Eligibility Online Manual

M1201D Foster Care


Purpose:  This section will assist in determining eligibility for children in Foster Care.


Current Policy Effective Date:  January 1, 2023

Date Last Reviewed:  January 20, 2023

Previous Policy:    June 1, 2022

POL M1201D:  DETERMINING ELIGIBILITY FOR FOSTER CARE 


1.  Applications Must Be Signed and Dated

 

All applications must be signed and dated by the DFS Social Worker to be processed.

 

DFS Authorized Representatives may submit and acquire information about Foster Care cases, but they cannot sign an application or report a change on behalf of the DFS Social Worker.


2. Applicants Must Meet Basic Eligibility Factors


3. Applicants Must Be Under Age 21

Clients who turn 19 are no longer eligible for IV-E Foster Care. Transition these clients to one of the following coverage groups:


4. Applicants Must Be In DFS/Tribal Custody

Child is no longer in DFS/Tribal Custody when:   


5. IV-E Foster Care Will Be Determined by DFS

The DFS Social Worker will inform Medicaid on a 607 Change Form when a child has become IV-E Foster Care eligible.


6. Applicants Living With Parents Not Eligible For IV-E Or State Foster Care


7. Applicants Do Not Meet Income Requirements

Foster Care programs have no income requirements that are determined by the Wyoming Department of    Health.


8. Applicants Do Not Have Resource Test


9. Applicants In Public Institutions May Be Eligible For Institutional Foster Care

Institutional Foster Care is for children placed at Wyoming Boys/Wyoming Girls school or in a detention facility. Coverage ends when they are released from DFS/Tribal Custody.


10. Applicants May Have Eligibility For 12 Continuous Months

For regular Foster Care eligibility continues for 12 months from the effective date of eligibility or for 12 months from the last periodic review for children under age 19.

Basic Foster Care and Institutional Foster Care do not have a 12 Continuous month period.  Benefits end when  custody ends.


11. Eligibility Is Not Affected By Child Support Non-Cooperation


12. Clients Eligible For One Day Are Eligible For Entire Month


13. Clients Not In Wyoming May Retain Benefits

A child who moves out of Wyoming remains eligible when both of the following apply:   


14. Clients Must Be Reviewed

Clients must be periodically reviewed every 12 months to determine continued eligibility. Refer to Section M1403 for information on reviewing eligibility.

Clients must be reviewed for other Medicaid program eligibility before closing cases.


15. Clients May Be Eligible for Former Foster Youth After Their 18th Birthday

Children who were in DFS/Foster Care/Tribal custody in Wyoming and on a Federally Funded Medicaid program (Foster Care) at the time of their 18th birthday may apply and be screened for the Former Foster Youth Program. Applicant may be eligible for this program up to the age of 26 if eligibility criteria is met. 

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:   


16. Clients on Foster Care Medicaid in Another State on Their 18th Birthday May Be Eligible for Former Foster Youth

If an applicant submits a renewal or new application and indicates they were in Foster Care in a state outside of Wyoming on their 18th birthday, they can be reviewed for Former Foster Youth Medicaid in Wyoming.  Applicant may be eligible for this program up to the age of 26 if eligibility criteria is met. 

Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:   


17. Clients May Lose Benefits

The case will close on the first day of the next month when any of the following occur:


Reference:

Defining Group:              42 CFR 435.145

                                    Social Security Act § 1902(e)(12)

Income and Resource:    42 CFR 435.222

Clarifying Information:

A Foster Child is defined as a child who has been placed in DFS/Tribal custody and is in a foster care home or an approved/licensed facility.

Children’s Eligibility Is Not Affected By Child Support Non-Cooperation.

Information on IV-E Can Be Found in the DFS Policy Manual.

Social Worker will Notify Benefit Specialist When Child Moves Out of State.

Children who are reported by DFS or Tribal Foster Care as no longer in Custody should be switched from the Foster Care Program to the Child MAGI program for the remainder of the 12 Continuous Months, except for Institutional or Basic Foster Care.

Being formerly in Foster Care in Wyoming meets the verification requirement for Citizenship, Identity, Date of Birth, and Social Security Number, except for Basic Foster Care program.

Children reported through the DFS office contact can be eligible for Foster Care placement through an Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC). Children on an ICPC are only reviewed if there is a change reported through the DFS contact. ICPC children should remain eligible through their placement on the ICPC.