If a child removed from their home and placed in foster care is eligible for federally funded foster care, they receive a combination of federal and state foster care benefits. If the child is not eligible for federally funded foster care, they either receive state-funded foster care benefits, or CalWORKs benefits, depending upon whether or not they are placed with a relative caregiver.

Determination about foster care eligibility will have been made prior to the youth entering extended foster care.


FEDERALLY ELIGIBLE FOSTER YOUTH

To be federally eligible, the home from which the child was removed must meet AFDC eligibility criteria from 1996 AFDC in the month the petition is filed OR in any of the 6 months prior to the month the petition is file.

STATE-ONLY FOSTER CARE BENEFITS

If the youth does not meet the income test and is placed with a non-relative (i.e. foster home, group home, etc.), they receive state-only AFDC-FC benefits.

CALWORKS BENEFITS

If the youth does not meet this income test and is placed with a relative, the relative receives benefits from CalWORKS. (There is no state AFDC-FC benefit available for youth placed with relatives).

Youth receiving CalWORKs benefits receive a smaller monthly amount than youth receiving AFDC-FC benefits (e.g. For a 15 year-old, the foster care rate paid is $820 per month, and the CalWORKs payment is $351). CalWORKs youth are not eligible for a clothing allowance, transportation assistance, an infant supplement (for parenting youth), or a Specialized Care Increment (for youth with special needs).


How Does This Impact Non-Minor Dependents?

Once a non-minor, if the youth chooses to live in a SILP with a relative, the youth would be eligible for a state-only AFDC-FC payment (because the SILP is not technically a placement with the relative). This is important because a state-only AFDC-FC benefit may provide a larger benefit to the youth. It’s important to think about transferring into a SILP for these youth rather than continuing to have them placed with the relative where they will receive CalWORKs.

When non-minor dependent youth re-enter foster care, a new qualification for foster care benefits is needed, but is based solely on the youth’s income and property.