How much does the government pay to foster a child

How much do foster parents get paid in California – Knotts Family Agency

Although parenting is a full-time job, you cannot think of foster parenting as a way to cash out. If you’re in it for the money, then you’re fostering for the wrong reasons. Foster families don’t actually get “paid” for taking care of a child. They receive reimbursements for the money they spend taking care of the child’s needs. This money is not meant to be used to buy a new car or pay for your rent or some other expenses that don’t have anything to do with the immediate essential needs of the foster child. Bear in mind that irrespective of the subsidy or financial assistance you receive, you will still be responsible for providing the essential items needed to adequately care for the child and the financial cost of that will be borne by you. If you’re planning on being approved and serving as a foster parent in California, you’ll probably still want to know how much reimbursement you can expect to receive to help offset some of the costs of raising your foster child. In this article, we answer some of the most common questions prospective foster parents have about much they can expect to get paid, how the amount is determined, and other incentives they might be given to help take some of the weight of raising a foster child off their shoulders.

How much do foster parents get paid monthly per child: Depending on the county where you’re licensed as a foster parent, the reimbursement package ranges from $25 to $30 per day for each child. This amount increases if you’re fostering a child with additional needs.
When do the payments start coming in: It usually takes a few weeks for the first payment to arrive, but that depends on the day the child was placed in your home. If you are with a Foster Family Agency (FFA), the counties generally send checks to the FFA around the initial 15 days of the month, so it could be that you have to wait a few weeks. Once the first payment arrives, you can expect to get a paycheck once every month to cover the essential needs of the child(ren) in your home.
Take advantage of the cost-saving opportunities available to you: We know that bringing up a child today is an expensive affair. The state tries to soften the impact on your finances even further by giving valuable tax breaks to foster parents. There are also programs offering free stuff like clothing for foster children.

To qualify as a foster parent, you must have a stable and verifiable source of income which you can use to meet your family’s basic needs—food, shelter, and clothing. The reimbursements you get cannot be used as a primary source of income to cater to your family’s financial needs.

1. How much do foster parents get paid monthly per child?

The state of California pays foster parents an average of $1000 to $2,609 per month to help with the expenses from taking care of the child. It is one of the highest-paying states in the nation in this regard. This figure is for each child you take into your home. The highest rates correspond to children with additional needs, because they will require more attention, time, and tending to than other children. Know that you can’t just pocket the payments and take the child to the hospital or to visit other professionals that help with taking care of them. You need to be patient with children, shower them with more attention, listen and learn their needs, and basically find ways to care for them that wouldn’t complicate their situation even further. Children may have been severely neglected, suffered physical/sexual/emotional abuse, and may be carrying around complex emotional issues as a result of what they’ve been through. They may also have some condition—depression, anxiety, autism, or physical disablement—that prevents them from acting appropriately for their age or being able to respond normally to certain situations. Whatever their challenge is, you need to be understanding. Remember that you’re dealing with a person’s life. The child entrusted to your care will come to depend on you for so much, and you cannot afford to do wrong by them. It is also important to identify a foster family agency that is committed to providing you with the ongoing support needed. This will go a long way in ensuring that you are successful as a foster parent. You need to constantly examine yourself, be open to learning new skills and training that will allow you to communicate better with your foster child, and be an incredible parent to them. Raising a child is a lot to undertake, but it’s one of the most fulfilling things you can do. Even if you decide to adopt your foster child, you’ll still be entitled to receive a small monthly payment to assist with the child’s upkeep. The amount of money you’ll receive will depend on the child’s age and personal needs. The amount you receive in reimbursement depends on the county you reside in or the foster family. In California, the state prescribes a minimum monthly payment, but agencies may provide higher than the minimum. Talk to a foster family agency to learn more about what your foster care reimbursement payments may be. Hopefully, this payment will help make foster care a little less stressful for you and your family.

