The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued a notice to describe how counties with Guaranteed Income (GI) projects can request that their programs be approved as CalWORKs GI Projects and therefore not be counted as income for CalWORKs and CalFresh. GI payments will count as income CalWORKs unless CDSS grants an exemption requested by the county. Counties that would like to receive the CalWORKs exemption must submit the TEMP 3023 form. County requests that GI not be counted as income for CalWORKs must include a comprehensive plan, a research plan and an Institutional Review Board approval. CDSS will approve requests by formal order of the Director. The order cannot extend beyond three years.
Note that CalWORKs Guaranteed Income Projects are different than California Guaranteed Income projects. Income from California Guaranteed Income projects is also exempt for CalWORKs and CalFresh if the program including any private funding.
GI income will count for CalFresh unless any part of the GI payments are funded by a nongovernment source, and the GI program is approved by CDSS. (ACIN I-35-22, April 14, 2022.)