Financial Programs

Children CANNOT be included in a FEP assistance filing unit for any month in which a foster care maintenance payment is being provided for that same month to meet their needs. This includes the child of a teen parent receiving a foster care payment when the child is living with the teen parent.

A dependent child who is placed with a relative under the provision of a “preliminary placement” will not receive a Foster Care maintenance payment. This is because the preliminary placement is with a relative who is not yet licensed as a Foster Care parent. These children are eligible to be included in a FEP assistance filing unit providing all other eligibility requirements are met.

If a dependent child is placed in the home of a specified relative, the relative may elect to receive FEP specified relative assistance or Foster Care maintenance payments for that child. If the relative elects to receive foster care payments for the child, that child is excluded from the family for purposes of determining the amount of the family's FEP Assistance.

If the only dependent child is receiving a Foster Care maintenance payment, the parent or specified relative may receive a FEP assistance payment which does not include that child, providing all other eligibility requirements are met.

Foster Care child in an independent living placement age 16 to 18 can receive an independent living foster care payment from Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) or FEP assistance if the child meets all other FEP assistance requirements. The Foster Care child cannot receive both types of assistance in the same month.