2. When do the payments start coming in?

Every county or Foster Family Agency has its own timeline for payments, which you’ll be informed of after your application is approved and you’re given the clearance to start fostering. You will need to have some funds available while you wait at least one month before the payments are sent to you. Some counties are better at expediting payment than others, so the time for the first check to arrive may vary. Make sure you have money saved up to cover the childcare costs until the subsidy payments start coming in. In some cases, the county social worker may approve a one-time extra allowance for purchasing clothes for your foster child, but that also takes a while to arrive. So, be prepared to go shopping for clothes for your new ward out of your own pocket. But no need to go overboard with shopping. Like we mentioned earlier, this payment is not meant to cover all of the child’s expenses, only the basic needs. This includes:

Transportation
Food
Clothing
Personal expenses

You won’t have to worry about medical bills because every foster child is covered under the state’s health insurance. Behavioral or mental health needs are also included under their insurance coverage.

3. Take advantage of the cost-saving opportunities available to you

The reimbursement payment you get is not the only financial aid that you can receive as a foster parent. There are a number of other options you can explore as well to help you cut costs such as a tax credit. Although foster children do not qualify for many of the same deductions and credits as biological or adopted children, they’re still eligible for a couple of tax breaks. For starters, the reimbursements you receive from the state are non-taxable so you don’t have to worry about it being cut down any further. Check to see whether your county also provides childcare coverage so you can work while being a foster parent without having to carry the entire cost of childcare alone. This can help you save money that would have been spent on babysitting and other related expenses. There are programs that provide free clothing and gifts for foster children. Signing up for them is another great way to cut down on the costs of foster parenting. Additionally, if your foster child is an infant, toddler, or under the age of 5, they are probably eligible for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) special supplemental nutrition program, which is aimed at providing nutritious foods to supplement diets for women and children at nutritional risk. Don’t be ashamed about needing a little extra help to care for the foster child in your care. You’re doing the best that you can to see that they have a good life and that’s all that matters.

Conclusion

When you take into account the responsibilities that come with being a foster parent, the stipend, it becomes evident that the money received should not be the primary reason for deciding to be a foster parent. Just remember that financial gain is not an incentive to foster. You shouldn’t consider the reimbursement you receive as payment for doing your job because you’re not being paid for providing a service. The payment is to help cover the costs of caring for the child in your home. Your true reward is in being able to help a vulnerable child feel safe, supported, and loved. If after looking at the numbers above and understanding what exactly you’ll be signing up for and you’re still interested in becoming a foster parent in California, all you need to do is contact a reputable foster family agency and get started on your application.

How Much do Foster Parents Get Paid?

“How much do foster parents get paid?” It’s a frequently asked question among prospective foster parents. As one might expect, there isn’t a single, straightforward answer. Monthly subsidy rates vary from state to state and the needs of the child in question is another significant factor.

Following we’ll cover basic information about foster care subsidies, as well as specifics concerning the four states in which Omni operates: Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and North Carolina.

Foster care subsidies

The main thing to remember about monthly foster care stipends is that the money is a subsidy, not income. In other words, a foster parent is not an employee of a private agency or an employee of the state.

So a foster care subsidy does not provide income for a foster family. The money is intended to pay for a foster child’s needs—and only those needs.

Taxes and foster care subsidies

As for the tax implications of foster care subsidies, it’s always advisable to consult with a tax professional in regards to reporting, deductions, and so forth. But it’s safe to say that the subsidies are not typically considered taxable income, nor can the money be considered income for the purposes of, say, a loan application.

And it’s not intended to serve as supplemental income, which is one of the reasons why prospective foster parents are typically asked to provide proof of income during the application and approval process. Agencies want to be sure that a parent is able to provide for their own needs—and needs of their own children, if any—without the foster care subsidy.

As for tax deductions, the same kind of credits and deductions available to parents of biological or adopted children typically aren’t available for foster children.

But you might be able to qualify for claiming a foster child as a dependent (if the agency you’re working with doesn’t accept donations). In that case, it’s possible that you might be able to deduct foster care expenses as you would charitable donations.

Fostering Children with Special Needs

It’s also worth noting that the foster parents who take care of children with special needs typically receive a more generous monthly payment, as special needs children require more time, money, and attention.

But the definition of what qualifies as “special needs” differs from state to state, and the terminology states use to categorize special needs children also varies by state, as you’ll see from the following insights related to Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and North Carolina.

Ready to Become a Foster Parent?

