Social Security recipients will receive a 5.8 percent cost-of-living increase in their Social Security benefits effective December 1, 2008, payable January 2009. For new applicants in both the CalWORKs and FS programs, the actual amount of the Social Security benefit, including the increase, shall be used for eligibility and budgeting purposes beginning with the month of January 2009.
For CalWORKs and FS households currently in the October, November, and December quarter, the County Welfare Department (CWD) will reasonably anticipate the increase in the SSA income. This means that starting with the QR Data month of November 2008, the SSA COLA will be reasonably anticipated to be received in the QR Payment Quarter of January/February/March 2009. counties shall take mid-quarter actions based on SSA COLAs. Since the SSA COLA is effective December 2008 and payable in January, counties are to take a mid-quarter county-initiated action to decrease benefits effective January 1, 2009.
The requirements for a timely and adequate Notice of Action shall apply. [Download]