Independent Living Program - Florida's Center for Child Welfare

Use Financial ResourcesWiselyMany youth instate care receivegovernment benefitseach month. Often,though, the moneyis not used to meetthe youth’s specificneeds.Youth with disabilities who are in state care oftenreceive funds from Social Security. Most of theseyoung beneficiaries receive Supplemental SecurityIncome (SSI) payments but others may receiveSocial Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Stillother youth might receive Veterans benefits,private insurance benefits or child support.Money received for the youth is placed intoa “Master Trust” fund which is held eitherby the Department of Children and Familiesor the Community Based Care provider.Those funds belong to the youth andshould be used to benefit the youth.DCF/CBCs are legally allowed to reimbursethemselves for the cost of care (payment tofoster parents or group homes) out of thosefunds. But before they do that, they must:20• Notify the youth, the GAL and others of theintent to deduct cost of care.• Provide the youth with a form to seek awaiver of cost of care or request to increasepersonal allowance.• Leave at least $15 a month in “personalallowance” in the fund.Youth and their advocates should make sure thatSSI/SSDI or other funds are used in part to supplyyouth with services and supports to amelioratetheir disability and promote “normalcy.”Examples of appropriate use of funding includes:Tutoring, sports, music/drama/dance lessons,scouts, camp, assistive technology. If the youthand case worker cannot identify the youth’s needs,a CBHA or other assessment should be used.The amount of a waiver sought by the youthshould relate to the specific need. Youth whoare supporting their own children shouldseek to waive the entire cost of care.Youth can also seek an increase in personalallowance to pay for monthly expense. Or theymay ask to waive all cost of care for severalmonths to save for a specific purpose (e.g. summercamp, or the deposit on an apartment).If the youth is receiving SSI, there is an assetlimitation of $2,000, but all youth who exit careshould seek a waiver so that they can have $2,000available for transition expenses when they turn 18.If the request for a waiver is denied, theyouth may seek a fair hearing with DCF. Manylegal aid programs are willing to representyouth who have been denied a waiver.