All Programs

DFPS has systems in place to become a payee for legally obligated income the child received prior to DFPS taking conservatorship. This income may include (but is not limited to) child support, RSDI and SSI.

Foster care (FC) types of assistance (TOA) are identified in TIERS Inquiry as:

Foster Care – Federal Match – With Cash,

Foster Care – No Federal Match – With Cash,

Foster Care – No Federal Match – No Cash, and

Foster Care – Federal Match – No Cash.

Federal Match identifies Medicaid paid by matched funds from the federal government. No Federal Match identifies state-paid Medicaid only without matching federal funds. With Cash types of assistance (with or without federal match) indicate that the foster parent receives FC financial assistance for an FC child in addition to FC Medicaid. No Cash indicates the foster parent does not receive an FC financial payment but DFPS provides FC Medicaid only.

When reviewing inquiry systems such as WTPY/SOLQ and OAG, and DFPS is identified as the payee for the legally obligated income:

The legally obligated income for an FC child who is receiving FC With Cash is not counted since DFPS keeps the legally obligated income.

Legally obligated income for the FC child who receives FC No Cash is counted since DFPS sends the legally obligated income to the foster parent.

The legally obligated income is counted when a child is placed back in the home of the individual from whom the child was removed. DFPS remains the conservator of the child receiving FC No Cash , and the legally obligated income is not forwarded. The individual must inform the income source they are now the payee. If DFPS has not already provided the issuing agency this verification, that agency must verify with DFPS before changing the payee.

FC and Adoption Assistance (AA) children placed in Texas from another state will receive a TOA No Cash from DFPS in Texas. However, the child may receive an FC or AA payment from the home state. When a child is receiving FC or AA in Texas and is from another state, the advisor must contact the home state to verify any countable legally obligated income.

Examples:

A child receives SSI. DFPS removes the child from the custody of her mother. DFPS becomes the payee for the child’s SSI.

The child is placed with a foster parent. The child receives FC – Federal Match – With Cash. The foster parent chooses to include the child in the foster parent’s SNAP household. The child is added to the foster parent’s SNAP EDG. Since the child receives an FC payment, DFPS retains the child’s SSI. The FC payment and SSI are not budgeted in the SNAP EDG because the FC payment is exempt income and DFPS keeps the SSI income.

Months later, DFPS places the child with her great-aunt. The child now receives FC – Federal Match – No Cash. The child’s great-aunt chooses to include the child in the great-aunt’s SNAP household. The child is removed from the former foster parent’s EDG and is added to her great-aunt’s EDG and SNAP EDG. DFPS remains the payee for the child’s SSI but sends it to her great-aunt. The SSI must be counted in the SNAP budget.

Several months later, DFPS places the child back with her mother; however, DFPS retains conservatorship. The child continues to receive FC – Federal Match – No Cash. DFPS informs the SSA that the child now resides with her mother. The child’s mother must inform SSA to have the child’s SSI sent to her. The SSI must be counted in the SNAP budget.

Note: DFPS does not become the payee for children who receive adoption assistance.