Young adults ages 18-22 who remain in or return to extended foster care may be eligible for extended foster care assistance. To be eligible, the young adult must meet the requirements found in DFPS Rules 40 TAC §700.316External Link. In particular, the young adult must sign Form 2540 Voluntary Extended Foster Care Agreement (VEFCA)PDF Document, and meet at least one of the educational and work-related eligibility criteria. These requirements and acceptable documentation for the requirements, are described in 10400 Extended Foster Care for Youth Who Are Age 18 or Older and its subitems.

The eligibility specialist performs an annual review of eligibility for all young adults who are receiving Extended Foster Care assistance. Although the caseworker is responsible for verifying that the young adult participates in one of the permissible educational and work-related activities throughout the year, the eligibility specialist annually reviews the documentation provided by the caseworker to ensure that the young adult remains eligible following all applicable requirements and guidance in 10400 Extended Foster Care for Youth Who Are Age 18 or Older and its subitems. See 10423 Monitoring Continued Participation and Annual Eligibility Review.

The eligibility of young adults between the ages of 21 and 22 who are meeting the extended assistance requirement – “regularly attending high school or enrolled in a program leading toward a high school diploma or high school equivalence certificate” – must be changed from Title IV-E to state-paid eligible. In addition, the young adult’s Medicaid eligibility type is changed to state-paid coverage as well. The effective date of these eligibility changes are the first of the month after the month the young adult turns 21. The eligibility specialist makes these changes after the annual review of eligibility due at the young adult’s 21st birthday.

For additional policies about the Form 2540 Voluntary Extended Foster Care Agreement (VEFCA)PDF Document, see Extended Foster Care Resource GuidePDF Document.