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| Financial and Medical Assistance |
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Financial Assistance
Foster Care payment rates are established by the State of California and County Board of Supervisors and vary with the type and location of the child’s placement, the age of the child, any specialized care which may be authorized for the child, and/or any special needs the child may have.
Foster children can receive foster care cash assistance through the Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) program. The AFDC-FC program is administered under two sub-programs:
- State AFDC-FC, which uses a blend of State and County funds, and
- Federal AFDC-FC, which uses a blend of Federal, State and County funds.
Foster care payments are not income to the foster parent. Payments are intended to help cover the costs of the child’s food, on-going clothing and personal needs, transportation, entertainment, shelter needs and supervision/parenting needs.
Foster Care payments are received on the 12th of the month, following the month of care. For example: payment for the month of September will be received on October 12th.
Medical Assistance
Foster Care payments include Medi-Cal benefits. Riverside County dependents who reside in Riverside or San Bernardino counties and receive Foster Care benefits get their Medi-Cal benefits through Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) as part of IEHPs “Open Access Network”. This is an enhanced program through IEHP in which foster children have immediate access to IEHP doctors, direct referral to a specialist, After-Hours Nurse Advice Line and much more. For additional information call IEHP (800) 706-4347.
If a child has access to private medical insurance through a parent, that insurance is used for medical needs and Medi-Cal is the secondary insurance for the child.
For additional information on Foster Care Medi-Cal, click here.
Federal Eligibility
If the child is placed with a relative , the only available Foster Care funding source is Federal AFDC-FC. If the child does not qualify for Federal AFCD-FC, the FC ET refers the child to the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program.
A child is eligible to Federal AFDC-FC if the child:
- meets the Federal AFDC-FC linkage requirement, and
- meets all other AFDC-FC requirements
To determine Federal linkage, the FC ET determines if:
- the child resided in the home of a parent or relative from whom removed during the petition/voluntary placement month, or one of the six (6) previous months AND
- the child could have received welfare assistance in that home (per the AFDC-FG/U program regulations that were in effect on July 16,1996) in the month of the court petition or voluntary placement agreement.
If the answer to both questions is ‘yes’, the child meets the Federal AFDC-FC linkage requirement. Federal AFDC-FC cannot be paid if the child returns to, or is placed in, the home that was used for linkage. The child must still meet other Federal AFDC-FC requirements:
- placement authority
- eligible facility
- court order findings requirements
- all other AFDC-FC requirements, including continued deprivation.
‘Deprivation’ means that the child is deprived of parental support or care due to the parent’s death, incapacity, absence form the child’s home, or unemployment.
Note: the child will lose AFDC-FC eligibility if the parent moves into the home in which the foster child resides.
State (non-federal) Eligibility
If the child is placed with a non-relative (or a relative specified under ICWA) , Federal or State AFDC-FC funding may be used.
A child is eligible to State AFDC-FC if the child:
- meets placement authority requirements
- is residing in an eligible facility
- meets court order findings requirements
- meets all other AFDC-FC requirements. including continued deprivation .
‘Deprivation’ means that the child is deprived of parental support or care due to the parent’s death, incapacity, absence form the child’s home, or unemployment.
Note: the child will lose AFDC-FC eligibility if the parent moves into the home in which the foster child resides.
Property and Income Limits
To be eligible for Federal or State AFDC-FC foster care payments a child must meet the following property and income limits:
- Property: A child may not have more than $10,000 in combined, countable value of cash and property (both real and personal). This includes real estate, cars, bank accounts, savings accounts, savings bonds, etc.
- Income: A child may not have countable income, from any source, which exceeds the foster care rate. This includes child support, Social Security Retirement, Survivor’s and Disability Insurance (RSDI) income from a deceased or disabled parent, Social Security Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits based on the child's disability, income from a trust account, etc.
EXCEPTION: When a child in placement age 16 or older is enrolled by their social worker in the Independent Living Skills Program (ILSP), any income or incentive payments earned as a direct result of the child's participation in ILSP are exempt for the purposes of determining Foster Care property and income.
Placement Types & Eligibility
To be eligible for foster care payments a child must be placed with one of the following eligible facilities:
- a licensed non-related foster home—this can be a foster family home, a Foster Family Agency or a Group Home. Foster homes are licensed through the Community Care Licensing (CCL) division of the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) or by an individual county or state.
