BY KIMBERLY RICE AND MARY JANE WALLNER
For most young adults, turning 18 is an exciting milestone — a time of new opportunities, independence and planning for the future. But for youth aging out of New Hampshire’s foster care system, this transition is often marked by financial uncertainty, instability and, for too many, homelessness.
Kim Rice (above) and Mary Jane Wallner (below)
One way our state can better support these young people is by ensuring they have access to the Social Security benefits that are intended for them. The most vulnerable foster youth qualify for these benefits due to the death or significant disability of a parent, or because they themselves have a disability. These funds are meant to provide for their well-being, just as they would if they were living with family.
Rather than using these funds to address foster children’s unmet needs or saving them for the children’s future, the state’s current policy redirects the funds to cover foster care costs. This leaves young people without any financial stability when they age out of the system — right when they need it most.
New Hampshire’s current policy has a significant impact on the most vulnerable Granite Staters. Madison Lemay, a former foster youth, lost her father in eighth grade and began receiving survivor benefits. But when she entered care at 16, those payments stopped.
“I wish I could have accessed those funds while in care,” Lemay says. “They could have helped me buy necessities, or even supported me during home visits. More importantly, I could have saved that money to help secure stable housing when I aged out.”
Lemay is now a youth leader and founding member of the Youth Success Project.
Kymyah Lockett, also a former foster youth, learned at the age of 19 that thousands of dollars in Social Security benefits intended for her had been used elsewhere.
“That money could have changed my life,” Lockett says.
“It could have helped me with school, given me transportation, or simply let me experience life like a regular kid. It could have given me a piece of my childhood back. Instead, I aged out of care and experienced homelessness. If my benefits had been saved for me, I could have had the safety and stability I desperately needed.”
When foster parents like Stacy Phillips of Manchester open their homes, their goal is clear: providing stability and care to children facing significant challenges. Phillips, who has fostered over 70 children and adopted two, advocates for foster children to receive their Social Security benefits directly. Her youngest adopted daughter had significant developmental challenges, requiring therapies and equipment costing far more than the standard foster care stipend.
“Had I known she was eligible to collect Social Security benefits, that would have alleviated significant financial and emotional strain on our household,” Phillips says.
Another child she fostered from age 9 couldn’t be adopted due to state decisions; he aged out at 18, became homeless, and discovered the state had collected his Social Security benefits for years — funds that could have dramatically improved his life. Phillips emphasizes, “Directly providing Social Security benefits to foster children ensures they have essential resources to heal, thrive and build stable futures.”
HB 661, the bipartisan bill we are sponsoring, would implement common-sense reforms that will help our most vulnerable foster youth transition into adulthood with a more solid foundation and the resources they need to succeed.
Every young person deserves a fair chance at a stable and successful future with a financial foundation. HB 661 begins to address this by creating a system that truly prioritizes the well-being of our most vulnerable foster youth, and ensures they have the financial resources to move forward with confidence and hope. This isn’t just about financial assistance; it’s about giving young people the tools to build a future filled with possibility. Let’s make sure they get the support they deserve.
New Hampshire must strive to do what’s best for children in care, and this legislation presents the opportunity to strengthen that commitment. Other states have already implemented policies that ensure foster youth can retain their Social Security benefits, whether by holding the funds in a trust or by ensuring they are used directly for the child’s needs. It is time that New Hampshire does the same.
Rep. Kimberly Rice, R-Hudson, and Rep. Mary Jane Wallner, D-Concord, are both long-term members of the NH House of Reps.
