Cite as: 537 U. S. 371 (2003)
Opinion of the Court
Justice Souter delivered the opinion of the Court. At its own expense, the State of Washington provides foster care to certain children removed from their parents' custody, and it also receives and manages Social Security benefits for many of the children involved, as permitted under the Social Security Act and regulations. The question here is whether the State's use of Social Security benefits to reimburse itself for some of its initial expenditures violates a provision of the Social Security Act protecting benefits from "execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or other legal process." 42 U. S. C. § 407(a); see § 1383(d)(1). We hold that it does not.
I
A
The federal money in question comes under one or the other of two titles of the Social Security Act. Title II, 49 Stat. 622, as amended, 42 U. S. C. § 401 et seq., is the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) plan of benefits for elderly and disabled workers, and their survivors and dependents. A child may get OASDI payments if, say, the minor is unmarried and was dependent on a wage earner entitled to OASDI benefits. § 402(d). Title XVI of the Act, § 1381 et seq., is the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) scheme of benefits for aged, blind, or disabled individuals, including children, whose income and assets fall below specified levels (the level for the latter currently being $2,000). §§ 1381-1382; 20 CFR § 416.1205(c) (2002).
and for the Children's Defense Fund et al. by Michael L. Martinez and David L. Haga.
Briefs of amici curiae urging affirmance were filed for AARP by Rochelle Bobroff and Michael Schuster; and for Omar M. Azzam et al. by Douglas W. Grinnell, Donnie R. Cox, Dennis B. Atchley, and Paul W. Leehey.
Marsha L. Levick filed a brief for the Juvenile Law Center et al. as amici curiae.
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