Washington state is set to stop a long-standing practice of taking federal benefit payments from young people in the extended foster care system. Under newly passed legislation, Senate Bill 5911, the state will be prohibited from redirecting federal funds intended for foster youth—such as Social Security, disability, or survivor benefits—to pay for the cost of their own state-provided care.
The change specifically affects young adults between the ages of 18 and 21 who remain in the state’s Extended Foster Care program. For years, these funds were often intercepted by the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to help offset the expenses of housing and services, a practice advocates have criticized as a “foster care tax” on the state’s most vulnerable residents.
Key highlights of the new policy include:
- Financial Independence: By allowing youth to keep their federal benefits, the law aims to provide them with a critical financial cushion as they transition into adulthood and independent living.
- Advocacy Victory: Child welfare advocates have argued for years that these funds belong to the children, not the state, noting that foster youth often exit the system with little to no savings, increasing their risk of homelessness.
- Phased Implementation: While the state has faced budget constraints that previously stalled similar measures, lawmakers prioritized this shift for the 18-to-21 age group as a first major step toward broader reform.
- Future Goals: Supporters of the bill hope this serves as a blueprint for eventually protecting the federal benefits of all children in the foster care system, regardless of age.
The move brings Washington in line with a growing number of states and cities moving to end the diversion of federal benefits, acknowledging that such funds are vital for the long-term stability and success of youth aging out of the system.
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