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Social Security paperwork dispute leaves nearly 1,300 Clark County foster children waiting
A clash over whether the Social Security Administration will accept electronic records has stalled number applications for nearly 1,300 children in Clark County foster care. County officials warn the missing numbers can complicate health coverage, benefits, jobs and family reunification.
Nearly 1,300 children in Clark County foster care are waiting for Social Security numbers after the Social Security Administration stopped accepting electronic records from the county, officials said Oct. 23.
The county says the delay can create barriers to enrolling children in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, accessing federal benefits and completing services tied to family reunification. It can also make it harder for older youth to get jobs or leave foster care with documents needed for adulthood.
Clark County Family Services first noticed the problem last December. The Social Security Administration told the county that applications must include records physically certified by the records’ custodians. The county, which has used an electronic records system since 2010, says documents such as immunization records, court orders and court filings have since been rejected.
“Those are benefits that those children are entitled to,” said Abbie Frierson, a deputy county manager. She said delays could keep some children from reuniting with relatives in another state or getting a first job.
The county has been trying for nearly a year to resolve the dispute, Frierson said. She called for a solution that would allow children to get the documents and services they need.
As the backlog grew, Clark County sought help from Nevada’s congressional delegation. Rep. Steven Horsford and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto sent a joint letter to the Social Security Administration this month, asking it to process pending applications, resolve the records issue by the end of 2026 and provide regular updates. The lawmakers also requested a written response within 10 business days.
Only 19 of the nearly 1,300 applications had been processed following the lawmakers’ appeal, county officials said. Frierson said she had never encountered a similar problem during her work with the county’s Family Services agency, which began in 2010.
County officials say there is still no workable agreement. The county is paying additional costs related to the backlog and says it will try to absorb financial burdens for families seeking to foster. Officials warned the number of pending applications could continue to rise.
More than 3,400 children are in Clark County’s care, and officials say foster parents remain urgently needed. The county is seeking acceptance of the records and faster processing for children whose applications are already pending.