financial subsidy. My daughter has less wrong with her and she gets full board rate, but only for one year and then we have to petition the county again to see if they will extend. Again just b/c a child meets the checklist of qualifications does not mean he/she gets a financial subsidy it may just be medicaid which is considered subsidy.

ourworldchanged, the 700something was a lump sum after about 3 months. She still got $400 or $545 for each child based on their level of care (I think only one of hers was level'd up).

unless they've changed it since we adopted, they also did the siblings-qualify thing if and only if the youngest one was over 2 yrs old. Caddo's right--not really a negotiation. they come, you list expenses, if it's higher than a certain amount, you qualify for basic level. Bubba has mild RAD, ADHD and depression. Flowergirl didn't appear to have issues at the time. she was 4 and he was almost 6. they qualified at the basic level--$400 each. that was 3 1/2 years ago.