HB 26-1347

HB 26-1347, also known as "Federal Disability Benefits for Foster Care Youth," is a Colorado bill that extends existing requirements for county departments of human or social services to help foster care youth apply for federal supplemental security income (SSI) benefits if they have disabilities and limited resources. The bill requires these departments to identify and document any disabilities the children might have, manage SSI funds in special savings accounts, and track how this money is spent. This legislation will take effect starting July 1, 2028, and it aims to provide better support for foster care youth with disabilities by ensuring they receive necessary financial assistance. The bill has been signed into law, meaning that the provisions described above are now official state requirements that county departments must follow when dealing with foster care youth who may be eligible for SSI benefits.

Official Summary

Beginning on or before July 1, 2028, the act extends certain application, accounting, and notice provisions already in place for federal survivor benefits awarded to a child or youth who is in foster care (child or youth) to federal supplemental security income benefits (SSI), which are monthly payments awarded to a child or youth with a disability and limited resources. The act adds requirements for a county department of human or social services (county department) to follow specified procedures for identifying a child or youth with a disability who may qualify for SSI and for documenting the disability. If the county department determines that a child or youth may be eligible to receive SSI, the county department is required to initiate the application process within 45 days after receiving certain information. If a child or youth is receiving SSI, the county department must document how the money is spent in the state's child welfare case management system.     If legal custody of a child or youth receiving SSI or federal survivor benefits is transferring from a county department to another individual, the act requires the county department to reassess the designation of the representative payee or fiduciary receiving and managing federal benefits on behalf of the child or youth. The reassessment must be performed in consultation with interested parties and in compliance with federal requirements.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

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