Announcing the SSA 2.3% COLA, effective 12/1/07 (payable 1/08), and a reminder of the concomitant CalWORKs and Food Stamps impact. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
social security | ssi
ACIN I-62-07: Notice Of Action And Right To Request A State Hearing On Interim Assistance For Payment Pending Cases (10/25/07)
There is a new Reimbursement (IAR) Program form, to comply with a change in federal law. Previously, Social Security send a client’s entire retroactive SSI payment to the Interim Assistance (IA) agency as a lump sum. The IA agency reimbursed itself, sending the balance to the client, along with a Notice of Action and Right to Request a State Hearing.
The Deficit Reduction Act included a provision by which certain initial SSI benefits are paid to IA clients in installments, rather than in lump sums. The retroactive SSI remains pending, SSA sends the IA agency a notice, and the IA agency must request reimbursement from SSA. After the IA has requested reimbursement, SSA will forward the balance to the client in installments.
The new form has added language listing the initial SSI/SSP IAR amounts and IAR time periods; this form provides information regarding procedures for clients who wish to appeal their initial SSI/SSP benefit amounts and/or the amounts SSA sends to the county IA agencies from their initial SSI/SSP
benefit payments. [Download]
ACIN I-80-06 – Social Security COLA – Effective December 1, 2006 (November 9, 2006)
It’s that time of year again. Social Security will be going up (3.3%) December 2006, which is payable in January 2007. This ACIN walks the counties through the applicant and recipient budgeting under the quarterly reporting (and for food stamps, change reporting) systems. [Download]
ACWDL 05-42: Increase in Substantial Gainful Activity Amount (12/19/05)
Makes note of the $30 Substantial Gainful Activity increase to $860 per month (effective January 1, 2006) and clarifies that, even where severe medical conditions exist, an applicant will not be considered disabled if he or she has average monthly earnings at or above the SGA level. [Download]
ACIN I-72-05 – December 2005 Social Security (COLA) (November 4, 2005)
A heads up for counties (and recipients) that Social Security will be passing on a 4.1% COLA increase. The main purpose of this letter is to explain how this works in the world of quarterly reporting. Basically, for new applicants, it’s anticipated for December and will be budgeted for that month. For recipients, it’s a “known to county” change that they will use to budget the quarter including January 2006. In other words, no matter what, it counts for 01/06. [Download]
Amended Rules for Determining Income and Resources Under the SSI Program
The Social Security Administration has amended the rules for counting resources and assets in determining eligibility for SSI. The new rules (1) eliminate clothing from the definition of income and in-kind support and maintenance; (2) eliminate the dollar limit for the exclusion of household goods and personal effects and (3) excludes the recipient’s first car if it is used for transportation of the recipient or member of the recipients household without consideration of the value of the car. The practical effects of these changes are that people can receive gifts of clothing without putting their benefits at risk and can purchase furniture and other household items without risking their benefits. The final rule is posted on the website for California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform. [Download]