Frequently Asked Questions

What is SSI?
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a Federal income supplement program to help aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income; and provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter. SSI provides a monthly income to individuals with physical or mental disabilities and entitles them to additional supportive services, including Medi-Cal.

Can children and youth in foster care receive SSI?
Yes. Children and youth in foster care who have a serious physical or mental disability are eligible to receive SSI.  Qualified children and youth in foster care are eligible for a special rate of $1,042 per month.

May a child receive SSI and federal Title IV-E foster care payments at the same time?
Yes. Federal law permits the concurrent receipt of SSI benefits and Title IV-E foster care benefits, but the SSI benefits are offset dollar-for-dollar by the amount of Title IV-E benefits a youth receives.  Thus, in practice, a youth can only receive both SSI and Title IV-E foster care if the SSI benefit is more than the IV-E payment.  In this situation, the dollar-for-dollar offset will result in the child receiving the entire IV-E payment and an SSI benefit equal to the difference between the two benefits.  The total benefit the child receives will not exceed the SSI rate.

In the event that the Title IV-E payment is greater than the SSI payment, the SSI will be reduced to zero, and the SSI benefits will be placed in suspense.  After 12 consecutive months of benefit suspension for any reason, SSI benefits are terminated, and an individual must file a new application for SSI benefits.

What is AB 1331 and what does it require of counties?
AB 1331 will create a safety net for severely physically and mentally disabled foster youth who are exiting the state’s foster care system.  The new law, AB 1331, is designed to ensure that foster youth with serious mental or physical disabilities who are potentially eligible for federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits have applications submitted on their behalf well in advance of their exit from foster care. AB 1331 requires all California counties to:

Screen all youth who are in foster care and are between the ages of 16.5 and 17.5 years of age for a physical or mental disability.

Submit an SSI application on behalf of those youth who are determined likely eligible for benefits.

Is there any guidance available to counties to aid them in understanding SSI and the application process?
In February 2007, the California Department of Social Services released Best Practice Guidelines for use by counties which provide a viable process to identify disabled youth and establish their eligibility for SSI.  The Best Practices Guidelines were created by a statewide workgroup consisting of county social and eligibility workers, county program managers, representatives of the County Welfare Directors’ Association (CWDA), child advocates, current and former foster youth, and State staff and represent.  They are available at: http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/getinfo/acl07/pdf/07-10.pdf.