Court Rules to Save Foster Kids’ Social Security
In a decision that could force the state to pay back millions of dollars to orphans and disabled children, the Washington Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the state cannot seize the Social Security benefits of foster children to pay for their care.
The ruling upholds a lower-court judge who ordered the Department of Social and Health Services in 1999 to stop the practice and devise a way to return the money.
The department collects about $615,000 each month in foster children’s Social Security benefits under a law aimed at lessening the state’s cost of foster care. The money helps the state compensate foster parents for providing needs such as food, clothing, shelter and medical care.
Most states use such Social Security benefits similarly, said department spokeswoman Kathy Spears.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
