Adoption Benefit

In an effort to help provide more Kentucky children permanent and loving homes, Executive Order 2019-787 was enacted to enhance the Adoption Benefit Program. This Order increases the amounts to $5,000 ($7,000 for children with special needs) in the form of a reimbursement, a stipend, or combination thereof to help cover adoption expenses as well as offset future medical or educational expenses. This Order is applicable to adoptions finalized on or after October 22, 2019.

Stipends can be used to fund either KY Stable Accounts through the Kentucky State Treasury or Kentucky Educational Savings Plan Trust Accounts through the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority.

Please contact your agency's Human Resource Administrator to find out if you are covered. See the Kentucky Administrative Regulation for more details. 

How to apply

If you are interested in applying for this benefit, please use the link below to submit your application and supporting documentation electronically.

​Adoption Reimbursement Application

Submit a copy of the Judgment of Adoption.

Submit a copy of the Cabinet Notification Letter. This should be addressed to your Appointing Authority.

Submit a copy of an Affi​davit of Expenses​ related to the adoption or an Affidavit of Expenses that has been approved by the court.

Submit proof of payment showing expenditures in the amount for which you are requesting reimbursement. Reimbursable expenses include any legal fees, agency adoption fees, travel, and unreimbursed medical expenses related to the adoption process.    

Note: If you are seeking a special needs designation, you must have certification by the Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services that the child meets their criteria. Contact the Personnel Cabinet's adoption benefit coordinator for more information on how to obtain this certification.

Family medical leave​​​

State employees who adopt a child also have access to the same benefits that are offered to birth parents, including Family Medical Leave. For more information on the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), please review the FMLA section of the employee handbook.  

Member of the military?

The Kentucky National Guard Adoption Benefit Program allows actively serving members of the Kentucky Air and Army National Guard to be reimbursed for a portion of the direct costs incurred in the adoption process.  The program is administered by the Kentucky Department of Military Affairs, Division of Administrative Services, utilizing the resources of the Military Family Assistance Trust Fund. For more information contact Crystal Simpson directly by e-mail.

​Contact Us​​

Office of Employee Relations
Employee Adoption Program
502.564.9818