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) 693-1322amy@johnburtonfoundation.org

Connie LinasAlameda County Children & Family Services510-780-8947linasc@acgov.org

Questions?