California ID cards will now be only $6 for people receiving CalWORKs, Foster Car, Kin-Gap, Food Stamps, CAPI (and the related California Food Assistance Program, SSI, and Refugee Cash Assistance. On Medi-Cal? Too bad, you’re not covered. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
Author: Brian Lawlor
ACIN I-63-05 – New Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D) (October 3, 2005)
Initial information about the affect of the Medicare Part D program (phasing out the Drug Discount Card, beginning January 1, 2006.) As a result, the Food Stamps program will return to the former policy of considering only unreimbursed out-of pocket expenses for prescription drugs for determining a household’s medical deduction. “Implementation of Part D may require that Food Stamp Program county staff assist applicants in filing out applications for Part D enrollment. However, eligibility determinations for enrollment will be made by the Social Security Administration.” The letter also includes a Q & A. [Download]
Income Exclusion for Benefits Paid to Children of Vietnam Veterans with Certain Birth Defects (September 19, 2005).
FNS writes that “It has recently come to our attention that under Public Laws 104-204 and 106-419, benefits paid by the Veterans Administration to the children of Vietnam veterans born with congenital spina bifida and certain other birth defects are excludable as income for food stamp purposes.” The law was passed in 1997, and broadened in 2001. Heh, better late than never.
Proposed Revised Regulations
Proposed revised regulations are out for public comment, due December 29, 2005. The changes address: State Participation and Beneficiary Choice; Employment Network (EN) Payment Systems; and a new requirement, that an employment network report to the Program Manager each time it requests to take a ticket out of assignment. SSA also is seeking comments on four additional issues: (1) whether a beneficiary should be eligible for more than one ticket in a period of entitlement for SSDI or SSI benefits; (2) whether and how to simplify the definition of “using a ticket;” (3) whether the evidence requirements for EN payment are unnecessarily burdensome; and (4) whether there are any circumstances under which SSA should pay both Phase 1 and Phase 2 milestones to an EN for beneficiaries who assign their ticket after SSA has made a payment to the State VR agency under the cost reimbursement payment system. [Download]
ACL 05-24 – Foster Care and Kin-GAP Program Rates (September 22, 2005)
The hard to get rates are now posted in this ACL. Don’t forget to ask for special need payments! [Download]
ACIN I-61-05 – Amendments to the Expanded Expedited Service Disaster Evacuee Policy (September 23, 2005).
FNS has extended the period for applications for “Expanded (ES)” food stamp benefits by 15 days, through October 31, 2005. The “relaxed procedures” for EBT transactions (hand entering number instead of using card) is extended to through September 30, 2005. And, just to keep evacuees (and their advocates) on their toes, the numbers for to get the EBT card numbers (for aforesaid manual entry) has changed: the new numbers are 1-888-524-3578 (Louisiana) and 1-866-449-9488 (Mississippi).
[Download]