The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance regarding time on aid for CalWORKs Family Reunification cases that receive temporary homeless assistance benefits.
Effective January 1, 2018, CalWORKs families receiving Family Reunification services are eligible for temporary homeless assistance if the county determines these benefits are necessary for reunification to occur. Previously, these families could only receive supportive services. These families are not eligible for a CalWORKs grant.
CDSS states that homeless assistance benefits are considered special need payments and special needs payments count as receipt of aid towards the recipients CalWORKs 48-month time on aid limit. Homeless Assistance does not tick the Federal Temporary Aid to Needy Families time on aid clock because federal regulations consider homeless assistance to be non-recurring short-term benefits, not assistance. (ACL 19-112, December 12, 2019.)