Tennessee’s Foster Care Board Rates

According to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS), “DCS Foster Care Board Rates are tied to the USDA cost of raising a child in the urban south, and include housing, respite, food, transportation, clothing, children’s allowance and miscellaneous items. ”

Regular foster care board rates for Tennessee are currently set at $25.38 per day for children aged 0-11 and $29.09 per day for children twelve and older. Current special circumstances board rates are $27.92 for children 0-11 and $32.00 per day for kids who are twelve and older. (Special circumstances rates apply to a child that has a diagnosed medical/mental health condition or developmental delay that substantially limits a major life activity—one that requires a level of supervision exceeding that of their peers and one that also requires extra care due to physical, emotional, or mental disability.)

Any updates made to the above-mentioned rates can be found on DCS’ Web site, along with information about so-called “extra foster care expenses” (Christmas, Birthday, Graduations).

Kentucky’s Per Diem Foster Care Rates

As for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, its foster care rates “include the costs of housing, food, clothing, incidentals, personal allowances, haircuts, respite care, routine babysitting, non-medical transportation, sports/activities, and school supplies. ”

In Kentucky, “the foster care rate structure is designed to give foster parents flexibility and autonomy to decide how to spend money for the children in their home,” but the state also provides minimum amounts that should be spent for clothing, diapers, incidentals and allowance.

Basic per Diem rates for children 0-11 range from $19.70 a day to $21.90 per day, while rates for children 12 and up are $21.70 to $23.90 per day. Rates for a child in an emergency shelter home are $30.00 per day, with rates for kids who are medically fragile or in a family treatment home range from $37.00 to $45.00 per day.

Read more about How to Become a Foster Parent in KY.

Indiana’s Foster Care Per Diem Rates

Meanwhile, Indiana’s Department of Child Services recently updated its foster care per diem rates for 2019. In Indiana there are multiple categories in which a child may be categorized, including Foster Care; Foster Care with Services, Therapeutic Foster Care, and Therapeutic Plus.

Depending on the age of the child in question, Foster Care per diem rates range from $20.87 to $26.15, and the range for Foster Care with Services (moderate developmental or behavioral/emotional needs) is from $28.64 to $33.92.

Therapeutic Foster Care rates range from $40.78 per day to $46.06 per day, while Therapeutic Plus rates are $64.53 per day for children 0-4, $66.32 per day for children 5-13, and $69.81 for kids 14-18.

North Carolina

Last but not least, the state of North Carolina is an outlier in that it doesn’t publish foster care per diem’s on its Web site, noting only that monthly foster care payments are available, and that foster parents may receive financial assistance “until the child turns 18 or permanently leaves the home.”

For more detailed information about rates in North Carolina, call Omni’s state office at 919-334-0249. Or read How to Become a Foster Parent in NC.

Ready to Become a Foster Parent?

Ready to begin the application and approval process?

If you’re interested in becoming a foster parent in North Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana or Tennessee, we encourage you to complete our information request form or to contact the Omni Visions office nearest your home.

For two decades Omni has specialized in providing training and support to caregivers so foster children can reach their fullest potential. Together we can provide a brighter future for our children. Give us a call toll-free at (800) 851-6108.

How much money do you get for fostering a child in Kentucky?

Basic rates for children are around $20 per day. Children with special needs may be more per day.

Useful Resources

Foster Parent Requirements

Become A Foster or Adoptive Parent

Foster Care FAQ

How Long Does it Take to Become a Foster Parent

Benefits of Being a Foster Parent

You Can Start the Foster Parent Process During COVID-19

Foster Care Therapeutic vs Traditional

One-time allowance for the transfer of a child to a family (at the expense of the budget of St. Petersburg)

Applicants have the right to a pre-trial (out-of-court) appeal against decisions and actions (inaction) taken (carried out) by the Administration, officials of the Administration, civil servants of the Administration in the course of providing public services. The pre-trial (out-of-court) appeal procedure does not exclude the possibility of appealing against decisions and actions (inaction) taken (carried out) in the course of providing public services in court. The pre-trial (out-of-court) appeal procedure is not mandatory for the applicant. nine0003

The procedure for pre-trial (out-of-court) appeal against decisions and actions (inaction) of the executive body providing the public service, officials of the executive body providing the public service is determined by Federal Law No. 210-FZ.

