1. PAL benefits, education options, and resources for foster kids “aging out”
March 27, 2017 Lunch and learn

2. THE Legal Backdrop
Diane M. Sumoski, Esq.

3. Services for Children likely to remain in foster care until 18 years
TEXAS
Tex. Fam. Code §
Defines the Preparation for Adult Living Program and Transitional Living Services Program—directing the Department to achieve the goals of those programs
Basic skills like shopping, opening bank acct.
Services for obtaining GED or completing high school
“Job training and employment services”
“Nutrition education”
“College preparation services”
FEDERAL
Chafee Foster Care Independence Act 1999 (42 U.S.C. §677 (2015)) – Services
ILI (teaching basic skills like cooking, opening bank acct.)
Help to obtain high school diploma
Vocational Training
Job placement services
Substance abuse prevention
Preventive health activities
Preparation for post-secondary training/education institutions
Personal and emotional support

4. Services/assistance for Former foster children aged 18-21
FEDERAL
Chafee Foster Care Independence Act 1999 – Independent Living Services
Mandate that a portion of Chafee funds be used for youth up to age 21
Up to 30% can be used for Housing assistance
States have option to extend Medicaid eligibility to former foster youth to age 21 (now up to 26 due to ACA)
TEXAS
40 Tex. Admin. Code § – Chafee funds administered through the PAL program, which is primarily intended for young people: 
(1) at least 16 years old and likely to remain in foster care until at least age 18; and 
(2) younger than 21 years old and who have aged out.
Youth who are 18 to 21 that have aged out of care are eligible for:
$1,000 as Transitional Living Allowance; and
$3,000 as Room and Board Assistance
S.B. 51, 77th Leg. – Extended Medicaid eligibility to former foster youth to age 21 (now up to 26 due to ACA)

5. Education benefits TEXAS FEDERAL
Tex. Admin. Code § et seq.
Up to $5K per year: the lesser of $5K or the total cost of attendance
Available to youth who:
are in foster care and are at least age 16;
have aged out of foster care and have not turned age 21;
were adopted from DFPS conservatorship after turning age 16 and have not turned age 21; or
entered the Permanency Care Assistance (PCA) program from DFPS conservatorship after turning age 16 and have not turned age 21
If in program when turn 21, eligible to continue to 23 if enrolled and performing satisfactorily
Generally, college/dual credit tuition and fees are waived for students who were in foster care (Tex. Educ. Code § )
FEDERAL
Chafee Educational and Training Vouchers (ETV) 2002 (42 U.S.C. § 677(i)(4)(2015))
In 2002 Congress provided $60M for this program
Up to $5K per year to help pay for qualifying college or vocational education expenses
States to provide 20% match
Available to youth otherwise available for services under state Chafee program or were adopted from Foster care after 16th birthday.
If in program when turn 21, eligible to continue to 23 if enrolled and performing satisfactorily
ETV does not count when considering federal financial aid

6. Special education TEXAS FEDERAL
IEP must include a transition plan to move the student from school to post-school life – including transition services. (34 C.F.R. § (b)).
IEP must help youth access services such as community experience, employment, adult living objectives, living skills, and vocational evaluation (34 C.F.R. § )
IEP must identify post secondary programs to assist the youth (34 C.F.R. § (a)(3))
TEXAS
The requirements of the Transition Plan are minimal, but it must include specific provisions, discussing:
(1) the cost of housing v. sources of income;
(2) the youth’s housing goals and psychological and emotional difficulties that might be associated with housing arrangements;
(3) emergency shelters, dormitories and other resources;
(4) review of a common rental application; and
(5) potential cosigners or references for applications (Tex. Fam. Code § (i))

7. Health Care
FEDERAL
The Affordable Care Act requires states to extend Medicaid coverage to age 26 for all youth enrolled in Medicaid and foster care on their 18th birthday (or enrolled in Medicaid after they aged out if over 18) (42 U.S.C. §1396a(2015)).
Income irrelevant to eligibility
Age out/not yet 26 – immediate coverage
Currently in care and age out – covered
State only required to extend coverage to youth who aged out in their own state
TEXAS
In Texas, foster care children generally receive funding if they either aged out and were receiving Medicaid or if they’re 18 to (Youth may be eligible for other Medicaid programs.)
Texas HHS does not provide Medicaid services to youth who aged out outside of Texas and moved here or who aged out in Texas and moved elsewhere
The proposed American Health Care Act (AHCA) seems to have retained coverage for foster care youth up to age 26.
The AHCA would phase out presumptive eligibility for other groups, but not those formerly in foster care. The changes amend 42 U.S.C. 1396r–1.
See The Chronicle of Social Change, Foster Care Survives in House Healthcare Bill (quoting Zach Hunter, House Committee on Energy and Commerce).

8. Fostering connections to success and increasing adoptions act
FEDERAL
States are allowed to receive funding to permit children to remain in foster care beyond age 18 – expands definition of “child” 42 USC 675(8)(B)(2015).
Foster care maintenance payments made to supervised setting
Foster care maintenance payments made directly to youth
TEXAS
Texas provides an Extended Foster Care program requiring the youth to sign a Voluntary Foster Care Agreement, whose terms will include monthly caseworkers visits and participation at review hearings.
Rules for the Extended Foster Care program can be found at TAC (general requirements)
40 T.A.C. § defines “eligible [activities” foster youth must be engaged in to continue to receive assistance
(1)attending high school or secondary education, (2) actively participating in “a program a program or activity that promotes, or removes barriers to, employment,” (3) being employed for 80+ hours a month, or (4) being incapable of doing so due to medical condition
More guidance can be found at CPS Handbook §§ 1540 and 10400

9. SSI Benefits
FEDERAL
Youth must be disabled; standards differ depending on age
If under 18 – must have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment; which results in marked and severe functional limitations; can be expected to result in death or to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months
If over 18 – must be unable to engage in ay substantial gainful activity; by reason of medically determinable physical or mental impairment; that can be expected to result in death or to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months
42 U.S.C. § 1382c(2015)
Applications can be made to the SSA up to 90 days before federal foster care payments are expected to end. (Social Security Administration, POMS Policy Instruction No. SI TN 18, Effective Jan. 13, 2010)
TEXAS
DFPS will identify youths that are 17 years old and potentially eligible for SSI benefits (CPS Handbook, § )
DFPS issues a quarterly report to SSI coordinators and, if a youth’s SSI application has not yet been submitted, an SSI coordinator gathers the relevant documents within 30 days and ensures that the application is properly submitted

10. Now let’S SEE THE LAW IN ACTION!
REBECCA DANIEL, DFPS, PREPARATION FOR ADULT LIVING SUPERVISOR
CARLA CLEETON, CITYSQUARE- TRAC, RESIDENTIAL SERVICES MANAGER HUD HOUSING PROGRAM
KATHLEEN BUSHE, CITYSQUARE-TRAC, CASEMANAGEMENT SUPERVISOR