Chapter 4: Rates and Special Payments

Policy: ACL 17-11, ACL 18-06, ACL 18-48, (ACL 23-65) WIC 11460, WIC 11463, and WIC 11462, Division 45 AFDC-FC MPP 45-302.2, ACL 21-139, CFL 21/22-34

Foster care payments are paid on behalf of eligible children and youth placed in home-based settings or licensed facilities. Payments are made to caregivers who provide care and supervision of the child. Foster care payments under the federal AFDC-FC Program are funded with Title IV-E. The payment may be referred to as a maintenance payment as described in federal regulations and the SSA. It covers the costs of care and supervision as well as food, clothing, shelter, personal incidentals, and reasonable travel to the child’s home for visitation or travel for the child to remain in their school of origin.

CDSS is the single state agency with authority to set statewide foster care rates. Home-based placement rates have a tiered rate structure with varying amounts that are determined using the Level of Care Protocol (LOCP) tool.

A child or youth’s foster care rate in a home-based setting is determined using the LOCP tool, which is an assessment of the child’s level of need while in placement. Only a Social worker or Probation Officer utilizes the LOC Protocol tool. After completion of the protocol tool a scoring sheet (Forms SOC 500 or SOC 500A), are completed and shared with eligibility staff. This form identifies the rate paid to a caregiver, on behalf of the youth.

Foster care rates are adjusted annually, on July 1, with application of the California Necessities Index (CNI), also commonly referred to as a cost-of-living adjustment. Foster care payments are paid on a monthly basis and paid in arrears. Payments are to be prorated based on days of care in a given month.

Case Example: A youth who transitions out of an STRTP placement on April 10th, the payment to the STRTP must end on that date. Paid in arrears, the foster care payment issued to the STRTP 10 days of care, is issued in May.

It is important to note pursuant to foster care regulations (both federal and non-federal), AFDC-FC payments cannot be made on behalf of a youth in foster care living in the same home with their parent, from which they were removed. Foster care rate amounts are entered on the SOC 158A form and issued through CalSAWS.

The Intensive Services Foster Care (ISFC) rate is authorized for caregivers who have specialized training to meet the needs of children or youth with a high acuity level and require intensive services. The ISFC rate is currently the highest home-based foster care rate paid to caregivers.

May still apply to some placements and non-dependent guardianship cases.

When a child or youth in foster care is placed out of state, the host state rate applies. The host state rate can only be paid up to but no more than California’s STRTP rate.

AFDC-FC youth who are clients of and receive services from a Regional Center (RC), receive what is referred to as a dual agency rate. CDSS sets the dual agency rate when children are placed in non-vendored RC settings. There are two rates, one for children under age 3 and over age 3. In addition to the dual agency rate, a child may qualify for (based on a RC assessment) a dual agency supplemental. Supplemental payments amounts are also established by the CDSS.

When AFDC-FC dual agency children are placed in RC vendored facilities, the rate amount(s) paid for care and supervision are determined by the Department of Developmental Services. There are special payment requirements associated with RC placements as such, eligibility staff should become familiar with policy guidance in ACL 21-139 and CFL 21/22-34. Documentation of the type of facility as well as regional center status should be maintained in the services file.

Policy: MPP 11-420.1

Clothing allowances rules vary by county. Some counties may have a policy to provide an initial clothing allowance upon placement of a child in foster care. Some clothing allowances may be based on the age of the child. Refer to your county policy for clothing allowance options.

Policy: ACL 10-62, ACL 18-48 , WIC 11461 (e)(1)

Specialized Care Increment (SCI) vary by county and can be used to supplement the foster care rate for children who require additional care and supervision. The Social Worker will indicate approved SCI on the SOC 158A. SCI programs, rate amounts, assessment criteria, and eligible placement types are determined by each county. Each county’s SCI plan is reviewed and approved by CDSS.

Policy: ACL 11-51, ACL 12-44, ACL 11-77, ACIN I-86-20

An Educational Transportation Reimbursement (ETR) may be paid to a caregiver for a foster child who needs transportation to remain in their school of origin as some children removed from the home are placed with caregivers who live in a different communities. ETR helps defray the extra transportation costs a caregiver provides.

Policy: ACIN I-10-20, ACL 11-61, ACL 11-69, ACL 22-65, and WIC 11465

The infant supplement is an additional payment available under the AFDC-FC program for the parenting youth in foster care, with whom the child is living. The parenting youth (regardless of sex or gender) may be eligible for an infant supplement, and all eligible teens and NMDs should be regularly screened for current or impending parenthood. The infant supplement amount(s) are identified in annual foster care rate letters.

Infant supplement amount is paid based on what type of placement the parent youth resides in. For STRTPs, the amount is $1,379. For parenting youth residing in a home-based placement, the amount is $900.

With subsequent amendments to WIC Section 11465 and policy guidance in ACIN I-10-20, additional populations of parenting youth who are living with their non-dependent child are currently statutorily eligible for the infant supplement payment, including:
― Youth under delinquency jurisdiction who are residing in foster care.
― Nonminor Dependents (NMDs) in Extended Foster Care.
― Youth in non-related legal guardianships receiving AFDC-FC payments.
― Youth receiving Kin-Guardianship Assistance Payment (Kin-GAP) payments.
― Youth receiving Approved Relative Caregiver (ARC) payments.

An infant supplement payment is provided to the youth’s caregiver, including transitional housing providers and STRTPs on their behalf, unless the youth is in a Supervised Independent Living Placement (SILP) receiving their payment directly. The NMDs living in a SILP also receive the infant supplement payment directly. Infant supplement payments are to be used solely for the care and supervision of the child of the eligible parent.

Eligibility for an infant supplement is based on the youth eligibility to foster care, no separate eligibility determination is required for the infant supplement. Eligibility staff will only need to request vital record documents to add a baby to the foster care case and ensure Medi-Cal is available, no other paperwork is required.

Policy: ACL 21-123, ACIN I-06-20, WIC 11465

Effective January 1, 2022, an expectant parent payment is available to pregnant minors and Non-Minor Dependents (NMDs) three months prior to the expected due date, in accordance with Assembly Bill (AB) 153.

The payment will be issued as a lump sum of $2,700 per child (in the case of twins, triplets, etc.), regardless of age, approved placement type, or status as a dependent or ward of the juvenile court (as long as the pregnant youth or NMD has an open case and is placed in an approved foster care placement).

The payment is made directly to a pregnant minor or NMD.

Eligible Youth: Expectant parent payments are available to pregnant minors/NMDs who receive AFDC-FC or ARC payments, including those placed in:
1. Short Term Residential Treatment Placements (STRTPs)
2. Supervised Independent Living Placements (SILPs)
3. Transitional Housing Placements (THPP)
4. Home-based foster care

NOTE: At this time, expectant parent payments are not available for children in the Adoption Assistance Program and the Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program.

This payment shall not be prorated, and overpayments shall not be established or collected. If the pregnancy is not identified before the seventh month of pregnancy, the child/NMD shall still receive the entire three months of payments. For payment to be issued, the social worker/probation officer will need to submit a SOC 158A and pregnancy verification to the eligibility staff.

Policy: MPP 11-420.2

Funeral expenses are eligible for a caregiver when a youth in their care passes away. This policy applies to all youth placed with relatives or NREFMs.