Information on the procedure for filing and considering a complaint is provided to applicants by posting information on the page of the Administration and the Committee for Social Policy of St. Petersburg on the official website of the Administration of St. Petersburg, on the portal, as well as using telephone means, in writing, by e-mail, upon personal appointment. nine0003

The applicant may file a complaint in the following cases:

violation of the deadline for registering a request for the provision of a public service;
violation of the term for the provision of public services;
requiring the applicant to provide documents or information or perform actions, the submission or implementation of which is not provided for by the regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation, regulatory legal acts of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation for the provision of public services; nine0012
refusal to accept documents, the provision of which is provided for by the regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation, the regulatory legal acts of St. Petersburg for the provision of public services, from the applicant;
refusal to provide a public service, if the grounds for refusal are not provided for by federal laws and other regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation adopted in accordance with them, regulatory legal acts of St. Petersburg; nine0012
requirement from the applicant when providing a public service of a fee not provided for by the regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation, the regulatory legal acts of St. Petersburg;
refusal of the Administration, an official of the Administration, a civil servant of the Administration to correct typographical errors and errors in documents issued as a result of the provision of a public service, or violation of the deadline for such corrections; nine0012
violation of the term or procedure for issuing documents based on the results of the provision of public services;
suspension of the provision of a public service, if the grounds for suspension are not provided for by federal laws and other regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation adopted in accordance with them, laws and other regulatory legal acts of St. Petersburg;
requirement from the applicant when providing the public service of documents or information, the absence and (or) unreliability of which was not indicated upon the initial refusal to accept the documents necessary for the provision of the public service, or in the provision of the public service, except for the cases provided for in clause 4 of part 1 of the article 7 of Federal Law No. 210-FZ. nine0012

If the complaint is filed through a representative, a document confirming the authority to act on behalf of the complainant is also submitted. As a document confirming the authority to act on behalf of the applicant, the following can be submitted:

power of attorney issued in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation (for individuals).

Subject of complaint nine0003

The complaint must contain:

name of the Administration, position and surname, first name, patronymic (last name, if any) of an official or civil servant of the Administration whose decisions and actions (inaction) are being appealed;
last name, first name, patronymic (the last one - if available), information about the place of residence of the applicant-individual, as well as the contact phone number (numbers), email address (s) (if any) and the postal address to which the application should be sent response to the applicant; nine0012
information about the appealed decisions and actions (inaction) of the Administration, an official of the Administration or a civil servant of the Administration, including in the case of filing a complaint with the MFC or through the portal-type of violation specified in paragraph 5. 1.1 of the administrative regulation;
arguments on the basis of which the applicant does not agree with the decision and action (inaction) of the Administration, an official of the Administration or a civil servant of the Administration. The applicant may submit documents (if any) confirming the applicant's arguments, or copies thereof. nine0012

Executive bodies and officials authorized to consider a complaint, to whom a complaint can be sent in a pre-trial (out-of-court) procedure

The complaint is submitted to the Administration providing the public service.

A complaint against decisions and actions (inaction) of the head of the Administration may also be filed with the Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg, who directly coordinates and controls the activities of the Administration, or, in his absence, with the head of the Administration. nine0003

Methods for filing and handling a complaint

A complaint may be filed:

in electronic form;
in writing on paper.

Submission of a complaint on paper is carried out:

by mail;
through the MFC;
at the personal reception of the applicant at the Administration (at the place of provision of the public service, i.e. at the place where the applicant applied for a public service, the violation of the procedure for the provision of which is being appealed, or at the place where the applicant received the result of the specified public service). nine0012

At a personal reception, the applicant presents a document proving his identity in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation.

The documents specified in paragraph 5.1.2 of the Administrative Regulations may be submitted in electronic form, while the identity document of the applicant is not required.

An electronic complaint is filed through the official website of the Administration of St. Petersburg (domain name of the site on the Internet - gov. spb.ru) in the section of the Administration, portal (domain name of the site on the Internet - gu.spb.ru) . nine0003

Filling out an application for consideration of a complaint through the portal is carried out by the applicant personally, subject to the authorization of the applicant on the portal through the ESIA.

Complaint Procedure

A complaint against decisions and actions (inaction) of the Administration, its officials and civil servants is considered by the Administration.

