A reminder to counties that it is time to turn in the annual Ethnic Origin and Language information. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
Author: Jodie Berger
ACIN I-47-14: Revised Family Fee Schedule (8/13/14)
This Notice issues the revised family fee schedule for subsidized child care, effective July 1, 2014. The revised fees will not exceed 10 percent of the family’s monthly income. [Download]
ACL 14-56: CalFresh Modified Categorical Eligibility (8/22/14)
Comprehensive information regarding CalFresh Categorical Eligibility (“MCE”). Culminating several other “Cat El” changes, with the passage of SB 855 effective July 1, 2014, all households with gross income at or below 200 percent of the FPL, must be conferred MCE status if the file documents their receipt of the TANF service (PUB 275). All counties must immediately implement a 200 percent FPL gross income level for MCE for all Non-Assistance (NACF) households. Until automation is programmed, this must be done manually.
For any case pending as of July 1, 2014, if automation indicates ineligibility for a non-aged/disabled CalFresh applicant household because of the 130 percent FPL gross income limit, the county must pull the case and manually verify whether eligibility under MCE status exists because of gross income at or under 200 percent FPL. Additionally, counties must check any applications that were denied for exceeding gross income since July 1, 2014, as well as applications denied in June where the 30 day processing would have gone into July. Corrective action must be taken on any cases that would have been eligible under the MCE 200 percent FPL gross income test. [Download]
ACL 14-59: CalWORKs Domestic Abuse Waiver Policy Clarification (8/21/14)
Clarification of domestic abuse program waivers criteria, and a review of noticing and safety protocols. DSS has determined that there must be a linkage to Welfare to Work to get a DV waiver. This guidance supersedes ACIN I-02-06. [Download]
ACIN I-46-14: Title XX Social Services Block Grant Pre-Expenditure Report (8/15/14)
This report summarizes Title XX expenditures, program responsibilities, and the population served. The programs covered are Child Welfare Services, Foster Care, Community Care Licensing, Deaf Access, CalWORKs Child Care, CDE Child Care Programs, and the DDS Regional Center Program. [Download]
ACIN I-42-14: The Approved Relative Caregiver Funding Option Program (8/1/14)
Introductory information regarding the Approved Relative Caregiver (ARC) Funding Option Program enacted by SB 855. Relatives who care for a non-federally eligible child in foster care is not eligible to receive foster care payments. Instead, the relatives can get CalWORKs payments. The CalWORKs benefits are not a per-child payment, however, but are based on the size of the family as a whole, and are less than the AFDC-FC rate. To address this issue, the Legislature has enacted the ARC Funding Option Program, which gives counties the option to provide funding equal to the basic foster care rate to an approved relative caregiver of a non-federally eligible child. [Download]