JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — By the time Jesse Fernandez turned 18, the federal government had paid out thousands of dollars in Social Security survivor’s benefits because of the death of his mother. But Jesse’s bank account was empty.

The money had all been used by Missouri’s foster care system or relatives responsible for his care.

“I was shocked,” said Jason White, a foster parent to Fernandez.

“Those dollars are a big deal,” he continued. “Had they been saved, or a chunk of it saved, he’d have money for a car and a first-time apartment.”

For decades, states have routinely applied for Social Security survivor and disability benefits on behalf of foster children and then used that money to help cover the costs of foster care services. The tactic has saved states from having to spend millions of their own tax dollars on foster care programs.