PA counties divert millions from foster kids’ Social Security

Theselocalagenciescontendthepracticeisallowedunderlawandneededtooffsetthecostofcare.Butit’softendonewithoutachild’sknowledgeandhowsomecountiesusethemoneyisunclear. “Thismoneybelongstothesekids,”saidstateRep.RickKrajewski(D.,Philadelphia,)wholastyearintroducedabipartisanbillwithRep.SherylDelozier(R.,Cumberland)thatwouldtightenregulationsonhowcountiescanusethemoney. WhenachildisowedSocialSecuritybenefits,federalrulesmandatethemoneygoestotheirdesignatedguardiantohelpsupportthekid’scare,orintoasavingsaccounttheyreceivewhentheyturn18.Butifthechildisinfostercare,childwelfareagenciesoftentakethemoneywithouttellingthemortheiradvocate. Since2020,atleast1,300childreninPennsylvaniahavehadmoneytakenfromthemthisway,tothetuneofatleast$15.7million,accordingtoaResolvePhillyandSpotlightPAanalysisoffouryearsofdataobtainedfrom47counties. Thestatewidetotalcouldbeconsiderablyhigher,asvaryingrecordkeepingandpublicdisclosurepractices