Social Security Administration Refuses to Provide Services for Foster Care Youth, Horsford and Cortez Masto Demand Answers

October 6, 2026 Press Release For Immediate Release October 6, 2026 Media Contact Chloe Gersten | Chloe.Gersten@mail.house.gov | 702-994-4028 Social Security Administration Refuses to Provide Services for Foster Care Youth, Horsford and Cortez Masto Demand Answers NORTH LAS VEGAS – Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04) and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) sent a joint letter to the Social Security Administration, calling on the agency to process pending applications submitted by Clark County Family Services (CCFS) to obtain Social Security Cards for youth in foster care. The letter comes after months of unanswered attempts by CCFS, County Commissioners, and both Rep. Horsford’s and Sen. Cortez Masto’s offices to work with SSA to rectify the issue. In December 2025, SSA notified CCFS that Social Security number applications required certain accompanying documentation to be physically certified by the custodian of record. For children in foster care, the custodian of record is the State of Nevada, which has operated digitally since 2010 when the Eighth Judicial District Court of Nevada mandated electronic filing for civil and family cases. This discrepancy between state law and federal agency policy makes it nearly impossible for CCFS to comply with SSA’s rule. “Once again, the people are caught up in bureaucracy,” said Rep. Horsford . “Our priority is ensuring people have access to the services they are entitled to and can live their lives to the fullest. Our foster youth are among the most vulnerable in our community and SSA’s unwillingness to acknowledge our local laws shows this Administration’s regard for Nevadans.” Over 1,300 foster youth in Clark County are currently unable to receive their Social Security Cards, severely restricting their livelihoods and quality of life. “Without Social Security numbers, these youth can’t receive federal healthcare coverage, secure permanent placement in loving families, or even get their first job,” said Sen. Cortez Masto . “The Trump Administration must immediately process outstanding Social Security number applications and work with Clark County to remedy these documentation issues, so Nevada’s foster children don’t have to proceed any longer with their lives on pause.” Since the initial notice in December, CCFS has provided documentation from the State of Nevada to SSA consistent with the state’s mandated electronic records and has offered to obtain any necessary information from the state to authenticate these records that may be used in other states. To date, there has been no response from SSA to this request. “Clark County is grateful to the leadership of Senator Cortez Masto and Congressman Horsford as they work on our behalf to address this pressing issue which is impacting over 1,300 children in our care,” said Kevin Schiller, Clark County Manager . “Our most sacred responsibility is ensuring our most vulnerable children are cared for and we are being inhibited from doing this in the current state with the Social Security Administration.” The full text of the letter can be found HERE . Issues : Economy Health