A complaint against decisions and actions (inaction) of the head of the Administration is considered by a higher authority. nine0003

The MFC, in case of filing a complaint through the MFC, ensures the transfer of the complaint to the Administration in the manner and terms established by the agreement on interaction between the MFC and the Administration, but no later than the next working day from the date of receipt of the complaint.

If the complaint is filed by the applicant with a body whose competence does not include making a decision on the complaint, within three working days from the date of its registration, the said body sends the complaint to the body authorized to consider it and informs the complainant in writing about the redirection of the complaint. In this case, the period for considering a complaint is calculated from the date of registration of the complaint with the body authorized to consider it. nine0003

If a different procedure (procedure) for filing and considering complaints is established by federal law in respect of a complaint received, the provisions of this section shall not apply, and the applicant shall be notified that his complaint will be considered in the manner and within the time limits stipulated by federal law.

The administration has the right to leave the complaint unanswered in the following cases:

presence in the complaint of obscene or offensive language, threats to life, health and property of an official, as well as members of his family; nine0012
the inability to read any part of the text of the complaint, the last name, first name, patronymic (if any) and (or) the postal address of the applicant indicated in the complaint.

If the complaint is left unanswered, the Administration, within three working days from the date of registration of the complaint, informs the citizen who filed the complaint about this, if his name and postal address are legible.

Deadlines for considering a complaint

The term for considering a complaint is calculated from the date of registration of the complaint with the Administration. nine0003

A complaint received by the Administration is subject to registration no later than the next working day from the date of its receipt. The complaint is subject to consideration by an official, an employee empowered to consider complaints, within fifteen working days from the date of its registration, unless shorter periods for considering a complaint are established by the Administration.

In the event of an appeal against the refusal of the Administration to accept documents from the applicant or to correct typographical errors and (or) errors, or in case of an appeal against a violation of the deadline for such corrections, the complaint is considered within five working days from the date of its registration. nine0003

Result of consideration of the complaint

Based on the results of consideration of the complaint, the Administration takes one of the following decisions:

the complaint is satisfied, including in the form of cancellation of the decision, correction of misprints and errors in documents issued as a result of the provision of public services, return to the applicant of funds, the collection of which is not provided for by the regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation, regulatory legal acts of St. Petersburg ; nine0012
refuses to satisfy the complaint.

This decision is taken in the form of an act of the Administration.

Based on the results of the audit, if there are no arguments in the complaint confirming the existence of the type of violation of the procedure for the provision of services indicated by the applicant, the official responsible for considering the complaint makes a decision to refuse to consider the complaint on the merits due to the inconsistency of the information contained in the complaint with the indicated type of violation. nine0003

The administration refuses to satisfy the complaint in the following cases:

the presence of a court decision that has entered into legal force, an arbitration court on a complaint about the same subject and on the same grounds;
filing a complaint by a person whose powers have not been confirmed in the manner prescribed by the legislation of the Russian Federation;
the presence of a decision on the complaint, taken earlier in accordance with the requirements of the administrative regulations in relation to the same applicant and on the same subject of the complaint. nine0012

If, during or as a result of the consideration of a complaint, signs of an administrative offense or crime are established, the official, employee empowered to consider complaints in accordance with paragraph 5.3 of the administrative regulation, immediately send the available materials to the prosecutor's office.

Procedure for informing the applicant about the results of the consideration of the complaint

Upon satisfaction of the complaint, the Administration takes comprehensive measures to eliminate the identified violations, including the issuance of the result of the public service to the applicant, no later than five working days from the date of the decision, unless otherwise provided by the legislation of the Russian Federation. nine0003

Not later than the day following the day of the decision, the applicant in writing and at the request of the applicant in electronic form shall be sent a reasoned response on the results of the consideration of the complaint.

In response to the results of the consideration of the complaint, the following shall be indicated:

name of the Administration, position, surname, name, patronymic (if any) of its official who made the decision on the complaint;
number, date, place of the decision, including information about the official, employee whose decision or action (inaction) is being appealed; nine0012
surname, name, patronymic (if any) or name of the applicant;
grounds for making a decision on the complaint;
decision made on the complaint;
if the complaint is found to be justified - the deadlines for eliminating the identified violations, including the deadline for providing the result of the public service;
if the complaint is found unfounded - reasoned explanations about the reasons for the decision, as well as information on the procedure for appealing the decision. nine0012

Also, in the response on the results of the consideration of the complaint, they apologize for the inconvenience caused and indicate information on further actions that the applicant needs to take in order to receive the public service.

