This implements the Governor’s call to contact all IHSS and APS clients, in response to the heat wave. Instructions on APS confidentiality, bases for authorizing additional IHSS service hours when needed, and the method for claiming extra time when folks are already at the max. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
Author: Brian Lawlor
ACL 06-04 – Minor Dependent Parents In Foster Care (June 20, 2006)
Informs counties of statutory changes, effective January 1st, 2006 that permits payment of two full foster care grants when children are placed with their minor parents in foster care. Apparently, California was out of line with the feds, who have permitted this since 2004, when the minor parent’s child is also adjudged a dependent. The letter goes on to discuss placement in “whole family foster care homes” which are specifically geared towards providing minor parents with parenting skills, and includes a higher infant supplement for the non-dependent children of minor parents in foster care. [Download]
ACL 06-20 – Interpretive Services (June 30, 2006)
With a little lawsuit prodding, DSS has issued this reminder and clarification regarding the county requirements to provide interpretive services, going over general obligations as well as specific information regarding the relation between the county’s interpretation obligation and usage of self-provided interpreters. Of note: “It is always the county’s obligation to affirmatively offer interpretive services. … Once the county has been informed that the applicant/recipient needs an interpreter, the county must offer and provide an interpreter at each client contact.” The ACL clarifies that if a person cannot be made or encouraged to use a self-provided interpreter, and that the county must still offer interpretive services if the person arrives at an appointment without the interpreter. The CWD is told to take reasonable steps to determine whether a conflict of interest, confidentiality or other concerns make the use of a friend or family member interpreter inappropriate. If the friend or family member is not competent or appropriate, the county shall provide interpreter services in place of or in addition to the person selected by the applicant/recipient. [Download]
ACL 06-19 – Final Court Order and Clarification Regarding Rosales (June 30, 2006)
This letter supercedes the March ACL on the subject. The Deficit Reduction Act of 2006 “fixed” Rosales, by mandating that foster care income eligibility shall be based solely on the income of the family in the home from which the child was removed, and not the income of the relatives with whom the child is placed. After court clarification, the Rosales criteria (basing foster care on income eligibility of relative/placement home when no financial eligibility in home of removal, as described in MPP 45-202.332) can remain in use through June 9, 2006, and the county must pay any benefits due to such cases until the redetermination of eligibility. The federal court delayed the redetermine eligibility implementation date until June 9, 2006. Thus, Rosales cases can continue to be aided through the month of their next annual redetermination. [Download]
ACL 06-14 – Food Stamp Standard Utility Allowance Increase Effective August 1, 2006 (June 2, 2006)
The Standard Utility Allowance is up (21.5%!), to address rising utility costs. This increase is to be treated as a county-initiated mid-quarter change for all cases for the month of August 2006. Technology pulling the cart, the state has allowed counties, if they can’t program their computers fast enough, to implement this change “as soon as is administratively feasible, but no later than with the issuance of the October 2006 allotment.” The state recommends that counties mail a “mass change” notice, but otherwise, to inform recipients by posting info in the offices …. [Download]
ACIN I-41-06 – Revised Food Stamps “Rights and Responsibilities” and EBT Account Information (June 6, 2006)
The new “R & R” form now has information for Non-Assistance Food Stamp (NAFS) to define the NAFS food stamp work requirements, exemptions, and penalties for failing to comply. This ACIN also includes a revised notice to advise clients that their food stamp EBT account is deactivated because benefits have not been used and when it is reactivated. [Download]