Jesse Fernandez, center, talks with his former foster parents Jason and Joyce White Friday, May 17, 2024, in Independence, Mo. Fernandez was paid thousands of dollars of Social Security survivor's benefits because of the death of his mother, but by the time he turned 18, the money had all been used by the state of Missouri and Fernandez's relatives to pay for his foster care. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Jesse Fernandez, right, pets the family cat as he visits his former foster parents Jason and Joyce White Friday, May 17, 2024, in Independence, Mo. Fernandez was paid thousands of dollars of Social Security survivor's benefits because of the death of his mother, but by the time he turned 18, the money had all been used by the state of Missouri and Fernandez's relatives to pay for his foster care. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Jesse Fernandez, center, pets the family cat as he visits his former foster parents Jason and Joyce White Friday, May 17, 2024, in Independence, Mo. Fernandez was paid thousands of dollars of Social Security survivor's benefits because of the death of his mother, but by the time he turned 18, the money had all been used by the state of Missouri and Fernandez's relatives to pay for his foster care. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Maine state Rep. Amy Roeder, left, poses for a photo with her family, from left to right, son Kurtis, their father Eric Schaefer, and son Evan on March 31, 2024, in Bangor, Maine. Roeder adopted her sons from foster care and has sponsored legislation that would require the state to set aside foster children's Social Security survivor benefits for their unmet needs or future use. (Amy Roeder via AP)
Brenda Keith, right, and her foster daughter, Alexus, pose for a photo on March 21, 2022, in Mansfield, Mo. States have for decades been using foster children's federal Social Security benefits to help cover the costs of state services. The practice has saved states millions of dollars. But that's beginning to change in some states under pressure from child advocates who contend it is immoral and detrimental to kids. (Brenda Keith via AP)
Jesse Fernandez, center, stands with his former foster parents Jason and Joyce White Friday, May 17, 2024, in Independence, Mo. Fernandez was paid thousands of dollars of Social Security survivor's benefits because of the death of his mother, but by the time he turned 18, the money had all been used by the state of Missouri and Fernandez's relatives to pay for his foster care. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Maine state Rep. Amy Roeder, left, poses for a photo with her son, Evan, in the Maine House of Representatives on Dec. 7, 2022, in Augusta, Maine. Roeder adopted her son from foster care and has sponsored legislation that would require the state to set aside foster children's Social Security survivor benefits for their unmet needs or future use. (Amy Roeder via AP)