Committee advances amendment to H.657 to change account requirement and delay foster-care SSA program

The Senate Health & Welfare committee reviewed an amendment to H.657 presented by the Legislative Council on May 5 that would alter how DCF must hold Social Security benefits for youth in foster care and delay the program's effective date.

The amendment strikes a statutory requirement that DCF establish a "trust account" for each child beneficiary and instead requires an "account," preserving the continued use of qualified ABLE accounts for children who receive SSI benefits. A Legislative Council representative explained the change was requested by the Treasurer's office for administrative practicality and said it "does not disrupt anything about the obligation that DCF has to the children as beneficiaries."

The amendment also pushes back the effective date for sections related to Social Security benefits for youth in foster care from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2028, giving DCF additional time to develop implementation capacity. The committee discussed alternative timing, including an earlier January 1, 2028 start or a phased cohort rollout by age, and noted the July date came from a DCF memo but can be accelerated if DCF returns with a plan.

Committee members were asked whether they would sign onto the amendment; members indicated support and discussed who would present the amendment on the floor. A committee member (John) agreed to present the amendment on behalf of the committee.

The committee did not take a final vote on H.657 in this session; the amendment will be returned to the House for further consideration after floor presentation.