Today, the Social Security Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a call for public input on ways to improve outcomes of foster children who are eligible for – or already receive – Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or both. Our goal is to make sure that all children, especially foster youth, receive the benefits for which they are eligible.

All of us at Social Security and HHS know that fulfilling our missions means doing everything we can to better serve the most underserved and vulnerable populations in our country. In particular, we can and must do a better job of serving the 370,000 children in the foster care system, who experience disproportionate levels of hardship, transitions, and uncertainties.

Social Security and HHS serve children in foster care in different ways. As you may know, HHS’s Children’s Bureau oversees child welfare agencies throughout the country. At the same time, Social Security makes monthly payments to about 27,000 children in foster care each month, providing critical support after the death of a child’s parent or because of the child’s significant disability.

The Social Security and SSI programs are important to children and their families. These payments provide basic economic security and improve quality of life for foster children at critical moments in their lives, like when they reunified with their families, are placed with new caregivers, or leave foster care due to age. Youth “aging out” of foster care experience higher rates of homelessness, early parenthood, and substance abuse, studies show.

If you or someone you know has lived experience in the child welfare system, or an interest in improving the lives of children in foster care, we want to hear from you. We’re seeking input from people with insights to share about how Social Security and HHS might work together to better improve outcomes for children in foster care.

We’re interested in hearing comments and suggestions from:

• Current and former foster youth
• Current and former foster parents, adoptive parents, kinship caregivers, and parents whose children were referred to child welfare
• State, local, and tribal agencies
• Advocates
• Researchers

We’ll use information we gather through this Request for Information, due by December 2, 2024, in considering potential policy changes. For details and instructions, see Docket No. SSA-2024-0038 at www.regulations.gov

To learn more about Social Security and SSI for foster children, read Social Security’s blog and the Spotlight On SSI Benefits For Disabled Or Blind Youth In Foster Care. For general information about benefits and eligibility, visit www.ssa.gov/benefits.

Please share this information with others who have experience in the child welfare system, an interest in improving the lives of children in foster care, or both.

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Tags: equity, Social Security benefits, supplemental security income, survivors benefits

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