Requesting The Department Of Human Services To Immediately Cease Intercepting Social Security Payments For Children In Foster Care.
Impact
The resolution aims to positively influence the financial future of foster children. By ceasing the interception of their Social Security payments, the bill seeks to allow these children to amass funds that can be utilized for their education or future stability. The state has previously collected a notable amount of $1.5 million for the benefit of certain foster children, which, according to supporters of HR46, denies them access to personal financial resources they may need for higher education or other life endeavors.
Summary
House Resolution 46 (HR46) calls for the Department of Human Services in Hawaii to halt the practice of intercepting Social Security payments intended for children in foster care. The resolution highlights that a significant number of foster children are eligible for Social Security benefits due to parental death or disability, with recent data indicating 1,418 children in foster care in Hawaii. HR46 advocates for transparency and the financial well-being of these children, aiming to stop their benefits from being collected by the state without their knowledge.
Contention
The contention surrounding HR46 revolves around the ethical implications of the state using these benefits to cover foster care costs rather than allowing children to retain control over their financial resources. Supporters argue that similar practices have been deemed inappropriate elsewhere, such as in New York City, which is transitioning to a model that safeguards foster children’s benefits. Critics of the current system maintain that withholding these funds perpetuates fiscal instability for youth transitioning out of foster care.
Requesting The Department Of Human Services To Conduct A Study On The Feasibility Of Increasing The Medicaid Reimbursement Payment Rate For Hawaii's Community Care Foster Family Homes And Expanded Adult Residential Care Homes For Medicaid Clients Every Ten Years.
Requesting The Department Of Human Services To Conduct A Study On The Feasibility Of Increasing The Medicaid Reimbursement Payment Rate For Hawaii's Community Care Foster Family Homes And Expanded Adult Residential Care Homes For Medicaid Clients In 2032 And Every Ten Years Thereafter.
Requesting The Department Of Human Services To Establish A Working Group To Address Issues Relating To Reimbursements And Payments To Home And Community-based Services Providers.
Requesting The Department Of Human Services To Establish A Working Group To Address Issues Relating To Reimbursements And Payments To Home- And Community-based Services Providers.