General Payment Rules

The following payment rules apply:

The Foster Care payment discontinues on the date of finalization or Adoptive placement after the AD 4320 is signed. This information is retained in the Service Program Adoption case file.
For a child in a FFA placement, the payment discontinues and the AAP payments begin at the time of the adoption, as long as the “Adoption Assistance Agreement” (AD 4320) and “Adoptive Placement Agreement” (AD 907) are signed. The forms are completed by the Service Program Adoption Social Worker and kept in Service Program Adoption case file. Refer to “Adoptive Placements for Dependent Children Legally Free for Adoption [CCR Section 80007(a)(13)].
Federal participation is available for the payment rate up to the AFDC-FC basic rate for family homes including any special care increments and dual agency rates that the child would have been eligible for had they remained in Foster Care.
If federal participation is not available, the AAP payment shall be paid from state or non-federal funds. The maximum payment for non-federal AAP is the same as the federal rate.
AAP payments are to be paid even if the child resides outside of the county, state or country. If the child or youth is temporarily living away form the adoptive parent home and the AAP benefit is not authorized for that home, the agency shall consider the child to be living in the adoptive home. Thus benefits will continue to the adoptive parent(s).
AAP benefit will be reduced if the AAP benefit amount exceeds the state approved maintenance payment. This normally occurs when the AAP rate was not based on the correct rate tier. Refer to “Eligibility.
The reduction of AAP benefit amount based on any type of income the child receives from a birth parent, relative or adoptive parents is prohibited.

Note: For more information, [Refer to “Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) Rates Effective 7/1/2015,” page 3-58].

General Payment Rules

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