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SB2571 • 2026

Foster Youth Earned Benefits Protection for Success Act; enact.

AN ACT TO DIRECT THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES (DEPARTMENT), FOR ANY CHILD IN THE CARE AND CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT, TO DETERMINE WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER ENTRY INTO CARE WHETHER THE CHILD IS RECEIVING OR IS ELIGIBLE FOR CERTAIN EARNED FEDERAL BENEFITS; TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT TO APPLY FOR SUCH BENEFITS ON BEHALF OF THE CHILD IF A DETERMINATION IS MADE THAT THE CHILD IS OR MAY BE ELIGIBLE; TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT TO APPLY TO BECOME THE CHILD'S REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE IF NO OTHER SUITABLE CANDIDATE IS AVAILABLE; TO PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT'S OBLIGATIONS IF APPOINTED TO SERVE AS THE REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A SUCCESS SEQUENCE SAVINGS AND DISBURSEMENT PLAN FOR EACH CHILD WITH CONSERVED EARNED BENEFITS; TO ENABLE A CHILD TO ACCESS A PORTION OF CONSERVED BENEFITS UPON COMPLETION OF SPECIFIC MILESTONES THAT PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE AND FINANCIAL READINESS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE RELEASE OF ANY REMAINING CONSERVED BENEFITS UPON TERMINATION OF THE DEPARTMENT'S CUSTODY OR LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CHILD; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Children Education
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Taylor, Simmons (13th)
Last action
2026-03-03
Official status
Dead
Effective date
** See Tex

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass during its session and therefore does not have an effective date or further implementation details.

Foster Youth Earned Benefits Protection for Success Act

This act directs the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services to help foster children obtain and manage federal benefits they are eligible for, ensuring these funds support their independence and financial readiness.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires the department to determine within 60 days after a child enters care whether they are receiving or eligible for certain earned federal benefits.
  • Directs the department to apply for these benefits on behalf of the child if eligibility is determined.
  • If no other suitable person is available, the department may become the representative payee for managing the child's benefits.
  • Requires the department to develop and implement a plan that allows children to access their benefits after reaching certain milestones like graduating high school or getting a job.
  • Ensures any remaining funds are released when the child leaves foster care.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Children in the care of the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services
  • The department itself, as it will have new responsibilities regarding these children's benefits

Terms To Know

Representative Payee
A person or organization that manages a child’s federal benefits on their behalf.
Success Sequence Savings and Disbursement Plan
A plan developed by the department to help foster children save and use their earned benefits as they reach certain life milestones.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass during its session.
  • Details about how funds will be managed and distributed are left to future rules made by the department.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    03/03 (H) Died In Committee

  2. 2026-02-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/16 (H) Referred To Youth and Family Affairs;Judiciary A

  3. 2026-02-11 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/11 (S) Transmitted To House

  4. 2026-02-09 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/09 (S) Passed As Amended

  5. 2026-02-09 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    02/09 (S) Amended

  6. 2026-01-29 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/29 (S) Title Suff Do Pass

  7. 2026-01-19 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System

    01/19 (S) Referred To Medicaid

Official Summary Text

Foster Youth Earned Benefits Protection for Success Act; enact.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S. B. No. 2571 *SS08/R1252PS* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS08/R1252PS
PAGE 1

To: Medicaid
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Taylor, Simmons (13th)

SENATE BILL NO. 2571
(As Passed the Senate)

AN ACT TO DIRECT THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CHILD 1
PROTECTION SERVICES (DEPARTMENT), FOR ANY CHILD IN THE CARE AND 2
CUSTODY OF THE DEPARTMENT, TO DETERMINE WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER ENTRY 3
INTO CARE WHETHER THE CHILD IS RECEIVING OR IS ELIGIBLE FOR 4
CERTAIN EARNED FEDERAL BENEFITS; TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT TO APPLY 5
FOR SUCH BENEFITS ON BEHALF OF THE CHILD IF A DETERMINATION IS 6
MADE THAT THE CHILD IS OR MAY BE ELIGIBLE; TO DIRECT THE 7
DEPARTMENT TO APPLY TO BECOME THE CHILD'S REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE IF 8
NO OTHER SUITABLE CANDIDATE IS AVAILABLE; TO PROVIDE THE 9
DEPARTMENT'S OBLIGATIONS IF APPOINTED TO SERVE AS THE 10
REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DEVELOP 11
AND IMPLEMENT A SUCCESS SEQUENCE SAVINGS AND DISBURSEMENT PLAN FOR 12
EACH CHILD WITH CONSERVED EARNED BENEFITS; TO ENABLE A CHILD TO 13
ACCESS A PORTION OF CONSERVED BENEFITS UPON COMPLETION OF SPECIFIC 14
MILESTONES THAT PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE AND FINANCIAL READINESS; TO 15
PROVIDE FOR THE RELEASE OF ANY REMAINING CONSERVED BENEFITS UPON 16
TERMINATION OF THE DEPARTMENT'S CUSTODY OR LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY 17
FOR THE CHILD; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 18
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 19
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the 20
"Foster Youth Earned Benefits Protection for Success Act." 21
SECTION 2. As used in this act, the following terms shall 22
have the meaning ascribed herein: 23
(a) "Department" means the Mississippi Department of 24
Child Protection Services. 25
S. B. No. 2571 *SS08/R1252PS* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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PAGE 2