- the approved home of a relative: payable only if the child is eligible to Federal Foster Care funding
- the approved home of a former relative
- the approved home of a Non-relative Extended Family Member (NREFM)
- a non-related legal guardian
Foster Family Homes
Foster Family Homes include:
- individual licensed homes, including specialized care homes
- state licensed small family homes, and
- relative, Non-Related Extended Family Member (NREFM), and non-related legal guardianship (NRLG) placements.
Most licensed homes are licensed for six children or less.
Foster Family Agencies (FFAs)
A Foster Family Agency is a private agency licensed by the State of California to certify individual homes for the placement of foster children.
The FFA rate is established by the State of California and includes:
- a basic foster care rate for the child’s age
- a monthly child increment
- additional monies to cover the FFA’s administrative and social work costs
Group Homes
Group Homes are facilities licensed by Community Care Licensing for 6 or more children. Group Homes are institutional in nature and provide care for children with specific behavior problems. Their rates are established by the State of California based on the level and type of service provided to the child.
Relatives & Former Relatives
A foster caregiver is considered to be a relative if they are related by birth or adoption to the child by virtue of being one of the following: (DPSS 750A)
- The brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, or any such person of a preceding generation denoted by the prefixed grand-, great-, or great-great.
- The stepfather, stepmother, stepbrother or stepsister.
- The spouse of any person named above even after the marriage has been terminated by death or dissolution.
A relative caregiver:
- should be able to prove their relationship to the child with documents such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.
- must complete the home approval process. The home approval process is similar to the foster care licensure process, and an approved home must meet the same standards as a licensed foster home.
A foster child who is a dependent of the Juvenile Court and placed in the approved home of a relative may receive:
- Foster Care if they are eligible to receive federal AFDC-FC or
- CalWORKs if they are not eligible to receive federal AFDC-FC.
If the child is not eligible to federal AFDC-FC, the Foster Care Eligibility Technician will send a notice to the relative stating that the child is not eligible to Foster Care, but may be eligible to CalWORKs, and forward the Foster Care application paperwork to the local CalWORKs office. The relative will need to make arrangements with the CalWORKs office to complete the CalWORKs application paperwork.
Former Relatives
A relative caregiver becomes a former relative when the rights of the child’s parent(s) are terminated by the court. A child who was receiving AFDC-FC in the home of a relative caregiver may continue to receive AFDC-FC when the relative becomes a former relative.
Non-relative Extended Family Member (NREFM)
A NREFM is a person with an "established familial or mentoring relationship to the child" or the child's family, and who does not meet the AFDC-FC definition of a relative. This category may include godparents, family friends, teachers, etc. A potential caregiver's eligibility to NREFM status shall be determined and documented by the child's social worker.
A NREFM caregiver must complete the home approval process. The home approval process is similar to the foster care licensure process, and an approved home must meet the same standards as a licensed foster home.
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| Non-related Legal Guardian (NRLG) |
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A non-related legal guardian is non-related caregiver appointed by the Juvenile Court or by Probate Court to serve as legal guardian for a child until he or she is 18.
- The court can make a decision about guardianship whether or not the parent agrees.
- The court grants a legal guardian the right to make most decisions regarding the child, but does not grant all the legal rights and responsibilities of a parent to the guardian in the way that adoption grants these rights and responsibilities to an adoptive parent.
A legal guardian is considered to be a non-related legal Guardian (NRLG) if they are not related by birth or adoption to the child by virtue of being one of the following:
- The child’s brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, niece, or any such person of a preceding generation denoted by the prefixed grand-, great-, or great-great.
- The child’s stepfather, stepmother, stepbrother or stepsister.
- The spouse of any person named above even after the marriage has been terminated by death or dissolution.
A child residing with a NRLG in Riverside County may be eligible to receive Foster Care cash and Medi-Cal benefits from Riverside County if the guardianship was established in California. A NRLG may apply for Foster Care benefits for the child by calling (951) 358-3505. The County will send an application packet with a letter that tells the NRLG who to contact to schedule an appointment at the office nearest to the NRLG. At the interview, the NRLG needs to provide a copy of the child’s birth certificate, Social Security card and the court papers appointing guardianship of the child to the NRLG (letters of guardianship).
The income and property of the child, if any, are considered in determining the child’s eligibility to Foster Care cash and Medi-Cal benefits, but the income and property of the NRLG are not considered.
The County will assign a Social Worker to provide services which the State requires as part
of Foster Care eligibility.
