HI HCR42

Hawaii Department of Human Services collected $1,500,000 from Social Security payments for 37 children in foster care between 2018 and 2022.

Approximately 10 percent of foster youth in the United States receive Social Security benefits due to parental death or their own disability.

Hawaii is among 49 states that currently intercept Social Security payments for foster children without their knowledge, using the funds to pay for foster care costs.

Requests the Department of Human Services to immediately cease intercepting Social Security payments for foster children and deposit payments into savings accounts accessible to children when they leave foster care, are adopted, or return to their families.

Requests certified copies of the resolution be transmitted to the Governor and Director of Human Services.