Arizona Arizona Revised Statutes

§ 8-468 — Federal benefits; dependent children; application; prohibition; accounting; notice; annual review

ARS § 8-468Title 8. Child Safety · Ch. 4. DEPARTMENT OF CHILD SAFETY · Art. 1. General Provisions

Statute text

8-468. Federal benefits; dependent children; application; prohibition; accounting; notice; annual review A. For all children in the care of the department of child safety, the department of child safety shall determine whether each child is receiving or eligible for benefits administered by the social security administration or the veterans administration within sixty days after the child enters the department's care. If the department of child safety determines that a child is eligible or may be eligible for federal benefits, the department of child safety shall apply for the benefits on behalf of the child. B. If a child is already receiving benefits before entering the department's care or if the department applies for benefits on behalf of the child, the department shall identify, in consultation with the child and the child's attorney, a representative payee in accordance with 20 Code of Federal Regulations sections 404.2021 and 416.621 and shall apply to become the representative payee only if no other suitable candidate is available. If the department of child safety is appointed to serve as the representative payee, the department: 1. May not use the child's federal benefits, other benefits, savings or assets to pay for or to reimburse the department of child safety or this state for any of the costs of the child's care. 2. May use the child's federal benefits for the child's unmet needs beyond what the department of child safety is obligated, required or agrees to pay. 3. Shall establish an appropriate account to use and conserve the child's benefits in the child's best interest for current unmet needs and future needs in a manner consistent with federal and state asset and resource limits. The account may include any of the following:

…