Specialized Care
Whole Foster Family Homes
A WFFH is a foster home specifically trained to assist a foster child who is a teen parent in developing the skills necessary to provide a safe, stable and permanent home for his or her child.
A WFFH may be:
- a licensed Foster Family Home (FFH)
- a State-Licensed Small Family Home (SLSFH)
- the approved home of a relative or non-related extended
- family member (NREFM)
- the home of a non-related legal guardian (NRLG) if the
- guardianship was established by the dependency court
- a certified Foster Family Agency (FFA) home
- a Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment (Kin-GAP) home, when the home was established as a WFFH prior to dismissal of the child’s dependency.
When a teen parent foster child is placed with his or her non-dependent infant or child in a WFFH, the Infant Supplement Payment (ISP) rate is equal to the basic rate for the placement type and the age of the teen parent’s infant or child.
When a teen and his/her infant or child are placed in a WFFH, the teen’s assigned social worker, the WFFH caregiver, and the teen parent collaborate to develop a written Shared Responsibility Plan (SRP). The SRP is designed to address specific care-giving areas and to document how the teen parent will be developing the skills necessary to provide a safe, stable, and permanent home for his/her infant or child in collaboration with the foster care provider. Once completed and signed, the SRP entitles the caregiver to receive a $200 supplement to the foster care payment.
Regional Center Dual Agency Clients
A dual agency child is a child receiving AFDC-FC or AAP benefits who is served by a Department of Developmental Services (DDS) California Regional Center under either:
- the Lanterman Act or
- the California Early Start Intervention Services Act.
Regional Centers provide services under the Lanterman Act to children who:
- have a significant developmental disability as defined under the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (Lanterman Act),
- became disabled prior to age eighteen (18), and are expected to be disabled indefinitely.
Regional Centers also provide services under the California Early Start Intervention Services Act/Prevention Program to children under the age of three who have not yet been determined to be developmentally disabled, but who meet other criteria.
A dual agency child may receive a regional center foster care rate. The regional center foster care rate for which the child qualifies depends upon whether:
- the child is in a licensed, non-profit community care facility placement vendored by the Regional Center, or
- the child is in a licensed or approved non-vendored placement and
- the Regional Center is serving the child under the Lanterman Act, or
- the Regional Center is serving the child under the California Early Start Intervention Services Act.
Dual agency children in licensed, non-profit community care facility vendored placements are entitled to a Alternative Residential Model (ARM) rate, at a level determined by the Regional Center.
Dual agency children placed in licensed or approved non-vendored placements who have been determined disabled under the Lanterman Act receive $2006 per month.
- In addition, a child served under the Lanterman Act who is age three or older, and who is determined by the social worker to have extraordinary care and supervision needs, may receive a supplement of $250, $500, $750 or $1000 per month.
- A supplement to the rate may be requested directly by a dual agency child’s foster caregiver or adoptive parent, through a referral from a regional center, or by the assigned social worker, adoption worker, or probation officer.
The rate for a dual agency child under age three who is served under the California Early Start Intervention Services Act/Prevention Program and placed in a licensed or approved non-vendored facility is $898 per month. A child under age three is not eligible to receive a supplement.
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| Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program |
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Overview:
The Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment (Kin-GAP) program was established effective January 1, 2000 for children whose California Juvenile Court dependency is terminated in favor of guardianship with the relative caregiver. Effective October 1, 2006, the Kin-GAP program was made available to children whose California Juvenile Court warship under Probation is terminated in favor of guardianship with the relative caregiver. Kin-GAP provides both cash and Medi-Cal benefits to eligible children. Kin-GAP payments are income to the child, not to the caregiver. In addition, Kin-GAP payments are excluded by the Housing Authority in determining a household’s qualification for housing assistance.
Children’s Services and Probation/Court Oversight:
Kin-GAP does not provide Children’s Services or Probation oversight. The social worker or probation officer closes the case when the dependency or wardship is dismissed and there are no further court hearings.
However, Kin-GAP guardians residing in Riverside County may call 211or 1 (800) 464-1123 by cell phone, to connect with the Volunteer Center of Riverside County. The Volunteer Center is open 24 hrs a day to help caregivers find resources for a variety of issues, including:
- health care
- substance abuse
- employment
- housing, and
- youth crisis and intervention.
Guardians may also call the Riverside County Grandparent Warmline at 1-800-303-0001.
