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Committee Hears Broad Support to Protect Social Security Benefits for Youth in Foster Care
Summary
The Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities heard extensive testimony urging lawmakers to codify Department of Children and Families’ recent practice of conserving Social Security and SSI benefits for children and young adults in foster care so benefits are available when youth age out of custody.
Members of the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities heard hours of testimony urging the Legislature to pass bills (H.227 / S.105) that would prevent the commonwealth from appropriating Social Security and other federal benefits owed to children in Department of Children and Families (DCF) custody.
Advocates, legal organizations and people with lived experience told the committee that DCF’s prior practice—redirecting benefits into the state general fund—had deprived hundreds of young people of funds meant to support basic needs and transitions to adulthood. "These are benefits that children and youth are entitled to," said Kat Kerian, public policy and advocacy manager at Hopewell,…
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