Eligibility

Children may receive a federal (Title IV-E) or non-federal (state) funded benefits. The county eligibility worker will make a determination based on findings established in the Foster Care (Including the ARC Funding Option), Kin-GAP or CalWORKs case or RDSS. If the child is deemed eligible, the county will negotiate a signed AD 4320 to be executed with the adoptive parents prior to the adoption finalization. A reassessment of the child’s needs and family’s circumstances is conducted every two years from the date of the most recently signed AD 4320, but reassessments are not a requirement to continue benefits.

When the reassessment documents are not returned by the adoptive parents the benefits will continue based on the most recent AAP 2 and will continue as long as the child remains eligible for AAP benefits. The amount of financial assistance is determined by the special needs of the child and circumstances of the family.

A provision of the Fostering Connection to Success and Increasing Adoptions act of 2008 allows for a child placed with a relative in a Kin-GAP arrangement to be assessed for AAP eligibility, if the child is later adopted. The assessment is done exclusively by the adoption SW. When determining eligibility; the Kin-GAP payment is not considered when establishing and negotiating the AAP benefits.

Continuing FC EW Responsibilities and Documentation

Pending adoption finalization, the pre-adoption SW will ask the assigned FC EW the amount of the current FC, ARC or Kin-GAP benefits being paid. When requested, the FC EW must complete the “Adoption Pending Finalization Rate Verification” (SCD 2446) and forward it to the requesting adoption SW. A copy of the SCD 2446 must be sent to imaging. Under no circumstance should the FC EW reply to a request for rate verification by e-mail or phone without completing and sending the SCD 2446 to the person making the request.

In order to ensure the Foster Care information remains separate from the Adoption Case the following documentation must remain in the FC case file:

“Federal Eligibility Certification For Adoption Assistance Program” (FC 8).
- Note: The continuing FC EW completes the FC 8. The child’s adoptive name is not used on the FC 8 to ensure confidentiality. The FC 8 must be attached to the “Determination of Federal AFDC-FC Eligibility” (FC 3).
“Determination of Federal AFDC-FC Eligibility” (FC 3/FC 3A).
- Note: The above documents must be completed when requested.

Removing the Social Security Number (SSN)

When the FC EW is notified to close the FC case because the child/youth is being adopted the child’s/youth’s SSN number must be removed from the foster care CalSAWS case after the case is closed. Additionally, This process must be completed on open adoption cases where a new SSN card is provided by the adoptive parents with the child’s/youth’s new name and the SSN is not on the adoption case.

Note: The adoption finalization date is included on the SOC 158A provided to continuing FC EWs. For open adoption cases the foster care case number is obtained in CalSAWS by searching the "Inquire on Individual” window using the SSN.

Social Security Administration does not assign new SSNs for adopted children who:

Know they are adopted,
Received Social Security benefits for SSI,
Have worked, and
Are adopted by a step-parent or relative.

In order to maintain MEDS history DHCS is requiring the child’s/youth’s SSN from the foster care case to be used in the adoption case when the SSN numbers are the same. The continuing FC EW must do the following when the foster care case is closed and when there is an open adoption case and the child’s/youth’s adopted name is validated. The validation must be a copy of the new SSN card with the adopted child’s/youth’s new name unless the child name did not change.

Remove the SSN number from the closed foster care case by following directions in CalWIN Announcement 310.2.

Eligibility

Continuing FC EW Responsibilities and Documentation

Removing the Social Security Number (SSN)

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