Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Krajewski: The ACF is right, we must stop stealing from foster youth

Krajewski: The ACF is right, we must stop stealing from foster youth

Rep. Rick Krajewski    December 12, 2025 | 5:59 PM

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 12 –  Today, state Rep. Rick Krajewski, D-Phila., released the following statement, supporting the Office of Administration for Children and Families’ recent call to protect foster youth’s benefits and urging the passage of H.B. 151. 

"Earlier this week, the Office of Administration for Children and Families sent an official letter to governors across America calling for an end to the rampant practice of local and state agencies intercepting foster youth's Social Security benefits.

"This is a powerful victory and clear mandate for action. For the last two sessions, my colleague Rep. Sheryl Delozier, R-Cumberland, and I have sponsored bipartisan legislation to protect foster children's public benefits. Following the lead of 11 states, red and blue, our legislation would ensure that young people's benefits are preserved in a savings account until they exit care. 

"This is not about ideology, or party. This is about fairness. These benefits belong to young people. Just as other foster children do not pay for their own costs of care or other county services, children who receive public benefits should not either. As the cost of food, housing and education remains sky high, it is unthinkable that our commonwealth would continue to steal from some of the most vulnerable young people.

"Our legislation – H.B. 151 – represents a plan, carefully developed in partnership with providers and families from every corner of the state. We held a hearing over a year ago where we heard from national experts and local impacted families. We have done the work to build broad support across the aisle, across the commonwealth and now, in the federal government.

"The time to act is now. Our legislature and state agencies must swiftly and decisively work to meet this federal directive and ensure every young person can afford a dignified future."