Yearly Archives: 2018

CalFresh student eligibility

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions implementing AB 214 regarding CalFresh student eligibility.

The California Student Aid Commission must now provide written notice to Cal Grant A and B recipients of their potential eligibility for CalFresh.  Only Cal Grant A and B are TANF funded and make recipients eligible for CalFresh.  Cal Grant B Access and CalGrant C are not TANF funded and do make recipients eligible for CalFresh.

Students who are enrolled less than half-time are eligible for CalFresh. Half-time enrollment is now defined as enrolled in at least half of the number of credits needed each semester in order to graduate in four years, or within two years if enrolled as a transfer student.

Students are eligible for CalFresh if they are approved for any state or federal work study program for the current term and can anticipate working during the term.  Anticipating participation is defined as reasonably expecting or forseeing being assigned a work study job, and a student is deemed to be anticipating participation until they receive notice from the institution of higher education that they have been denied participation in work study.

Students participating in a program that increases employability are eligible for CalFresh.  CDSS must maintain a non-exhaustive list of local education programs that increase employability.  Education institutions can request that a local education program be approved as a program that increases employability.  In addition, participation in an Unaccompanied Refugee Minors program qualifies the student for an exception to the CalFresh student eligibility rule.  (ACL 18-27, April 2, 2018.)

Welfare-to-Work 24-month time clock extenders

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions implementing AB 818 regarding extension of the 24-month Welfare-to-Work time clock.

The 24-month time clock allows flexibility in wefare-to-work activities by allowing activities that are not federally approved for up to 24-months.  Welfare and Institutions Code Section 11322.87 includes circumstances that can extend the 24-month clock.

In addition to the existing extension categories, a recipient making satisfactory progress toward a high school diploma or equivalent with a known graduation, transfer or expected completion date may now be granted an extension of the 24-month Welfare-to-Work time clock.

In addition, participants who have completed a high school diploma or equivalent during their time on the 24-month clock may be granted an extension of the 24-month clock to engage in an education program or other activities which would meaningfully increase the likelihood of employment.  (ACL 18-41, April 2, 2018.)

Welfare-to-Work assignment for high school diploma

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions implementing AB 1604 requiring counties to offer completing a high school diploma or the equivalent as a welfare-to-work plan.

For clients who do have a high school diploma counties must develop a welfare-to-work plan designed to earn a high school diploma or equivalent as the primary activity before making any other assignment.  If the client does not want to participate in education at that time, the client may continue in other welfare-to-work activities.  The client must make this choice in writing.  These requirements do not apply to clients participating in, required to participate in or exempt from Cal-Learn.

A plan to complete a high school diploma equivalent must meet weekly welfare-to-work participation requirements.  Hours in education may include homework time.  Supervised homework time and up to one hour of unsupervised homework time for each hour of class time may be included.  Distance or electronic learning is an option to obtain a high school diploma or equivalent.  Assigned hours can also include English as a Second Language classes and accommodations or other resources necessary for the client to earn a high school diploma or equivalent.

If the client requires additional hours to meet requirements or if the appraisal determines that additional activities may be beneficial, the client must be referred to Assessment to complete their plan.  The client cannot be required to attend Assessment prior to beginning their course of study unless a course of study is not immediately available.  Other assigned activities cannot reduce the hours assigned to the course of study without the client’s written consent.  Clients age 19 or younger are not required to participate in additional activities.  (ACL 18-40, April 2, 2018.)

CalWORKs and domestic violence

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions implementing AB 557 regarding domestic abuse protocols for CalWORKs applicants and recipients.

Effective January 1, 2018, counties must inform all CalWORKs applicants and recipients of the availability of domestic violence services both verbally and in writing at application, during development of a welfare-to-work plan, and at annual redetermination.  Domestic violence information must be provided in a safe and private space to allow confidential disclosure of domestic violence.  Counties must also have a current list of domestic violence resources and provide materials to clients.

Effective July 1, 2018, domestic violence is added as a circumstances constituting good cause for not complying with immunization or school attendance requirements.  If the abuse occurred in the past, the issue causing the non-cooperation or inability to comply must be related to the current situation.  This good cause determination is separate from domestic abuse waiver determinations for welfare-to-work requirements.

Effective July 1, 2018, CalWORKs applicants who provide a sworn statement of past or present abuse and are fleeing the abuser are eligible for termorary homeless assistance regardless of any income or assets attributed to the abuser.  (ACL 18-34, March 29, 2018.)

New CalFresh overissuances Notices of Action

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued new redesigned notices of action for CalFresh overissuances.  The new notices are a change in form not content.  The new forms are the result of a workgroup with assistance from outside experts to apply behavioral science to designing notices of action.

The new forms are no substitutes permitted and no formatting changes because the visual design of the form is intentional. Counties cannot modify or restructure the formatting or text of the forms.  Counties must begin using the new forms as soon as administratively possible but no later than 12 months from the date of issuance of the All County Letter.  If automation of the new forms is completed before the effective date, counties will need to use alternative means of providing the notices until programming is completed.

In addition, CDSS has issued seven of the new notices in large print using 18 point font for persons with vision impairments.  (ACL 18-50, May 3, 2018.)

Short-term interim funding for emergency caregivers

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CDSS has issued instructions implementing interim funding for caregivers who have taken placement of children or non-minor dependants  on an emergency basis.  This funding is to provide benefits while a Resource Family Approval (RFA) application is pending.  The funding is needed because of a backlog in processing RFA applications.

Counties must provide payments the emergency caregiver equal to the basic level rate paid to resource families.  This funding will remain in effect until June 30, 2018.  Payments are effective the date the emergency caregiver signs the RFA application form.  There will not be payments prior to the date of application.

In the first month the child is eligible for interim funding, CalWORKs payments on behalf of the child do not count as income.  This means that receipt of CalWORKs does not impact the calculation of interim caregiver funding.

If emergency placement funding is required for a family for longer than 60 days, the county must document good cause for the RFA application not being processed , identify a prior backlog of RFA applications and submit a backlog plan.  (ACL 18-33, March 30, 2018.)