Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-156.2 - Foster care recovery

The department shall recover the cost of foster care provided by the department pursuant to the rules in this chapter and the rules in 441-Chapter 99, Division I, which establishes policies and procedures for the computation and collection of parental liability.

(1) funds shall be applied to the cost of foster care in the following order and each source exhausted before utilizing the next funding source:

a. Unearned income of the child.

b. Parental liability of the noncustodial parent.

c. Parental liability of custodial parent(s).

(2) The department shall serve as payee to receive the child's unearned income. When a parent or guardian is not available or is unwilling to do so, the department shall be responsible for applying for benefits on behalf of a child placed in the care of the department. Until the department becomes payee, the payee shall forward benefits to the department. For voluntary foster care placements of children aged 18 and over, the child is the payee for the unearned income. The child shall forward these benefits, up to the actual cost of foster care, to the department.

(3) The custodial parent shall assign child support payments to the department.

(4) Unearned income of a child and parental liability of the noncustodial parent shall be placed in an account from whence it shall be applied toward the cost of the child's current foster care and the remainder placed in an escrow account.

(5) When a child has funds in escrow these funds may be used by the department to meet the current needs of the child not covered by the foster care payments and not prohibited by the source of the funds.

(6) When the child leaves foster care, funds in escrow shall be paid to the custodial parent(s) or guardian or to the child when the child has attained the age of majority, unless a guardian has been appointed.

(7) When a child who has unearned income returns home after the first day of a month, the remaining portion of the unearned income (based on the number of days in the particular month) shall be made available to the child and the child's parents, guardian or custodian, if the child is eligible for the unearned income while in the home of a parent, guardian or custodian.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 234.39.

Notes

Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-156.2