Title IV-E Benefits are an individual entitlement for certain children in out-of-home

Title IV-E Benefits are an individual entitlement for certain children in out-of-home placement. There are two major categories of Title IV-E status: Eligibility and Reimbursability. Eligibility is determined in accordance with a voluntary placement agreement or a judicial determination. The “contrary to the welfare” determination must be made in the first court ruling ordering, even temporarily, the removal of a child from home. If the determination regarding “contrary to the welfare” is not made in the first court ruling pertaining to removal from the home, the child will not be eligible for Title IV-E foster care maintenance payments for the duration of that stay in foster care. Reimbursability is determined on a monthly basis. The reimbursability criteria must be met for the state to receive federal support for the child. An assessment of several Title IV-E criteria is required to determine whether the child is federally reimbursable in any particular month. The child must be eligible to be reimbursable. However, once eligibility is established, a child may lose and regain reimbursability depending on changes in the circumstances of placement.