Adoption is a great way to start or grow your family, and it's now more affordable thanks to the Department of Defense's Adoption Reimbursement Program. If you're a service member considering adoption, it's worth looking into the program to see how it can help save you money on key adoption expenses. Below are some more details to get you started.
Who is eligible for the Adoption Reimbursement Program?
To qualify for benefits through the Department of Defense's Adoption Reimbursement Program, you must:
- Be on active duty for at least 180 days
- Use a qualified adoption agency or other source authorized to place children for adoption under state and local laws
- Finalize the adoption
- Submit a claim within one year of the adoption finalization and before you are discharged from the military
What are the benefits of the Adoption Reimbursement Program?
If you're eligible for the program, you could be reimbursed for the following "reasonable and necessary" expenses:
- Public and private adoption agency fees, including fees charged by an agency in a foreign country
- Placement fees, including fees charged to adoptive parents for counseling
- Legal fees, including court fees, for services that are unavailable to service members
- Medical expenses, including hospital expenses of the adoptive child's biological mother or a newborn infant to be adopted, medical care given to the adoptive child before the adoption and physical examinations for the biological mother of the child to be adopted
- Temporary foster care charges when payment of such charges is required before the adoptive child can be placed
However, the program does not reimburse any travel costs or any expenses associated with an adoption arranged in violation of federal, state or local laws.
How can you apply for reimbursement?
Fill
out your DD Form 2675 and submit your reimbursement request to your personnel office.
In order to receive reimbursement, you'll need the following documentation:
In order to use the program, be sure to keep all adoption documents and receipts, and submit your request within a year of the final adoption decree. If you have additional questions on the Adoption Reimbursement Program, contact a Military OneSource adoption consultant online or by phone at 800-342-9647.