Basic Requirements:
To be potentially eligible to receive Kin-GAP, all of the following conditions must be met:
- the child must live in the approved home of a relative for at least twelve months following placement in the home by Riverside County Children’s Services Division (CSD) or Riverside County Probation Department.
- an approved home is a licensed foster home or a home that is approved as documented by form SOC 815 “Approval of Family Caregivers Home.”
- the relative must be appointed legal guardian of the child by a California Juvenile Court.
- the juvenile court dependency must be dismissed on or after 01/01/2000, or the juvenile court wardship must be dismissed on or after 10/01/2006.
Other Eligibility Requirements:
When the child meets these basic requirements, initial Kin-GAP eligibility is determined based upon the child’s:
- age--must be under age 18
- countable property--must be under $10,000.00
- countable income--must be less than the Kin-GAP grant
- school attendance--Kin-GAP children aged 16-19 must attend school full-time
- residency--must reside in the state of California.
Children receiving SSI benefits are not eligible to receive Kin-GAP, according to the State Eligibility and Assistance Standards (EAS) manual section 82-832(d).
Absence from the Home: The State Eligibility and Assistance Standards (EAS) 82-812.5 defines temporary absence as absence “from the home for one full calendar month or less.” For the purpose of this section, one full calendar month means from the first day of the month through the last day of the month. Guardian children who will be out of state for more than one calendar month will be discontinued, and the guardian will need to reapply for Kin-GAP when the child returns.
Example: On February 2nd, the Kin-GAP guardian and child go to visit an uncle in Nevada and return on March 16th. They were not gone for the full calendar month of February or March and would be considered temporarily absent.
If the child goes to Juvenile Hall and is made a ward of the Juvenile Court, Kin-GAP benefits will be discontinued. Kin-GAP benefits may be reinstated when all of the following conditions are met:
- after the Juvenile Court dismisses the child’s wardship
- the child is residing in the guardians home
- the guardianship is still intact, and
- all other eligibility requirements are met.
Juvenile Probation may apply for AFDC-FC for the child’s out of home placement. Juvenile Probation is responsible to provide services to the child, and to provide documents to DPSS that are required to determine initial and ongoing eligibility.
Eligibility after age 18: A Kin-GAP youth may be eligible to continue receiving Kin-GAP after age 18, if he or she meets the following requirements:
- will complete high school by age 19, or
- is expected to receive a GED certificate prior to age 19, or
- has not graduated from high school and has enrolled in an eligible vocational-technical training program which will not result in a college degree, and the child is expected to complete prior to age 19, and
- signs form SOC 155B Mutual Agreement for 18-year Olds—this form establishes the youth’s agreement to remain in the Kin-GAP Program after his or her 18th birthday.
Contact the Kin-GAP unit at (951) 358-7778 for additional information regarding school requirements.
Kin-GAP payments:
- are delivered on the first day of the benefit month
- are the responsibility of the county that dismissed the dependency or wardship
- are the same rate as the Foster Care basic rate of the county in which the child resides (Host County)
- may include a specialized care increment (SCI) if the child received a SCI in Foster Care prior to the approval of Kin-GAP
- includes clothing allowance(s) at the Host County rate
- may include an infant supplement, and
- may be paid using Direct Deposit, at the Kin-GAP guardians request.
Moving to another state: Kin-GAP guardians planning to move to another state may contact that state’s Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) to ask whether that state has a program for relative legal guardians that is similar to Kin-GAP.
- Not all states have a program similar to Kin-GAP.
- Payments from California will stop if the Kin-GAP guardian/child moves to another State.
Independent Living Services Program (ILSP): The Independent Living Services Program (ILP) provides services and activities to assist foster and Kin-GAP youth in making the transition to independent living.
Kin-GAP youth ages 16-19 may participate in ILSP. Kin-GAP youth who participate in ILSP are assigned an ILSP social worker. ILSP staff can be contacted at (951) 358-6748 or riversideilp@CWS.state.ca.us
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| Administrative Hearings |
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The Administrative Hearings Unit (AHU) is responsible for all activities relating to official requests for a State hearing on claims of improper action or inaction by DPSS relating to programs administered by the department. A person who files a request for a State hearing is referred to as a “claimant.”
When an action is taken on a Foster Care case, the FC ET sends a Notice of Action (NOA). The back of the NOA provides instructions for requesting a formal state hearing. The request may be made in writing by completing the Hearing Request information on the back of the NOA, or by telephone by calling 1-800-952-5253 (TDD 1-800-952-8349).
