LB275 will protect foster youth’s access to their social security benefits
For Immediate Release
June 6, 2025
Contact: Sierra Salgado Pirigyi
Communications Director, Nebraska Appleseed
Office: (402) 438-8853 ext 116
Mobile: (402) 612-0241
sierrasp@neappleseed.org
LINCOLN, NE – Today, LB275, officially becomes state law. This bill, introduced and prioritized by Senator Megan Hunt, protects foster youth’s access to their social security benefits.
For years, youth in Nebraska’s foster care system who receive social security benefits have had their benefits taken by the state to pay for their foster care – without their consent or opportunity to object.
Just last year, Nebraska took over $4 million in foster youth’s benefits.
LB275 will provide more transparency, opportunities for engagement, and access to benefits for these youth, allowing them to have more say in what happens to their benefits and automatically adding almost a million more dollars back into the pockets of foster youth each year to help them prepare for adulthood.
Schalisha Walker, Nebraska Appleseed’s Child Welfare Program Director, issued the following statement in response:
“This is a great day for foster youth in Nebraska! Social Security benefits are meant to support disabled, low-income children, and children of deceased parents. Instead, for years, they were taken away from Nebraska kids and used instead to pay for services that the state already receives funding to provide. These benefits belong to our children, NOT the State of Nebraska.
LB275 will make a huge difference in the lives of Nebraska foster youth. Their Social Security benefits can now make an incredible impact on foster youth’s lives, helping them to save for their futures – college, housing, transportation, and other needs that could give them stability as they head into adulthood.
Thank you to Senator Megan Hunt for introducing and prioritizing this bill, all the senators that voted to see it become law, and advocates who shared their stories and support for this bill.”
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