Federal law authorizes reimbursement for certain adoption
expenses. If you have adopted a child who is under 18 years of age
you may be eligible for a maximum of $2,000 per child, not to
exceed $5,000 per calendar year. The law is found at 10 U.S.C.
1052, DoDFMR Volume 7C, Chapter 4, and DoDI 1341.9.
Generally, in order to qualify for reimbursement, the
adoption must have been arranged by either a qualified adoption
agency or other source authorized to place children for adoption
under state or local law. Stepchild adoptions are authorized for
reimbursement if they are finalized on or after November 3,
2007.
Additionally, in order to be
reimbursed for adoption expenses there are certain requirements and
procedures that MUST be met. Failure to meet ALL of the following
requirements and procedures will result in your claim being
denied.
Requirements
-
The member must be serving continuously on
active duty for at least 180 days.
-
The member must submit the claim within one
year of the date that the adoption was finalized. The adoption must
be finalized while on active duty.
Procedures
-
Submit a reimbursement for adoption
expenses request using DD Form 2675 (Reimbursement Request for
Adoption Expenses). The form is available online
at
http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/forminfo/forminfopage2038.html
.
-
If the child was adopted in the United
States, the member must provide a copy of the court order showing
that the adoption is final.
-
For foreign adoptions, the member must
submit a copy of the final court documents, along with a
translation (if necessary), as well as proof of US citizenship for
the child. The member can submit any of the
following:
-
A copy of the front and back of the
Permanent Resident Alien Card (green card) showing the IR-3
code.
-
A copy of a U.S. court order that
recognizes the foreign adoption, or documents the "re-adopting" of
the child in the United States.
-
A letter from the United States Citizenship
and Immigration Services which states the status of the child's
adoption.
-
A copy of U.S. passport (page with personal
information only)
-
A copy of Certificate of
Citizenship.
-
The member must submit receipts or
cancelled checks that substantiate authorized expenses along with
the application. If receipts are from a foreign entity, the
receipts should list the US currency
equivalency.
-
In cases where a qualified adoption agency
arranged the adoption, the member needs to submit proof of the
agency's involvement.
Qualifying Adoption
Expenses.
A member will
be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses, which include
the following:
-
Public and
private agency fees, including adoption fees charged by an agency
in a foreign country.
-
Placement
fees, including fees charged adoptive parents for
counseling.
-
Legal fees,
including court costs, for services that are unavailable to a
member of the military services.
-
Medical
expenses, including hospital expenses of the biological mother of
the child to be adopted and of a newborn infant to be adopted, for
medical care given to the adoptive child/children before the
adoption, and for physical examinations for the biological mother
of the child to be adopted. Members shall avail themselves of the
military treatment facilities (MTFs) once the child has been placed
in the home by the placement agency for
adoption.
-
Temporary
foster care charges when payment of such charges is required to be
made before the adoptive child's placement.
The term "
reasonable and necessary expenses" does not
include:
-
Travel costs
incurred for the adoption.
-
Any costs
associated with an adoption arranged in violation of federal,
state, or local law.
For complete
information regarding the adoption reimbursement program, please
see 10 U.S.C. 1052, DoDFMR, Vol. 7C, Chapter 4 (
www.dod.mil/comptroller/fmr
) or DoDI 1341.9 (
www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/
)
If you have
any questions concerning your claim, send an e-mail to DFAS
Adoption Reimbusement at
CCL-ADOPTION-REIMBURSEMENT@dfas.mil.
