Lawmakers hear testimony on H.657 omnibus bill to shield foster youth benefits, lift Reach Up asset limit and expand services for unaccompanied youth

The Vermont House Committee on Health & Welfare heard two hours of testimony April 17 on H.657, an omnibus bill that would change how the state handles several child‑welfare policies, including eliminating the Reach Up asset limit, protecting children’s Social Security benefits from being used to offset foster‑care costs, authorizing unaccompanied homeless youth to obtain services without parental consent, and tightening rules on restraint, seclusion and secure transport.

Lauren Digby, deputy advocate with the Office of the Child, Youth and Family Advocate, said the bill responds to an unfair practice in which some jurisdictions apply children’s federal Social Security benefits toward foster‑care costs. “This practice is not unique to Vermont…it's clearly unfair and unjust,” Digby said, and she urged the committee to adopt reforms that conserve benefits for children and put SSI recipients into qualified ABLE accounts or trust accounts so the funds are available for their future needs.

The proposal would prohibit the Department for Children and Families from using any portion of a child’s Social…