Former foster youth and advocates are cautiously optimistic once again, after San Diego County officials endorsed new 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.
The new bill would require counties to screen all youth for eligibility within two months of entering foster care and notify recipients when benefits are applied for or received. It would also require counties to account for the funds received on a child’s behalf. Before San Diego County halted the practice, it collected and withheld $3.2 million in retirement, survivor’s and disability insurance payments on behalf of 310 foster youths from 2015 to 2023, according to county records.