Foster Children Becoming SSI Recipients 447-10-20-20-15

(Revised 11/1/10 ML #3249)

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North Dakota policy is that its social services staff shall encourage and assist all children entering or in foster care, their families and their caretakers, to be aware of children’s right to apply for SSI benefits, and to encourage and assist them in doing so as appropriate. In particular, any child who is known to have a physical or mental impairment, including severe emotional disorders, should be encouraged and assisted to apply for SSI benefits as soon as possible. This policy applies regardless whether or not the child is eligible for Title IV-E. First and most important, this is in the child’s best interest, since SSI benefits would assist in meeting the child’s need for care and services both during and after foster care. Second, SSI benefits might partially offset the state’s cost for foster care during the child’s placement.

 

When a foster child who is already eligible for Title IV-E becomes eligible for SSI as well, the county agency must apply to become the SSI Representative Payee for the child and must then elect either to receive the SSI payment or to claim IV-E funds for the cost of the child’s foster care (See 447-10-20-20-20).