Time for the perennial reminder about record retention. This one includes information about maintaining records on the 60-month TANF limit, the 18-24 time limit on training. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
Author: Brian Lawlor
ACIN I-80-06 – Social Security COLA – Effective December 1, 2006 (November 9, 2006)
It’s that time of year again. Social Security will be going up (3.3%) December 2006, which is payable in January 2007. This ACIN walks the counties through the applicant and recipient budgeting under the quarterly reporting (and for food stamps, change reporting) systems. [Download]
ACL 06-51 – CalWORKs: Retroactive COLA Increase To MBSAC Levels (November 3, 2006)
Ok, a tad late, but here it is. The Monthly Basic Standards of Aid and Care (MBSAC) and Income in Kind levels have gone up … 4 months ago! (The Maximum Aid Payment, unfortunately, remains frozen through June 2007.) So, ALL eligibility determinations since July need to use these new numbers. That’s right: the county needs to go back (that’s right, an actual case search) and figure out if they improperly denied cases for excess income, and issue retroactive benefits, as appropriate. [Download]
ACIN I-79-06 – Requirement to Include Notice of Missed Interview in the Food Stamp Denial Cases (October 31, 2006)
A bit of a roundabout way of passing on info that Regs@LSNC has not seen before. Turns out when the county wants to deny a Food Stamps application for failure of the household to attend the application interview, it must send a notice stating that the household must schedule a new meeting. This letter reminds counties that the DENIAL is incorrect if they cannot document that they sent this notice, and will count as an error rate. Sounds like a defense to the denial, too, if the household doesn’t get the notice and reapplies after the 30 days … [Download]
ACL 06-46 – TANF Reauthorization and CalWORKs WTW County Plan Addendum (October 5, 2006)
Just a heads up what’s coming down the pike. Per AB 1808 and TANF reauthorization implementation, all counties must amend their CalWORKs plans on file with the state. They must describe. This letter also summarizes the TANF changes. The ACL lists the information that, at a minimum, must be in the plans (How the county will address increased participation (up-front engagement); re-engaging noncompliant or sanctioned individuals; sanction prevention; full engagement of those partially or not participating; increasing work participation; how the county spend its money; anticipated outcomes resulting from county program improvements; how the county will measure progress in achieving the anticipated outcomes; how the county will collaborate with local agencies).
Counties have 90 days from the date of the letter to file the plan addendum with the state. The ACL also includes a self-diagnostic (optional) tool for counties to assist them in assessing their current programs with an eye towards improving participation.
Counties are also reminded that they cannot require applicants to participate in WTW activities, including WTW orientation, appraisal, and job search, but they may participate on a voluntary basis. Counties also cannot make such participation a condition of eligibility for aid, deny an application for failing to participate during application, or impose WTW sanctions on an applicant, regardless of the applicant’s consent to participate in the activities. [Download]
Administrative Notice 07-01 – Gift Cards and Food Stamps
Good for them. FNS decided that gift cards, which can be used as cash, but generally only at specific businesses, will not count as a resource. [Download]