I will say a prayer about this for you. I expect she will be opposed to the idea because she probably still has grandious ideas of taking them back at some point, even though we know that isn't going to happen. If she understands nothing will change as far as getting to still be in their lives and it will benefit THEM; hopefully she will agree!!

the month after the adoption was complete H. was able to draw $935 per month off Eds SS retirement benefits. It is calculated on his full retirement (66, rather than his early at 62). If you have more than one child it will be distributed among them dividing it.....When I start drawing at 62, I will draw my portion, the remaining will come from Eds, and it will reduce H.s by that amount ( about $300.). But it will eaual the same per family. If Eds disability gets approved, His amount will increase to his max amount-ours remain the same. Itis the firsttime since having the boy that we actually feel we can financially survive. Of course we lost the food assistance and the TANF and medicaide because of the income, so it really is a draw-but we no longer have to deal with Social services which is a blessing in its self. Weigh all your options first. but adoption was the right thing for us for so many many reasons.

When we adopted, we kept the names the same as their mom had them. It helped our GD to understand she is still the smae person she was before. I think My DD appriciated us not changing their names as well.

Yes, SS benefits are a very valid part of grands adopting their gc. As for name changes, we kept our gd's first name b/c she was 3 and it was definitely too late to change it, but we gave her middle names and our last name. DD had given her biodad's last name and he was a deadbeat from day one. So now gd has same last name as my husband, me and bio mom.

We're fortunate that Pinky never listed either of the "fathers" on the birth certificates, so all three kids have the same last name as ours.

My husband brought up the subject and we were surprised that Pinky is willing to do it!!! (At least for now). We will sit down with an attorney to find out what all of the ramifications are, but so far it looks as if it could be a smooth process. But with Pinky, who knows? LOL

I filed my petition for adoption this week. I didn't realize there were benefits if grandchildren are adopted. My daughter refuses to sign off on her rights. She got out of halfway house this week and has a job. She claims she is going to change this time. (hear that everytime she gets out of jail/rehab). She claims this time is different (heard that before too). Lawyers don't think I have a chance but gonna try. If I can get the fathers parental rights revoked that will be a step in the right direction even if court doesn't allow adoption.

That's good news, Sara. I'd be all over that and get it done as quickly as possible while she's cooperative.

Sara that is wonderful news! I approached the subject with my daughter but was vehemently denied. At least the thought of not having to pay child support -the state has her on the registry and garnish $400 a month - wow for three kids that barely covers groceries ;) - is rolling around in her empty little head.

Ok so there is benefits for GP adopting?? i did not know that... what about kinship adoption? any benefits for that?

any child that you adopt relative or not will be elegible to draw on your retirement benefits until the age of 18. the only other benefits to adoption are if you are fostering the child-relative or not and you can get subsidies. But, remember, once a child is adopted, its all one income-so whatever the family income is9 including childs SS) may have a bearing on whether the child still qualifies for medicaid. or TANF. And the additional income from the child will also determine food assistance qualifications.

The parents of my 2 GK's are both deceased. I am court appointed guardan until they are 18 (this was done the 5th of Feb and she was killed on the 8th. They do get SS from deceased parents. I was told if I adopted them they would lose their SS and medicaid. I draw off my deceased spouse SS and rcd a pension from his job. no one has ever told me if i need to go back to court or not since she died 3 yrs now and things are going ok so I don't want to rock the boat

we too get ss for baby girl from her bio dad... we just filed for adoption... we were told she would not lose her ss benefits after the adoption, because the adoption adoption took place after the death.

We filed ourselves 2 years ago, thought everything was said and done. Had to leave the state to come help my hubby's family and when we hadn't received the birth certificate and called to find out why, we were told of a paperwork snafu and that we could no longer correct it because we had left the state.

We are starting again as soon as the income taxes come in...now both bios are/have been out of the picture over a year.

We hope everything is settled by summer since we need to get him registered for kindergarten....I don't want to have to tell him that his isn't who we have been calling him all his life (that he remembers).

I didn't know adopting might change my disability though...might have to check on that. I do know we were told to save our adoption paperwork and recipes for next years taxes.