An Act protecting benefits owed to foster children

This bill requires the Department of Children and Families to actively identify and apply for federal benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income, on behalf of children in foster care. It mandates that the department manage these funds as a representative payee, ensuring money is used for the child's unmet needs and saved in special accounts to protect eligibility limits. The legislation also establishes strict rules prohibiting the use of these benefits to pay for the child's foster care placement and requires the department to provide regular financial updates to the child and their legal counsel. Additionally, the bill outlines procedures for transitioning these funds to the child or a new payee when the youth ages out of the system or reunifies with their family.