SAN DIEGO - A lawsuit claims the County of San Diego took Social Security benefits from two girls who were in the foster care system.
“The fund is there, and these kids are due $860 a month each for 15 months or about $12,500 or $13,000 each," Child welfare advocate and attorney Robert Fellmeth told reporting partner 10 News. "They are due that money. It’s their money. It’s survivor benefits. It’s for them – not for the county – and the county takes it.”
The suit claims the County applied to Social Security Administration to be the payee on behalf of the girls and it spent their benefits on so-called "placement costs," but the count already receives state and federal funding for such services.
While the county will not comment on pending litigation, a spokesperson says the County stopped evaluating survivor's benefits as income and says they are maintaining reserve accounts for the foster youth, with the money returned to them once they turn 18 or exit the system.