1 New Section; Dependent Children; Federal Benefits. Amend RSA 126-A by inserting after section 6 the following new section:

126-A:6-a Dependent Children; Use and Management of Federal Benefits.

I. For all children in the care of the department, the department shall determine whether each child is receiving or eligible for benefits administered by the Social Security Administration or the Veterans Administration within 60 days after the child enters the department's care. If the department determines that a child is eligible or may be eligible for federal benefits, the department shall apply for the benefits on behalf of the child.

II. If a child is already receiving benefits before entering the department's care with an appointed representative payee in place, the department shall not seek to change the payee appointment unless the current payee has been deemed unsuitable or other circumstances warranting a payee change are met in accordance with the federal regulations for naming a successor payee. If there is no payee 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 representative, a representative payee in accordance with 20 C.F.R. 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 is determined by the court to serve as the representative payee, the department:

(a) Shall not use the child's federal benefits, other benefits, savings, or assets to pay for or to reimburse the department or this state for any of the costs of the child's care.

(b) May use the child's federal benefits for the child's unmet needs beyond what the department is obligated or required to pay.

(c) 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:

(1) A special needs trust.

(2) A pooled special needs trust.

(3) An Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account, also known as a STABLE NH account, established pursuant to RSA 195-K and section 529A of the Internal Revenue Code.

(4) Any other trust account determined not to interfere with social security or asset limitations for any other benefit program.

(d) Shall provide an annual accounting as to the use, application, or conservation of the child's federal benefits to the child, the child's representative, and the child's parents or guardians.

(e) Shall periodically review if someone other than the department is available to apply to assume the role of representative payee and could better serve in that role in the child's best interests.

III. The department shall notify the child, the child's parents, unless parental rights have been terminated, the child's guardian, the child's current placement, and the child's attorney of any application, decision, or appeal related to a child's federal benefits. In providing notice of any denial of benefits, the department shall consult with the child's representative and appeal the denial if it is in the child's best interests.

IV. The department shall annually review cases of children in the department's care to determine whether a child may have become eligible for benefits after the department's initial assessment.

V. Notwithstanding any other law, on termination of the department's responsibility for the child, the department shall release any monies remaining to the child's credit pursuant to the requirements of the funding source or, in the absence of any requirements, shall release the remaining monies to:

(a) The child, if the child is at least 18 years of age or is emancipated.

(b) The person who is responsible for the child if the child is a minor and not emancipated.

VI. For purposes of this section, a "child in the care of the department" means the department has custody or guardianship over the child or the child in a court-ordered placement or other out-of-home placement under the supervision of the department.

2 Appropriation; Department of Health and Human Services; Management of Federal Benefits for Children in Foster Care. For the purpose of managing social security payments and veteran's benefits for children in placement through the department of health and human services, the sum of $1 for the biennium ending June 30, 2027 is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.

1 New Section; Dependent Children; Federal Benefits. Amend RSA 126-A by inserting after section 6 the following new section:

126-A:6-a Dependent Children; Use and Management of Federal Benefits.

I. For all children in the care of the department, the department shall determine whether each child is receiving or eligible for benefits administered by the Social Security Administration or the Veterans Administration within 60 days after the child enters the department's care. If the department determines that a child is eligible or may be eligible for federal benefits, the department shall apply for the benefits on behalf of the child.

II. If a child is already receiving benefits before entering the department's care with an appointed representative payee in place, the department shall not seek to change the payee appointment unless the current payee has been deemed unsuitable or other circumstances warranting a payee change are met in accordance with the federal regulations for naming a successor payee. If there is no payee 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 representative, a representative payee in accordance with 20 C.F.R. 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 is determined by the court to serve as the representative payee, the department:

(a) Shall not use the child's federal benefits, other benefits, savings, or assets to pay for or to reimburse the department or this state for any of the costs of the child's care.

(b) May use the child's federal benefits for the child's unmet needs beyond what the department is obligated or required to pay.

(c) 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:

(1) A special needs trust.

(2) A pooled special needs trust.

(3) An Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account, also known as a STABLE NH account, established pursuant to RSA 195-K and section 529A of the Internal Revenue Code.

(4) Any other trust account determined not to interfere with social security or asset limitations for any other benefit program.

(d) Shall provide an annual accounting as to the use, application, or conservation of the child's federal benefits to the child, the child's representative, and the child's parents or guardians.

(e) Shall periodically review if someone other than the department is available to apply to assume the role of representative payee and could better serve in that role in the child's best interests.

III. The department shall notify the child, the child's parents, unless parental rights have been terminated, the child's guardian, the child's current placement, and the child's attorney of any application, decision, or appeal related to a child's federal benefits. In providing notice of any denial of benefits, the department shall consult with the child's representative and appeal the denial if it is in the child's best interests.

IV. The department shall annually review cases of children in the department's care to determine whether a child may have become eligible for benefits after the department's initial assessment.

V. Notwithstanding any other law, on termination of the department's responsibility for the child, the department shall release any monies remaining to the child's credit pursuant to the requirements of the funding source or, in the absence of any requirements, shall release the remaining monies to:

(a) The child, if the child is at least 18 years of age or is emancipated.

(b) The person who is responsible for the child if the child is a minor and not emancipated.

VI. For purposes of this section, a "child in the care of the department" means the department has custody or guardianship over the child or the child in a court-ordered placement or other out-of-home placement under the supervision of the department.

2 Appropriation; Department of Health and Human Services; Management of Federal Benefits for Children in Foster Care. For the purpose of managing social security payments and veteran's benefits for children in placement through the department of health and human services, the sum of $1 for the biennium ending June 30, 2027 is hereby appropriated to the department of health and human services. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.