The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions about overpayments of CalWORKs immediate need benefits.
Applicants are eligible for CalWORKs immediate need if they are apparently eligible for CalWORKs and have an emergency situation. With limited exceptions, information does not need to be verified for immediate need eligibility.
An immediate need payment is only an overpayment if the applicant was not apparently eligible for CalWORKs when the immediate need payment was issued. A finding by the county that the assistance unit is not eligible for CalWORKs after full evaluation of the case does not, by itself, mean that immediate need is an overpayment.
A change in circumstances between issuance of immediate need and full evaluation of the application does not make the immediate need payment an overpayment unless the applicant was not apparently eligible for CalWORKs when the immediate need payment was issued based on the circumstances at the time the immediate need payment was issued. (ACL 18-26, June 6, 2018.)