CDSS has issued guidance on determining residency for purposes of CalFresh eligibility. CDSS states that counties cannot have a durational residency requirement, cannot require a fixed mailing address, and cannot require intent to permanently reside in the county as conditions of CalFresh eligibility. Temporary absence from a county when there is an intent to return should not affect CalFresh eligibility or require an inter-county transfer.
“Whereabouts unknown” is not a permissible reason to terminate CalFresh benefits. If mail is returned as undeliverable, counties should send a request for information form to the last known address, if that form is not returned within 10 days, the county can terminate benefits.
Semi-annual reporting households are only required to report address changes when submitting a semi-annual report or at annual recertification. Change reporting households must report address changes within 10 days.
An overissuance cannot be established solely because a client accesses benefits in another county or state or is temporarily located in another county or state. ACL 15-91 (11/3/15).