SSI: Improving the Transition for Foster Youth with Serious Disabilities

1. SSI: Improving the Transition for Foster Youth with Serious Disabilities Child Welfare Conference May 29, 2008

2. Overview of Presentation • Overview of SSI • New requirements: AB 1633 & AB 1331 • Case Study: Alameda County • Available resources • Q & A

3. SSI Transitions Project PILP John Burton Foundation Alliance for Children’s Rights

4. 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

5. 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

6. SSI Eligibility Criteria • Little or no income • Few or no resources • Citizen or qualified non-citizen • Disabled

7. 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

8. 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)

9. Why don’t more children and youth in foster care get SSI? Example: Placement : Level 10 residential Age: 17 Disability: Bi-polar disorder and severe functional limitation • Option 2: • SSI/SSP: $1,042 • $630 from federal government • $412 from state • $2,458 county-only supplement • Option 1: • Federally eligible youth: $3,500 per month • $1,750 from federal Title IV-E • $700 from state • $1050 from county

10. 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 Important recent legislation 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

11. 16.5 17 17.5* 18 18.5 Not greater than 12 months Change aid code & submit SSI application; Youth discharged, SSI benefits taken out of suspense, and AB 1633 duties met Youth determined eligible for SSI; benefits placed in suspense CDR conducted Conduct screening Return aid code Sample SSI Application Timeline Goal of AB 1331 is for disabled youth to exit care with SSI in place

12. What are the AB 1633 Duties? • Manage funds in best interests of child • Maintenance accounts • Dedicated accounts • Assist youth in receiving direct payment or finding new payee before emancipation • Inform youth of SSI/SSP eligibility and process of maintaining eligibility and assist the youth with the continuing disability review process

13. Alameda County Case Study • Caseload composition • Previous SSI efforts • SSI Transitions Project • New screening process • Expected outcome

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. For More Information Amy Lemley John Burton Foundation (415) 693-1322 amy@johnburtonfoundation.org Connie Linas Alameda County Children & Family Services 510-780-8947 linasc@acgov.org

20. Questions?