(a) (1) Subject to paragraph (2), every youth over 16 years of age who is in foster care under the supervision of the county child welfare department, juvenile probation department, or tribal organization, if the tribal organization requests the screening from the county, shall be screened by the county for potential eligibility for the federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program utilizing the best practice guidelines developed pursuant to Section 13752.

(2) The screening required in paragraph (1) shall occur when the foster youth is at least 16 years of age and not older than 17 years of age. This does not preclude counties from screening youth for eligibility prior to the youth attaining 16 years of age. An application shall be submitted to the federal Social Security Administration on behalf of any youth who is screened as being likely to be eligible for federal Supplemental Security Income benefits. To the extent possible, the application shall be timed to allow for a determination of eligibility by the Social Security Administration before the youth’s 18th birthday.

(3) The screening required in paragraph (1) shall occur for a nonminor dependent if any of the following are true:

(A) The nonminor dependent was not screened before the youth’s 18th birthday as required in paragraph (2).

(B) The nonminor dependent has had a change of circumstance, including a medical condition that is expected to last more than one year.

(C) The nonminor dependent has been approved for regional center services since the last screening.

(D) The nonminor dependent, their court-appointed attorney, or a member of their child and family team requests screening.

(E) The juvenile court orders the county to screen the nonminor dependent.

(F) The county determines the screening is appropriate based on the nonminor dependent having a physical or mental impairment that limits their ability to work.

(4) An application shall be submitted to the federal Social Security Administration on behalf of any nonminor dependent who is screened as being likely to be eligible for federal Supplemental Security Income benefits and consents to the application.

(b) In carrying out the requirements of subdivision (a) for a youth receiving federally funded AFDC-FC benefits, the county shall, if necessary, forego federally funded AFDC-FC and instead use nonfederal AFDC-FC resources to fund the placement in the month of application or in the month after making an application, and to subsequently reclaim federally funded AFDC-FC, in order to ensure that the youth meets all of the SSI eligibility requirements in a single month while the application is pending, as provided by federal law and regulation. Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of Section 11402, this section shall apply to a foster youth regardless of their federal AFDC-FC eligibility.

(c) For foster youth whose SSI applications are denied, the county placing agency shall file, or cause to be filed, a request for reconsideration with the federal Social Security Administration. If the request for reconsideration is denied, then the county shall subsequently file an appeal to the federal Social Security Administration and, if necessary, file an appeal to the Appeals Council of the federal Social Security Administration. The county is not required to file a request for reconsideration or an appeal if the county does not possess the information or evidence to support an appeal after making efforts to acquire that information, or other reasons that shall be documented in the case plan.

(d) The assistance by the county, as the authorized representative, or by any other entity on behalf of the nonminor dependent, provided pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (c) shall adhere to the guidelines of the Social Security Administration, as specified in Section 416.1540 of Title 20 of the Code of Federal Regulations, which includes, but is not limited to, gathering and submitting relevant records to the Social Security Administration, notifying the youth of any denials or terminations of aid, and assisting with timely requesting an appeal, as needed. The county may contract with legal services organizations or other entities, or may partner with other county agencies, to fulfill these duties.

(e) (1) When a nonminor dependent has been approved for SSI payments pursuant to this section, but is receiving a federally funded AFDC-FC benefit in an amount that exceeds the SSI payment, causing the SSI payment to be placed in suspense, the county placing agency shall, during at least one month of every 12-month period, beginning with the date that the SSI benefit is placed in suspense, forego the federally funded AFDC-FC benefit and instead use nonfederal AFDC-FC resources to supplement the SSI benefit that the youth receives during that month. The county shall subsequently reclaim the federally funded AFDC-FC benefit in the following month.

(2) If the county is the nonminor dependent’s representative payee, the county shall inform the Social Security Administration that the youth is not receiving any federal financial participation during that month in order to permit the nonminor dependent to receive an SSI benefit during a single month of every 12-month period.

(3) If the county is not the nonminor dependent’s representative payee, then for the period that the nonminor dependent remains in foster care, in order to permit the nonminor dependent to receive an SSI benefit during a single month every 12-month period, the county shall assist the nonminor dependent or the nonminor dependent’s representative payee in providing this information to the Social Security Administration and keeping track of the number of months that the nonminor dependent’s SSI payment has been placed in suspense.

(f) Beginning in the 2011-12 fiscal year, and each fiscal year thereafter, funding and expenditures for programs and activities under this section shall be in accordance with the requirements provided in Sections 30025 and 30026.5 of the Government Code.

(g) This section shall become operative as of January 1, 2023, or 30 days after the department issues the necessary all-county letters and informing materials to county placing agencies, whichever is later.

(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 50, Sec. 67. (SB 187) Effective June 30, 2022. Conditionally operative on or after January 1, 2023, by its own provisions.)