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First Star Holds Congressional Briefing on Legislation to Ensure Social Security for Children in Foster Care
First Star Holds Congressional Briefing on Legislation to Ensure Social Security for Children in Foster Care
Published 02-16-07
Submitted by First Star
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 16, 2007--In a move to help America's most vulnerable children, Congressman Pete Stark (CA-13th) introduced legislation to ensure that foster children who are eligible for Social Security and Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) actually receive the benefits to address their needs and improve upon their lives.
The Social Security Act authorizes benefits for children under two provisions. Social Security benefits are paid to the children of workers who have retired, become disabled, or died. SSI benefits are available for children with disabilities if their families have low incomes and minimal assets. In the case of children in foster care, states are allowed to use their benefits as a source of revenue by making themselves the payee for the children, and then keeping the money for themselves.
Mr. Stark introduced the "Foster Care Self-Support Act" that calls for states to end the practice of raising money from the pockets of foster children, and instead set the funds aside to be used in the best interest of the child. The legislation is designed to make certain that disabled foster children and those who have lost a parent are the actual recipients of their Social Security and/or SSI benefits, and to dispel the widely held notion throughout state agencies that it is permissible and acceptable for state welfare agencies to require foster children to reimburse these agencies for the costs of their foster care, rather than apply the benefits to the children's essential, unmet needs.
"State governments that steal the Social Security benefits of foster children should be ashamed of themselves," said Stark. "The Foster Children Self Support Act will prohibit this reprehensible practice and require these funds be used to help meet foster children's current needs and ease their transition to adulthood. Rather than rob from foster children who have already lost so much, we should help them invest in their future."
The Foster Care Self-Support Act was introduced at a Capitol Hill briefing co-sponsored by First Star and Sullivan & Worcester LLP.
About First Star
First Star (www.firststar.org) is a leading national 501(c) (3) public charity dedicated to improving the lives of America's abused and neglected children. First Star works to change the child welfare system from one of abuse and neglect to one of protection and support, though a nonpartisan, multidisciplinary approach to foster collaborative action to benefit children. First Star is a pro bono program of Sullivan & Worcester LLP.
About Sullivan & Worcester LLP
Sullivan & Worcester LLP (www.sandw.com) is a leading corporate law firm recognized domestically and internationally for its representation of REITs and its deep expertise in energy and mutual fund law. Service to the community is highly valued at Sullivan & Worcester. Members of the firm provide pro bono or reduced-fee legal services and volunteer support to a variety of public interest organizations and charitable causes.
Copyright Business Wire 2007
