San Diego County has officially endorsed state legislation that would ensure foster children whose parents have died receive survivor benefits when they come of age — rather than allowing counties to take those benefits.
From 2015 through March 8 this year, San Diego County collected and withheld $3.2 million in retirement, survivor’s and disability insurance payments on behalf of 310 foster youth, according to county records. “If you should be receiving survivor benefits, it should be your money, not the county’s,” former foster youth Irene Ekdahl said.
Foster agencies and local governments historically received survivor benefits on behalf of children in their custody and counted them “dollar for dollar” against the cost of their care and needs, said Melanie Delgado, an attorney with the Children’s Advocacy Institute at the University of San Diego, which also co-sponsored the bill.
“I think San Diego County has been a leader on this front, and I hope other counties will follow suit,” Desmond said at the board meeting Tuesday.