The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued a clarification that CalWORKs overpayments established during COVID which were originally classified as administrative error must be reclassified as Intentional Program Violation (IPV) if the overpayments are later determined to be fraudulent.
CalWORKs overpayments established on or after August 1, 2021 for the period April, 2020 to or June 30, 2022, must initially be classified as administrative error. However, based on Welfare and Institutions Code section 11004.1, as amended by Senate Bill (SB) 187 (Chapter 50, Statutes of 2022), any of these claims can now be reclassified to IPV if they are later determined to be fraudulent.
Existing processes for issuing adequate and timely notice of action, referring cases to Special Investigations Unit (SIU), and IPV determination are unchanged.
This rule also applies to Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), Entrant Cash Assistance (ECA), and Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program (TCVAP) cash assistance programs. (ACL 22-87, October 17, 2022.)