The response based on the results of the consideration of the complaint is signed by an official of the Administration authorized to consider the complaint, endowed with the authority to consider complaints.

At the request of the applicant, a response based on the results of consideration of the complaint may be submitted no later than the day following the day the decision was made, in the form of an electronic document signed by an electronic signature of an official of the Administration authorized to consider the complaint, the form of which is established by the legislation of the Russian Federation. nine0003

Procedure for appealing a decision on a complaint

The decision made as a result of consideration of the complaint may be appealed to the Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg, who directly coordinates and controls the activities of the Administrations (Smolny proezd, 1, letter B, St. Petersburg, 191060, tel. (812) 576-62- 62, adm@gov. spb.ru), to the Government of St. Petersburg, as well as to the court in the manner and within the time limits stipulated by the current legislation. nine0003

The applicant has the right to receive information and documents necessary to substantiate and consider the complaint.

Informing applicants about the procedure for filing and considering a complaint is carried out by posting information on the portal.

Informing applicants about the procedure for appealing decisions and actions (inaction) is also carried out when the applicant contacts by phone, e-mail addresses, as well as in person at the addresses indicated on the official website of the Administration and on the portal. nine0003

The provisions of this section, which establish the procedure for filing and considering complaints of applicants about violations of their rights in the provision of public services, do not apply to relations regulated by the Federal Law "On the Procedure for Considering Appeals from Citizens of the Russian Federation" (Law No. 59-FZ).

Complaints of applicants about the organization of the provision of public services in the Administration are submitted and considered in the manner prescribed by Law No. 59-FZ. nine0003

Measures of social support BARNAUL :: Official website of the city

Procedure for receiving and considering applications

All appeals are received by the Department for Work with Citizens' Appeals of the Organizing and Control Committee of the Administration of the City of Barnaul and are considered in accordance with the Federal Law of May 2, 2006 No. 59-FZ "On the Procedure for Considering Appeals from Citizens of the Russian Federation" , by the law of the Altai Territory dated December 29, 2006 No. 152-ЗС "On consideration of applications of citizens of the Russian Federation in the territory of the Altai Territory", by the resolution of the administration of the city of Barnaul dated August 21, 2013 No. 2875 "On approval of the procedure for conducting office work on applications from citizens, associations of citizens, including legal entities, organization of their consideration in the city administration, city administration bodies, other local government bodies, municipal institutions, enterprises. nine0003

Reception of written applications from citizens, associations of citizens, including legal entities, is accepted at the address: 656043, Barnaul, Gogol St., 48, room 114 .

Schedule for receiving documents: Monday - Thursday from 08.00 to 17.00 , Friday from 08.00 to 16.00 , break from 11.30 to 12.18. When documents are received, verification of points is carried out, provided for in Article 7 of the Federal Law of 02.05.2006 No. 59-FZ "On the procedure for considering applications from citizens of the Russian Federation": nine0003

1. A citizen in his written application must indicate either the name of the state body or local self-government body to which he sends a written application, or the last name, first name, patronymic of the relevant official, or the position of the corresponding person, as well as his last name, first name, patronymic ( the last one, if any), the postal address to which the response should be sent, the notice of redirection of the appeal, sets out the essence of the proposal, application or complaint, puts a personal signature and date. nine0003

2. If necessary, in support of his arguments, the citizen shall attach documents and materials or their copies to the written application.

3. An appeal received by a state body, local government body or official in the form of an electronic document is subject to consideration in the manner established by this Federal Law.

In the appeal, the citizen must indicate his last name, first name, patronymic (the last one, if any), email address. A citizen has the right to attach the necessary documents to such an appeal. nine0003

In accordance with Article 12 of the Federal Law of May 2, 2006 No. 59-FZ, a written appeal received by a state body, local government body or official is considered within 30 days from the date of its registration .

The response to an electronic appeal is sent in the form of an electronic document to the e-mail address indicated in the appeal, or in writing to the postal address indicated in the appeal.