There is a benefit that many Servicemembers are not aware of, it is the DoD Defense Department support for Servicemembers who adopt children. A family of a Servicemember in the military can adopt children and receive a reimbursement, for up to two thousand dollars for each child. The amount that a Servicemember is limited to for adoption reimbursement annually is five thousand dollars. There are certain rules that have to be followed, but this can potentially assist young families who are looking to adopt one or more children.
There are a number of hoops that a Servicemember must jump through to qualify for the adoption benefits, but once that is done they are eligible for the adoption stipend. The following conditions must be met for the adoption to go through:
-The status of the Servicemember must be on active duty for the preceding 180 days.
-The adoption has to take place while the Servicemember is still on active duty.
-The reimbursement has to be submitted within 1 year of the adoption becoming final.
The member or individual that qualified for the adoption stipend by their active duty service has to submit the form DD 2675 (Reimbursement Request for Adoption Expenses).
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The Servicemember has to give a form for the adoption, and provide a copy of the Court Order that orders the adoption has been final. Adoptions that take place outside of the United States the Servicemember has the responsibility for giving a translated copy of the adoption papers to the Defense Department along with the DD 2675 when they apply for the reimbursement.
Proof of the child being a citizen of the United States can be provided to the Department of Defense by any of the following sources:
-Copy of US Passport for the Child.
-Copy of Certificate of Citizenship.
-Copy of Alien Resident Permanent Residence Card including the code for IR3 showing clearly.
-A letter from the Citizenship services and US Immigration department stating the status of the child and their adoptive citizenship status.
For the purpose of reimbursement the Servicemember should be prepared to demonstrate and document expenses they have incurred for an adoption. Expenses such as medical expenses, court costs, travel costs to provide for the adoption, fees charged for the adoption, and other fees that are associated with the adoption.
