Covid-19 Coronavirus

Adoption Allowance

Incapacity Benefits Team

Social Security Division

Markwell House

Market Street

Douglas

IM1 2RZ

Telephone:+44 1624 685656 (option 2)

Email:Send Email

Adoption Allowance (ADA) is paid to help you take time off work to be with the child or children you are adopting.

ADA may be paid for a maximum of 39 weeks, starting at the earliest 2 weeks before the child (or children) is placed with you and at the latest, the day after placement.

Basic qualifying conditions

  • You must be a person with whom a child is, or is expected to be, placed for adoption under Isle of Man law
  • Have stopped work, or be taking leave from employment
  • Have worked in employed earners employment for at least 26 weeks of the 66 weeks immediately before  the week in which you are told you have been matched with a child
  • In any 13 weeks of the same 66 week period have had average earnings of not less than £30

Applying for Adoption Allowance

Complete claim form ADA1 and send it to us:

  • 4 weeks before the date you want the allowance to start
  • With certificate ADA2 and wage slips for the selected 13 weeks

The earliest the adoption allowance period can start is 2 weeks before the child is placed for adoption, and the latest, if you are working on the day of placement, is the day after placement.

Your partner may be able to claim Paternity Allowance for up to 2 weeks if they take time off work to offer support.

Back to top