Changes to the Bringing Families Home program

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance regarding changes to the Bringing Families Home Program. Bringing Families Home provides financial assistance and housing support services to families receiving child welfare services, including tribal child welfare services, where the family is experiencing or at risk of homelessness and housing stability will increase family reunification or prevent foster care placement.

For Bringing Families Home, grantees were required to provide dollar-for-dollar matching funds.  That requirement was waived beginning July 1, 2021.  That waiver is extended to June 30, 2025.

The definition of homeless is now expanded to include individuals or families who are fleeing, or is attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions that relate to violence against the individual, family member, including a child.

The definition of permanent housing is now clarified to be no predetermined time limits on the length of stay at the premises.

CDSS must adopt regulations for the Bringing Families Home program by July 1, 2024.

Technical assistance about the Home Safe program is available to all grantees from CDSS.  (ACL 24-21, March 21, 2024.)

Changes to the Home Safe program

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance regarding changes to the Home Safe Program. Home Safe provides housing support services to older adults and dependent adults who are both at risk of homelessness, and who experience abuse, neglect, exploitation, or unable to care for their own needs interests.  The program is operated by counties and tribes with grant money from CDSS.

For Home Safe, grantees were required to provide dollar-for-dollar matching funds.  That requirement was waived beginning July 1, 2021.  That waiver is extended to June 30, 2025.

The definition of adult protective services was limited to meaning in Welfare and Institutions Code section 15610.10.  The definition of adult protective services is now expanded to include activities performed, in accordance with tribal law or custom, by tribes because of the potential for abuse or neglect.

The definition of older adult was limited to persons over age 60.  The definition of older adult is expanded to include individuals receiving services from a tribe within the age range established by the tribe for serving needy and vulnerable older adults.

Technical assistance about the Home Safe program is available to all grantees from CDSS.  (ACL 24-12, March 1, 2024.)

Changes to the HDAP program

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance regarding changes to the Housing and Disability Assistance Program (HDAP). HDAP provides housing support and disability benefits advocacy for people experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness.  The program is operated by counties and tribes with grant money from CDSS.

For HDAP, grantees were required to provide dollar-for-dollar matching funds.  That requirement was waived beginning July 1, 2021.  That waiver is extended to June 30, 2025.

CDSS is now required to adopt regulations for all aspects of the HDAP program by July 1, 2024.

Grantees are required to seek Interim Assistance Reimbursement from program participants, meaning that grantees must take necessary steps to recoup HDAP benefits from retroactive Supplemental Security Income payments.  That requirement was waived beginning July 1, 2024.  That waiver is extended to June 30, 2025.

Technical assistance about the HDAP program is available to all grantees from CDSS.  (ACL 24-13, March 1, 2024.)

Social Security and SSI overpayments

Overpayments of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits happen when recipients get more benefits than they are entitled to.  When there is an overpayment allegation, recipients have four options:

  • Repay the overpayment
  • Request an appeal
  • Request waiver of the overpayment. Wavier is available if the recipient is without fault in the overpayment, and repayment would be a hardship.  A recipient can request waiver by filing the SSA-632-BK form at their local Social Security office.  If the overpayment is less than $1,000, recipients can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or their local Social Security office to request waiver verbally.
  • Request a lower repayment amount. Social Security can grant a lower repayment amount if the person is unable to meet their necessary living expenses, or is unable to repayment the debt within 60 months.  Note that the 60 month timeframe is a change in Social Security Administration policy.  A person can request a lower repayment amount by filing the SSA-634 form at their local Social Security. (Social Security Dear Colleague Letter, March 7, 2024.)
Posted in SSI

Child Care Family Fees changes

The California Department of Social Service (CDSS) has issued a Child Care Bulletin (CCB) to guide counties and contractors regarding the implementation of Assembly Bill (AB) 116. The bill authorized the restructuring of Family Fee Schedules and allows exceptions to the payment of certain family fees in the following programs: Alternative Payment Programs (CAPP), Migrant Alternative Payment Programs (CMAP), Migrant Child Care and Development Programs (CMIG), General Child Care and Development Programs (CCTR), Family Child Care Home Education Networks (CFCC), and California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Stages One, Two (C2AP), and Three (C3AP).

Families are exempt from paying fees if they meet the following circumstances: families with children identified as at risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation; families with children who are receiving Child Protective Services; families receiving CalWORKs cash aid; families receiving Child Care and Development Services for Children with Special Needs; families enrolled in the Federal Based Migrant Program; families eligible for child care based on “experiencing homelessness”; and families with an adjusted monthly family income below 75 percent of the state median family income.

CDSS must establish a family fee schedule for families receiving child care and development services based on the most recent census data on median family income. AB 116 establishes that family fees cannot be based on the cost of care or the amount of subsidy payment. Family fees also cannot exceed 1 percent of the family’s adjusted monthly income. If a family’s monthly income is below 75 percent of the state median income, they will not be assessed a family fee. AB 116 also waives any family fees accrued but uncollected before October 1, 2023. However, child care providers receiving subsidies should not absorb a reduction in pay because of waivers or reductions of family fees.

Family fees must be assessed at three points: initial certification, recertification, and when a family requests a reduction to their family fees.

At initial certification, contractors will assess fees using the monthly certified need. For families with fluctuating incomes, contractors must allow families to provide up to 12 months of income information to determine income eligibility or calculate family fees. The adjusted monthly income from these households should be calculated using the average total countable income from at least two months. When a family’s initial enrollment is not the first day of the month, the contractor must assess a fee based on the certified hours for the partial month and another fee for the months after based on the certified need that is documented. If a change is made to the family fee at any point a written Notice of Action (NOA) must be issued.

Family fees should be assessed but not collected through September 30, 2023. Contractors should instruct providers to suspend collecting family fees during the period that fees are waived. Fee waivers are not permanent changes to statutes or regulations. When family fees are waived, contractors should reimburse the child care provided for the full amount without deducting family fees. Contractors should have policies in place to communicate the due date for payment of fees to parents.

Childcare and development contractors are required to report the amount of family fees collected and family fees that were assessed but waived.

Delinquent Family Fee Plans including outstanding fees were resumed July 1, 2021. However, families cannot be terminated due to these outstanding fees and families have the option to pay off any balance that existed before March 2020 with the amount paid being credited to their accounts. Additionally, counties and contractors can forgive family fees accrued but uncollected before October 1, 2023.  (CCB 23-22, August 31, 2023.)