Adoption Assistance pays certain costs, including adoption subsidy maintenance, associated with the adoption of a child under the age of 21.
Title IV-E of the Social Security Act gives Federal Adoption Assistance reimbursements to DHS for an adopted child including:
A child determined eligible for SSI.
A child determined Title IV-E eligible due to the applicable child status.
A child who had met the AFDC-relatedness criteria in the month of the child was first removed from the home.
A child whose costs in foster care are covered by foster care maintenance payments being made with respect to the minor parent of the child; or
A child was determined Title IV-E eligible for adoption assistance in a previous adoption.
The County Children and Youth Agency (CCYA) will determine eligibility for State Adoption Assistance for a child who is not eligible for Title IV-E Federal Adoption Assistance.
Determine the child's eligibility for Title IV-E Adoption Assistance or State Adoption Assistance.
Complete the CY 61A and the CY 60 (if necessary) and sends the form to the local CAO. The local CAO has the active MA case.
Coordinate the opening of MA in the county where the adoptive family is living and the closing of MA in the local CAO so there is no loss of MA coverage. See Section 850.63, CAO Responsibilities.
FAX (and then mail) the CY 61 to the CAO of the adoptive family.
In all cases where foster care leads to adoption (including private adoption), regardless of any name or other change or the availability of Federal /State Adoption Assistance, the CAO will do the following steps:
NOTE: If the system does not allow the creation of a new recipient number for the child, the most likely cause is that the zeroing out of the SSN has not been completed. If unable to resolve clearance issues, submit a ticket via ServiceNow for assistance.
NOTE: The adoptive parent should be encouraged to apply for a new SSN for the child, per Supplemental Handbook Chapter 850.6. With a new name and SSN, the automated file clear function in MCI, will automatically assign a new recipient number.
The notification to HCSIS is very important because HCSIS must update their records for the child. HCSIS will work to close their category associated to the foster care individual number, and, if appropriate, open a HCSIS category for the new individual number. The CAO does not need to delay any steps while the HCSIS categories are being updated.
If the CAO determines that a recipient of Medical Assistance (MA), has been adopted, has managed care coverage issues (as verified through a comparison of both CQIMCP screens for the old and new recipient numbers), and wants to maintain the Managed Care Organization (MCO) coverage, the CAO should submit an "Adoption CAO Correction of MCO Coverage" form. This form is located on the Health Choices Intranet at: https://pagov.sharepoint.com/sites/DHS-HC-Extranet. Choose “Forms” under “Common Resources” then select “HealthChoices Forms”. The adoption correction form is located under the “Correction of Coverage Forms” bullet.
NOTE: To access the “Correction of Coverage Forms,” caseworkers must register for access. To register, send an email with your name and CWOPA to RA-PWHCExtranetApvr@pa.gov to request access.
The CAO should fill out the form using the child's adopted and birth information and, under the "additional comments" section, they should include the child's old demographic information to insure continuity of care. The form, with the new recipient information, must be submitted in the same month in which the old record is closed. Otherwise, there will be a break in MCO coverage.
The CAO should coordinate/cooperate with the CCYA from the placing county for case changes or reviews. Although no renewal is required, do not assume the child is eligible. The CCYA determines MA eligibility for Federal or State Adoption Assistance, and eligibility decisions should be directed to that agency.
Confidentiality requirements of Chapter 930, Safeguarding Information must be strictly followed. Under no circumstance is any information to be given to a parent/caregiver about the new identity or whereabouts of the adopted child.
The CCYA determines a child’s eligibility for Title IV-E Adoption Assistance via the CY 61A. A child must have a financial need and other factors when adoption proceedings begin.
The CCYA will use the CY 61A (and the CY 60 if necessary to discharge the child from foster care) to communicate with the CAO about Adoption Assistance.
If the CY 61A indicates the child is eligible for Title IV-E Adoption Assistance, authorize MA in PC 32.
When the CCYA indicates State Adoption Assistance on the CY 61A, the CAO authorizes MA in PC 34.
The CY 61A will be completed as follows:
If the CCYA determines that the child is categorically eligible for Title IV-E Adoption Assistance, the CCYA completes the CY 61A and sends it to the CAO. The CAO will authorize MA in PC 32.
If the CCYA determines that the child is not categorically eligible for Title IV-E Adoption Assistance and is eligible for State Adoption Assistance, the CCYA completes the CY 61A and sends it to the CAO. The CAO will authorize MA in PC 34.
The CAO completes the CAO certification on the CY 61A and returns it to the CCYA.
For Federal and State Adoption Assistance, MA continues until one of the following criteria is met:
The child reaches 18 years of age
NOTE: MA may continue until age 21, if the adoption assistance agreement became effective when the child was 13 years or age or older, and the child meets at least one of the criteria listed at SH 850.42.
The adoptive parents are no longer financially supporting the child
Court action determines the parents are no longer legally responsible for the child 18 years of age or younger.
The adoptive parents request termination of adoption assistance
Death of the adoptive child
When the CAO discontinues MA for an Adoption Assistance child, it will determine MA eligibility based on the family income according to MAGI or MNO procedures.
Reminder: Only the income actually contributed to the child by the parents is counted in determining MA eligibility in a MNO-MA category.
Revised July 8, 2024, replacing December 11, 2019