The Public Employment Benefit Authority (PEBA) provides financial assistance, through their State Employee Adoption Assistance Program, to eligible state employees who are adopting a child under the age of 18.  PEBA will accept applications through September 30, 2022 for eligible adoptions that were finalized between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022.

To be eligible to receive financial support through the State Employee Adoption Program,

• You must be a permanent or probationary full-time or part-time employee of any agency, institution, hospital, or public school of the state of South Carolina. Temporary grant and time-limited employees are eligible.
  
  
• You must have PEBA insurance coverage with the state from the date of the finalized adoption to the date when the benefit is paid.

Financial assistance to help with the expenses of a non-special needs child is a maximum amount of $5,000 and for a special needs child, the maximum amount is $10,000.  Eligible expenses include costs related to any expenses associated with the adoption of the child.  The money is subject to federal income and FICA payroll taxes, but not state income taxes.

Additional information on the State Employee Adoption Assistance Program is available on the PEBA website or by calling 803-734-1696.  Request an application by contacting PEBA’s Financial Services Department at insuranceaccounting@peba.sc.gov.