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No, not really. Hard to place children can sometimes come with an adoption allowance but adoption isn't the same as fostering. Adoption allowance will be means tested.

Ok thank you. So how do people manage, i know about child benefit and tax credit.I earn about £21k a year for full time work, i have a mortgage on my house, i pay my bills, food and petrol. After which i have £40 left each week to play with if i were to go out, which i dont very often. I am unable to save as dont earn enough. I do not have sky or any luxuries in the house so cannot cut anything back.

You manage the same way anyone with children does, adopted or not. How would you manage if you had a birth child?Your finances will be examined and you will have to demonstrate that you are in a financial position to support a child. And you will be expected to take time off when/if a child is placed. You will then receive adoption pay - like maternity pay - from your employer.

With that kind of income as a single adopter you would probably be entitled to some adoption support in the early days (allowance is normally only payable while you are on leave from work). However you would also be entitled to child benefit and working tax credit. Depending on the child you may also get more help - not specific to adoption but the same as a parent with a disabled birth child.Start by finding out what you would get on adoption leave as employers vary hugely.

I work for the LA so as far as I know it is a good package for adoption pay etc.

I could well get turned down for finance reasons then if they dont think i would have enough to support a child. I have contacted the LA what other agencies do you suggest??

Look at local voluntary agencies. They normally hold fairly frequent meetings. Tend to advertise in local press.Phoebe x

You can get child tax credits and working tax credits. Sadly I get neither but I think - probably on a .gov website - you can work out what benefits you will be entitled to.You may also be given a settling in allowance for major purchases but ultimately - whether you apply via LA or VA - you will have to demonstrate that your finances are healthy enough to support a child. I wouldn't count on an AA unless you're planning on adopting a child with disabilities.

HiI earn a little less than you full time, my sw asked how I would manage money. I told I could do things like extend loan period to reduce payments.I worked out Tax credits means I can reduce my hours but my money will stay around the same as it is now.I've also managed to save quite a bit this year but I cut down my spare money (after bills petrol food etc) to £20 a week which was hard but I wanted money saved more than I wanted a takeout, new top etc.And I know you haven't asked but I like to share my best money saving tip ever...Take the money out of the cash point that you need for the week (I include food shopping in this) at the start of a week and don't pay for anything on card or get extra cash out.

I am also sorry to have to tell you that children are notoriously spendaholic! Quite apart from the rate at which they grow out of clothes and shoes, and the food you buy which they love one week and won't touch the next, they put huge demands on you in terms of toys and entertainment. Now, you obviously don't have to give in to all their demands, but a certain amount of expense is inevitable, I'm afraid, and the older the child gets the more peer pressure there is - DS is now the only one of his friends who hasn't got a Nintendo DS 3, for example. At the moment, DS is 'earning' marbles as part of a reward system - when the jar is full he gets £2. It's great, as I can always tell him he has to use his marble money to save for a particular toy.Just something to add in to the mix - I spend much more than I should on 'snacks' when we are out (I try to take them from home but he seems to develop ravenous hunger for some reason). It all adds up.

Thank you all for your words of wisdom, it has all helped.