What Are Adoption Benefits?
Adoption benefits include paid or unpaid time off during the adoption process and financial reimbursement for expenses. Costs vary, depending on whether adoption involves an American infant, an older American child in foster care (many of whom have disabilities or siblings) or an adoptee from overseas. The average stipend companies offer is $5,000, according to Gloria Hochman, director of communications for the National Adoption Center, though some employers pay up to $10,000. Reimbursement covers expenses like home studies, legal and agency fees, and travel. Total adoption costs can run from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands. Many employers also offer adoption assistance to employees, such as counseling and referral services. Some companies provide flexible scheduling. Hochman calls that an important option, because adoptive parents are generally anxious about the process. Larger corporations have bigger benefit budgets, Hochman says. Smaller companies and nonprofits are mor
