SSI: Improving the Transition for Foster Youth with Serious Disabilities Child Welfare Conference May 29, 2008
Feb 01, 2016
SSI: Improving the Transition for Foster Youth with Serious Disabilities
Child Welfare Conference May 29, 2008
Overview of Presentation
Overview of SSI New requirements: AB 1633 & AB 1331 Case Study: Alameda County Available resources Q & A
SSI Transitions Project
PILP
Alliance for Children’s
Rights
John Burton Foundation
Why is it important to consider SSI for transition-age foster youth? Disabled youth fare poorly SSI is underutilized among foster youth SSI is not based on dependency status Linked to Medi-Cal Qualifies youth for affordable housing
What is SSI/SSP?
Need-based program that gives cash aid to blind and disabled people who have limited income and assets.
Grant ranges from $749 to $1,042 per month depending on:
• Adult vs. minor• Aged or disabled vs. blind• Living arrangement
SSI Eligibility Criteria
Little or no income
Few or no resources
Citizen or qualified non-citizen
Disabled
SSI Disability Standard Adults (over age 18)
Inability to engage in substantial gainful employment and
expected to last at least 12 months or result in death
Children (under 18 or 22, if in school)
Marked or severe functional limitation and
Expected to last at least 12 months or result in death
Presumptive Disabilities HIV infection
Total blindness
Birth weight below two pounds, 10 ounces
Total deafness
Cerebral palsy
Down syndrome
Muscular dystrophy
Severe mental retardation (child age 7 or older)
Why don’t more children and youth in foster care get SSI?
Option 1:Federally eligible youth: $3,500 per month • $1,750 from federal Title IV-E• $700 from state• $1050 from county
Option 2:SSI/SSP: $1,042• $630 from federal government• $412 from state
• $2,458 county-only supplement
Example:
Placement : Level 10 residential
Age: 17
Disability: Bi-polar disorder and severe functional limitation
Important recent legislation AB 1633
(1) development of best practice guidelines
(2) counties manage benefits in youth’s best interests
(3) assist youth in receiving direct payment of finding payee
(4) Inform youth of process of maintaining eligibility as adults
AB 1331
(1) Screen every youth for SSI eligibility between age 16.5 and 17.5
(2) Make an SSI application on behalf of likely eligible youth
Sample SSI Application Timeline
Change aid code &
submit SSI application; Youth
determined eligible for
SSI; benefits placed in suspense
Conduct screening
Return aid code
CDR conducted
Youth discharged, SSI benefits taken out of suspense,
and AB 1633 duties met
Goal of AB 1331 is for disabled youth to exit care with SSI in place
Not greater than 12 months
16.5 17 1817.5* 18.5
What are the AB 1633 Duties?
1. Manage funds in best interests of child Maintenance accounts Dedicated accounts
2. Assist youth in receiving direct payment or finding new payee before emancipation
3. Inform youth of SSI/SSP eligibility and process of maintaining eligibility and assist the youth with the continuing disability review process
Alameda County Case Study
• Caseload composition
• Previous SSI efforts • SSI Transitions Project
• New screening process
• Expected outcome
Alameda Caseload Composition Child Welfare 2500 youth in out of home placement
about half of youth in placement have been in care for longer than 2 years about 63% of youth in placement are African American about 70 % of youth 16 and over in placement are African American about 67% of youth in group homes are African American
630 youth 16 and older 750 youth in home 750 entries per year 109 Child Welfare youth on SSI
Probation 220 youth in out of home placement 10 Probation youth on SSI
SSI Efforts and Screening Process Contract out all applications and screening, previously Fred
Blake & Assoc. (now Public Consulting Group) and Homeless Action Center
Prior to AB1331, the contractor screened cases that had low or no IVE payments
Since AB1331, the contractor screens all youth 16.5 and older as well as younger youth in low or no IVE placements
Additionally, Homeless Action Center, local CBO, was contracted for the first time to screen all youth in Probation placements
Child Welfare and Probation staff have minimal responsibilities, no referral paperwork or application responsibilities
Expected Outcomes
All youth will emancipate care will benefits they are entitled to at no cost to them or their caregivers
Partnership with Probation is enhanced All providers, caregivers, and staff are trained
and notified of new legislation Documentation by caregivers, providers, and
staff is improved
Barriers and Troubleshooting
Medi-Cal switches from local control to Social Security Administration
Deciding to contract service out or complete all steps of application by local staff
Disability determination Accurate documentation for case file reviews
Resources and Next Steps
Establish AB 1331 county liaison Conduct trainings to educate child welfare
workers and providers Develop and document process Trouble-shoot and retrain Get help at www.ssitransitions.org
For More Information
Amy LemleyJohn Burton Foundation(415) [email protected]
Connie LinasAlameda County Children & Family [email protected]
Questions?