Hawaii Reaffirms: Foster Youth Survivor Benefits Go Into Trust Accounts, Not Toward Care Costs
The Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS) announced on October 23 that it is reaffirming the state's commitment to protecting Social Security survivor and disability benefits for children in foster care: the money belongs to the children themselves and is no longer used by the state to offset the cost of foster care.
For decades, many states, including Hawaii, used foster youths' federal survivor benefits to reimburse the state for care costs. In 2023, under House Resolution 117 and Senate Concurrent Resolution 188 and with Governor Josh Green's support, Hawaii ended the practice and began depositing the Social Security funds into trust accounts for each eligible child, to be available as they prepare for independence.
Governor Green said Hawaii believes every child deserves dignity, stability and the full support they are owed, that the state ended the outdated practice years ago, and that these funds belong to Hawaii's children, giving foster youth a stronger foundation as they step into adulthood. The announcement comes as the federal Administration for Children and Families (ACF) highlights national momentum to end what Assistant Secretary Alex J. Adams has called the “orphan tax,” and Adams praised Hawaii's approach. DHS Director Joseph Campos II said the funds will support education, housing and transportation as the youth enter adulthood.
Source: GSM·America
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：檀香山夏威夷州议会大厦。摄影：Cliff，CC BY 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: the Hawaii State Capitol in Honolulu, by Cliff, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
