Supplemental Security Income. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA).  SSA pays monthly benefits to people with limited income and resources who are disabled, blind, or age 65 or older. Blind or disabled children may also get SSI. Children younger than age 18 can qualify if they have a medical condition or combination of conditions that meets Social Security’s definition of disability. Their income and resources must fall within the eligibility limits. The amount of SSI payment differs from state to state because some states add to the SSI payment. 
 
Nationally, approximately 10 to 12 percent of foster youth receive disability, survivor, or veterans' benefits. Closer to 20 percent are eligible. The annual average disability benefit per youth ranges from $700 to $850 per month.
 
Department of Children, Youth, and Families.  When a child enters into the care of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), the child’s caseworker determines if the child is entitled to any benefits.  If the child is entitled to benefits, the caseworker applies to the appropriate agency for DCYF to be made the payee.  Most funds are used to reimburse DCYF for the child’s cost of care expenses unless there is an authorized policy exemption.  Any remaining funds are retained in an interest bearing account and can be disbursed for special needs or extra items that directly benefit the child, if applicable. 

As of July 1, 2027, DCYF may not apply benefits, payments, funds, or accrual paid to, or on behalf of, a person in the care of DCYF as reimbursement for the cost of the person's care.
 
DCYF is to:

• assess whether the person is eligible for public benefits; and
• develop and implement a financial literacy training including information related to public benefits.

The training is to be provided to persons exiting the care of DCYF, when the person is over the age of 16, receiving or may be eligible to receive public benefits, and is likely to have the ability to participate in the management of their benefits in the future.
 
Cost of Care Work Group. The Cost of Care Work Group (work group) is created in DCYF.  DCYF is to convene the first meeting by September 1, 2023. The work group is to consider and analyze how other states and jurisdictions are addressing, and make recommendations regarding the following:

• how DCYF can conserve funds from public benefits for the future use of people in the care of DCYF while maintaining eligibility for public benefits;
• how an appropriate representative payee can be established on behalf of a person eligible to receive benefits;
• the age at which a beneficiary may have access to their benefits;
• preliminary cost estimates and a timeline for DCYF to discontinue applying benefits, payments, funds, or accrual paid against the cost of care, and how to conserve those funds for the future use of people in the care of DCYF after July 1, 2027;
• who, if anyone beyond the beneficiary, should be notified when a person's eligibility is determined;
• how often DCYF shall assess whether a person in the care of DCYF is eligible for SSA or other public benefits; and
• a process for ongoing monitoring of DCYF's compliance with not using a person's public benefits as reimbursement for the cost of the person's care.

The work group is to include, but not be limited to, the following members:

• one or more experts familiar with social security survivor benefits, veteran survivor benefits, railroad retirement survivor benefits, or other similar cash benefits;
• one or more advocates for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities;
• current or former youth with intellectual or developmental disabilities, who are in or have been in the care of DCYF, who receive or may be eligible to receive federal SSI benefits;
• the Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services, or their designee; and
• the Director of the Health Care Authority and their designee.

The work group shall seek input from individuals who are eligible for public benefits who have lived experience in the child welfare and juvenile rehabilitation systems; the parents and the caregivers of people who are eligible for SSI benefits or other similar federal benefits and are involved with the child welfare system or juvenile rehabilitation, and SSA.
 
By December 1, 2024, DCYF is to submit a report to the Legislature and the Governor which includes recommendations from the work group. The report must also provide information on the cost of implementing the change of not using a person's public benefits to reimburse DCYF for the person's cost of care, and whether statutory changes are needed.
 
The work group ends December 31, 2027.

PRO: When children are placed in the state's care, it is our responsibility to do right by them. Around 10-15% of children in our care receive some sort of public benefit but it's our current practice to use this money to pay for the cost of the child's care. Kids need to be set up for stability when they exit care, given their higher rates of homelessness and incarceration. Also, this money already belongs to them. Under this bill, older children will also get financial literacy training and the cost of care work group is to work through obstacles in implementation and establish best practices. This bill is similar to a bill that eliminated charging parents for the cost of their child's stay in juvenile rehabilitation. Conserving public benefit payments rather reimbursing the state for the cost of care to help support youth to transition out of system of care into stability is the right use of these dollars.  Often kids don't even know they are receiving benefits, the money should be held in an ABLE  or other trust account.  Would prefer that this practice ended sooner than later.