This ACIN transmits a new “reminder letter” for the CalWORKs and CalFresh programs. Client currently get an “X” or “Y” (NA 960) notices if they do not turn in their SAR 7 by the 11th of the month, or the SAR 7 is not complete. If, after receiving the X or Y notice the client submits a SAR 7 that is incomplete, CWDs are not required to issue another NOA. However, absent another NOA, the client is likely to think they complied with the original NA 960 X or NA 960 Y and that the discontinuance action will be rescinded. The new reminder letter, the SAR 90, informs clients that the SAR 7 they submitted is still not complete and to provide clients another opportunity to submit a complete SAR 7 to avoid discontinuance of their cash aid and/or CalFresh benefits. The SAR 90 must specify what questions need to be answered or what verification needs to be provided for the SAR 7 to be complete. The NOA does not grant a new 90 day appeal period, but does state that the person may still appeal based on the original notice date. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
Author: Jodie Berger
ACL 14-07: CalWORKs Program: AB 419 Changes To The Temporary Absence Rules For Children In A Public Hospital (1/16/14)
AB 419 changes to the temporary absence rules in the CalWORKs program for children receiving treatment in a public hospital. As a result of AB 419, there is no longer any
limit on the length of time a child is considered temporarily absent from the home while receiving treatment in a public hospital, and aid will continue for that child for the entire
period of the hospitalization. The new law became effective 1/1/14, so the letter also discusses automation workarounds and supplemental payments. [Download]
ACL 14-05: CalWORKs: Five Percent Increase To The Maximum Aid Payment (MAP) Levels (1/13/14)
The implementing instructions for the 5% increase to the maximum grant, effective 3/1/14, and the informing notice, and a reminder to issue new Income Reporting Thresholds to families. [Download]
ACIN I-05-14: Sharing information With Caregivers (1/15/14)
A reminder to counties of the importance of sharing information with caregivers in child welfare cases. Information sharing is required only under state and federal law. The ACIN addresses information about the parents and the minor dependent child that should be shared with the caregiver as well as limitations on information sharing. Additionally, this ACIN describes approaches to sharing information in situations where the law appears to create barriers. [Download]
ACL 14-04: CalWORKs: Cash Aid And Pregnancy Special Needs (PSN) For Pregnant Women With No Other Eligible Child (1/14/14)
This letter is the implementing instructions for AB 1640, which expanded eligibility for CalWORKs aid for pregnant women with no other eligible children, beginning January 1, 2013. Prior to AB 1640, the only pregnant women without other eligible children who could get CalWORKs were women in their last trimester, or a pregnant teen through CalLEARN. AB 1640 provides eligibility for CalWORKs cash aid and the $47 PSN upon verification of pregnancy, for teens 18 and younger, you are not in CaLEARN (i.e. already graduated high school or got their GED). Once a pregnant teen is added through AB 1640, they remain eligible based on the pregnancy until they become financially ineligible or the pregnancy ends. This is true even if the pregnant teen reaches her 18th birthday prior to her third trimester.
Since the implementation is over a year late, CWDs must implement the new rule immediately. Counties must also review cases at intake, redetermination, and during processing of the SAR 7 to identify clients who may have been eligible for expanded eligibility (e.g. additional CalWORKs aid payments and PSN payments from the date of pregnancy verification). Upon determining that a client would have been eligible to receive cash aid and PSN, the CWD shall provide a supplemental payment. The CWDs are prohibited from retroactively counting the 24-month clock, unless the teen was offered the full WTW opportunities and services. Clients who receive the retroactive supplement payment shall be granted good cause from WTW participation for the period between the client meeting AB 1640 eligibility requirements and when regular CalWORKs was actually granted in the third trimester, if applicable. Includes a time limit chart on when/whether the 24 and 48 month clocks are running. [Download]
ACL 14-08: CalWORKs Program: New Category Of Disability-Based Unearned Income – Veteran’s Disability Compensation Benefits (1/29/14)
With the passage of AB 1094, CalWORKs has added Veteran’s Disability Benefits to the list of disability income. This income is subject to the $225 disregard. The law was effective 1/1/14, so counties must issue any corrective payments, by recalculating the grant the next time the CWD takes action on the case (e.g. processing a SAR 7, annual redetermination, voluntary report from the AU, etc.) or when it becomes known to the CWD. This includes rescinding any discontinuances if the failure to provide the disregard caused the discontinuance. [Download]