Clothing Allowance

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Have you ever wondered about the rules and regulations concerning your child’s clothing allowance? We checked with an Eligibility Worker at the Department of Human Services to learn how the system works.

When a child is first placed in foster care, the Child Welfare Worker fills out Form 1502. If the minor needs a clothing allowance, the worker checks an appropriate box on the form. The amount the child receives depends on his or her age and the county in which he or she is placed (each county has a different rate). In San Francisco County, a child 0-4 years old in an initial placement is allotted $143/year. Every August after that, he or she is allotted another $93. Children 5-11 years old receive $237 initially and $155 each August thereafter. Children 12 and up receive $328 initially and $205 annually thereafter.

Some children placed with relatives may not be eligible for foster care and therefore may not qualify for a clothing allowance at all. Whenever a child’s level of care changes, the worker fills out a new Form 1502.

If your child does not seem to have received a clothing allowance, check with his or her worker. It may be that the proper box was not checked on Form 1502. More likely, however, the allowance has already been spent; even the highest amount, $328, does not go far.

If you feel that your child needs additional clothing, call your social worker to discuss the issue. Child Welfare Workers can request additional funds by filling out Form 1015, which goes to the Eligibility Worker for consideration. A letter from the group home or the foster parent helps them complete this process. It is rumored that there is sometimes a surplus in the DHS budget, especially toward the end of the fiscal year.

If you feel that your child needs extra money for a special outfit (such as a prom dress, gym clothes, or a winter jacket), you can apply for financial help through the Youth Guidance Center Auxiliary or through the Worker’s Fund. Ask your SFCASA Case Supervisor how to apply.

—Libby Colman, Ph.D.