The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions regarding the end of the Statewide Fingerprint Imaging System as a requirement for CalWORKs benefits. Effective July 1, 2018, finger print imaging will no longer be required as a condition of receiving CalWORKs benefits and counties must stop using SFIS.
Effective July 1, 2018, counties are required to verify the identity of all adult applicants in person. With limited exceptions, this will mean that applicants must present a form of photo identification in-person to the county to complete their CalWORKs application. This requirement will apply to application interviews completed by telephone or other electronic means.
Applicants who received CalWORKs, CalFresh or Medi-Cal prior to July 1, 2018 and who have a photo identification in their case record will not be required to resubmit photo identification in person. If evidence of identity is conflicting, inconsistent or incomplete, counties will require in-person identity verification.
If the applicant qualifies for Immediate Need and the county must verify identity within 15 working days of the Immediate Need request.
If the applicant does not have acceptable photo identification, the applicant’s sworn statement will be considered sufficient. However, the applicant must present photo identification in-person within 15 days for benefits to continue. Aid must continue if the applicant presents evidence of good-faith efforts to obtain a photo identification. When the applicant presents evidence of good faith efforts to obtain a photo identification but a third party imposes a fee to obtain the evidence, the county must pay the fee on behalf of the applicant or recipient.
Examples of acceptable photo identification are driver’s license, photo identification from a government agency or school, passport or immigration document with photo.
Counties can still choose to provide the CalWORKs application interview by telephone or other electronic means. (ACL 18-68, June 7, 2018.)