(b) "Plan" means the Success Sequence Savings and 26
Disbursement Plan under Section 6 of this act. 27
SECTION 3. (1) For any child in the care and custody of the 28
department, the department shall determine within sixty (60) days 29
after entry into care whether the child is receiving or is 30
eligible for earned federal benefits administered by the Social 31
Security Administration or the Department of Veterans Affairs, 32
including, but not limited to, survivors' or dependent benefits. 33
(2) If the department determines that a child is eligible or 34
may be eligible for such earned benefits, the department shall 35
apply for the benefits on behalf of the child in accordance with 36
federal law. 37
If a child is already receiving earned federal benefits 38
before entering the care and custody of the Department of Child 39
Safety, or if the department applies for benefits on behalf of the 40
child, the department shall, in consultation with the child and 41
the child's attorney, identify an appropriate representative payee 42
consistent with 20 CFR Sections 404.2021 and 416.621, and shall 43
apply to become the representative payee only if no other suitable 44
candidate is available. 45
(3) If the department is appointed to serve as the 46
representative payee, the department: 47
(a) Shall not use any of the child's earned federal 48
benefits, savings or assets to pay for or reimburse the department 49
S. B. No. 2571 *SS08/R1252PS* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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PAGE 3

or this state for any cost of the child's care, maintenance, 50
supervision or services. 51
(b) May use the child's earned benefits only for unmet 52
needs of the child that are beyond those the department is 53
obligated or agrees to pay. 54
(c) Shall establish and maintain an account to conserve 55
the child's earned benefits in the child's best interest and 56
consistent with federal and state asset and resource limits. 57
Acceptable account types include: 58
(i) A special needs trust; 59
(ii) A pooled special needs trust; 60
(iii) An ABLE account established pursuant to 26 61
USC § 529A; or 62
(iv) Any other account or trust vehicle determined 63
not to interfere with eligibility for public benefits. 64
(d) Shall provide an annual accounting of the use, 65
application or conservation of the child's earned benefits to the 66
child, the child's attorney, and, if parental rights have not been 67
terminated, to the child's parents or guardians. 68
(e) Shall periodically review whether another qualified 69
person or entity could serve as representative payee in the 70
child's best interest and, if so, shall assist in transferring 71
that role. 72
SECTION 4. (1) The department shall provide written notice 73
to the child, the child's parents (unless parental rights have 74
S. B. No. 2571 *SS08/R1252PS* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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PAGE 4

been terminated), the child's guardian, the child's current 75
placement and the child's attorney of any application for 76
benefits, decision, appeal or appellate determination related to 77
the child's earned benefits. 78
(2) If benefits are denied, the department shall consult 79
with the child's attorney and appeal the denial if it is in the 80
child's best interests. 81
SECTION 5. The department shall review each case annually to 82
determine whether a child in care has become newly eligible for 83
earned federal benefits after the department's initial 84
determination. 85
SECTION 6. (1) The department shall develop and implement a 86
Success Sequence Savings and Disbursement Plan for each child with 87
conserved earned benefits. 88
(2) Under the plan, a child may access a portion of 89
conserved benefits upon completion of specific milestones that 90
promote independence and financial readiness, including, but not 91
limited to: 92
(a) Obtaining a driver's license or state 93
identification card; 94
(b) Graduating from high school or receiving a 95
recognized equivalent; 96
(c) Enrolling in a postsecondary education, vocational 97
training or an apprenticeship program; 98
S. B. No. 2571 *SS08/R1252PS* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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PAGE 5
ST: Foster Youth Earned Benefits Protection for
Success Act; enact.
(d) Maintaining verified employment for at least six 99
(6) consecutive months; or 100
(e) Completing a department-approved financial literacy 101
or savings-readiness program. 102
(3) The department shall determine reasonable disbursement 103
thresholds and amounts for each milestone to promote long-term 104
savings while rewarding progress toward self-sufficiency. 105
(4) The department shall ensure that all youth participating 106
in the program have access to financial literacy instruction and 107
counseling to support effective use of milestone payments and 108
long-term asset building. 109
SECTION 7. Upon termination of the department's custody or 110
legal responsibility for the child, the department shall release 111
any remaining conserved benefits as follows: 112
(a) To the child, if the child is at least eighteen 113
(18) years of age or emancipated; or 114
(b) To the person responsible for the child, if the 115
child has not attained age eighteen (18) and is not emancipated. 116
SECTION 8. The department may adopt rules consistent with 117
federal law to implement this act, including rules governing 118
account management, milestone disbursements, reporting, financial 119
literacy education and oversight. 120
SECTION 9. This act shall take effect and be in force from 121
and after July 1, 2026, and shall stand repealed on June 30, 2026. 122