When a claimant files a request for hearing, the AHU reviews the action taken to determine if correct and appropriate actions have been taken for all categorical aid programs. The AHU works with the claimant to resolve issues by either obtaining needed information or verification from the claimant, or requiring corrective action by DPSS.
If the issue cannot be resolved through the problem resolution process and a hearing is required, the AHU prepares written position statements, documentary evidence, and witnesses to represent the position of the county at the State hearing.
The AHU representative, the claimant and any person he or she decides to bring, and any County staff the AHU representative requests, will attend a hearing in front of an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) appointed by the California Dept. of Social Service (CDSS). The AHU presents the department’s position in hearing to the ALJ. The AHU reports to CDSS on all corrective actions taken by DPSS in compliance with State Hearing decisions.
Overpayments
Eligibility and Assistance Standards (EAS) section 45-304.11 defines an overpayment as “any amount of aid paid which a foster care provider received on behalf of a child to which the provider was not entitled.”
EAS 45-304 further provides that the County:
* avoid overpayments by prorating the foster care payment if the child resided in the foster care facility for less than the full month, and
* demand and collect overpayments for any period of time in which the foster child was not cared for in the foster care facility when the information was not provided timely to allow the payment to be prorated.
The County will prorate payments and/or collect most overpayments. The FC ET determines whether the overpayment meets criteria for voluntary repayment or involuntary repayment. Caregivers seeking to repay overpayments may contact DPSS Recovery by telephone at (951)358-3200 or by mail at 3021 Franklin Ave., Riverside, CA 92507.
The following regulations apply:
Eligibility and Assistance Standards (EAS) 45-302.23 and 45-304.11 through 45-304.113 which may be viewed here.
A Notice of Action (NOA) is sent to the caregiver when an overpayment is assessed. The Notice of Action provides information for requesting an informal and/or a formal hearing.
- In order to request an informal hearing, the request must be made no later than 30 calendar days after this NOA was mailed.
- To appeal the informal hearing decision at a formal State hearing, the caregiver must request the formal State hearing within 90 calendar days after the informal hearing decision is mailed. If the informal hearing is requested but not held, the 90 days will begin 31 calendar days from the date of the NOA.
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| Foster Care Medi-Cal |
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Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid health care program. This program pays for a variety of medical services for children in foster children and may also be available to relative caregivers of foster children. Medi-Cal benefits are provided as part of the Foster Care, Kin-GAP and AAP programs.
For Information About What Medical Services Medi-Cal Covers:
- Call Your Provider (your doctor, dentist, clinic, hospital, etc.)
- For Questions about Dental Services or Medi-Cal Dental Programs: 1 (800) 322-6384.
Denti-Cal
The Medi-Cal Dental Program, also known as Denti-Cal, covers a variety of services such as:
- Diagnostic and preventive dental hygiene, such as: examinations, x-rays, and teeth cleanings
- Emergency services for pain control
- Tooth extractions
- Root canal treatments
- Prosthetic appliances
- Orthodontics for children who qualify
Your child’s dentist can advise you on your best course of treatment, and the specific conditions under which these services are covered. During your first appointment, please present your child’s Medi-Cal Beneficiary Identification Card (BIC) to the dentist so eligibility can be determined.
Denti-Cal Beneficiary Toll Free Telephone Services:
To contact the Denti-Cal Program, please call the Beneficiary Toll-free Telephone Services at (800) 322-6384 or visit the website by clicking here. Denti-Cal representatives are available 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday to assist you. When you connect with the Medi-Cal Interactive Voice Response System (IVR) you may select from the following menu options:
- Help in locating a Medi-Cal dental provider in your area.
- Inquiries concerning or needing assistance with your regional screening appointment.
- Questions regarding your Treatment Authorization Request (TAR).
- General program questions.
- How to file a grievance/complaint.
You may call anytime to obtain general information which includes information on covered benefits, how to file a Fair Hearing, requesting copies of your dental records, and reporting suspected Medi-Cal Fraud.
You may also find dentists in the state of California who accept Denti-Cal by clicking here.
Child Health and Disability Prevention Program
The Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) Program is a health promotion and prevention program serving California’s infants, children, and teens. The CHDP Program provides periodic preventive health assessments to:
- children under age 21 with Medi-Cal
- non-Medi-Cal eligible children from birth to age 19 whose families meet income guidelines
For more information about obtaining services, or for help with getting an appointment and transportation, call the main CHDP office at (951) 358-5401.
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