When a child is placed with his or her parents for a trial home visit, DFPS does not serve as representative payee for SSI or RSDI even though DFPS may retain managing conservatorship. SSA eligibility rules require that the income and resources of the parents be used to determine the child’s eligibility for SSI benefits.

The SSI coordinator does all of the following:

• Contacts SSA to inform it of the placement and resigns as representative payee.
• Ensures that any monthly benefits received after the child’s return home are returned to SSA.
• Contacts the state office Children’s Income Accounting unit to return the child’s funds in savings when asked by SSA to return the conserved funds.
• Notifies the child’s caseworker to inform the child’s parents that their child was receiving SSA benefits while in care and that the parents should contact their local SSA office to inquire about possible benefits for the child.