Foster youth: Supplemental Security Income.

Existing law provides for the out-of-home placement, including foster care placement, of children who are unable to remain in the custody and care of their parents. Existing law, the federal Social Security Act, provides for benefits for eligible beneficiaries, including survivorship and disability benefits and supplemental security income (SSI) benefits for, among others, blind and disabled children. Existing law requires the county to provide specified information relating to SSI payments to a foster youth receiving those benefits when the youth is approaching their 18th birthday, including providing information regarding the federal requirement that the youth establish continuing disability as an adult in order for SSI benefits to continue. Existing law declares the intent of the Legislature that nonminor dependents who receive federal SSI benefits may serve as their own payee, if it is determined that the nonminor dependent satisfies the criteria established by the Social Security Administration, and should be assisted by the county welfare department in receiving direct payment. Existing law requires a youth in foster care and nearing emancipation to be screened by the county for potential eligibility SSI benefits, as specified. This bill would revise and expand these provisions with respect to nonminor dependents, including requiring the county, if the youth elects to remain in foster care as a nonminor dependent after attaining 18 years of age, to assist the nonminor dependent in establishing continuing disability as an adult, including identifying an appropriate representative payee, which may include the nonminor dependent, a trusted adult, or the county. The bill would specify the duties of the county if selected as a nonminor dependent's representative payee. The bill would revise screening requirements for foster youth nearing emancipation, including requiring the youth to be under the supervision of the county child welfare agency, juvenile probation department, or tribal organization, and requiring the screening to first occur when the youth is over 16 years of age. The bill also would require the county to screen all nonminor dependents for potential eligibility for SSI benefits, and to submit an application on behalf of any nonminor dependent who is screened as being likely to be eligible for those benefits and consents to the application, as specified. The bill would require the county to assist the nonminor dependent or representative payee other than the county to provide information to the Social Security Administration to ensure that the nonminor dependent receives the appropriate number of payments. The bill would replace various references to county welfare departments to instead refer to county placement agencies. By increasing duties of county placing agencies assisting foster youth and nonminor dependents, the bill would impose a state-mandated program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.