ACIN I-71-11: CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) For The Homeless, Elderly And Disabled (10/24/11)

A reminder and clarification about the program.  The RMP is an optional county program that enables homeless, disabled, and/or elderly CalFresh individuals to use their CalFresh benefits to purchase prepared meals at participating restaurants. FNS has stated only those CalFresh recipients who are elderly and/or disabled, and their spouses, or homeless individuals, can get RMP – not the other household members. Counties need to file certain documents with the state, and among other things, the MOU must include that the restaurant provide low-cost or discount meals during regular hours to eligible homeless, elderly or disabled persons and that they advise participating restaurants of the penalties for illegal activities, and contain demographic information. [Download]

ACL 11-69: Extension Of Foster Care Beyond Age 18: Part One (10/13/11)

Like your favorite movie, this one has (will have) a sequel.  AB 12 provided for extended Foster Care after the youth turns 18, as described in ACIN I-40-11. The young adults who remain under the jurisdiction of the court, in EFC after age 18 are referred to as Non-Minor Dependents (NMDs). The extension of benefits also applies to Adoption Assistance Payments (AAP) and Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment (Kin-GAP). See ACL 11- 15 for information on Kin-GAP; more ACLs on extended Kin-GAP and AAP are coming soon. Long ALC, with a table of contents is included to assist in finding specific information within this ACL. [Download]

ACIN I-59-11: CalWORKs Program: Changes To Restricted Accounts (10/12/11)

Although SB 1341 was effective January 1, 2009, this Notice is now providing the changes to the Restricted Accounts for CalWORKs and CalFresh recipients and to the spend down rules for eligibility to Homeless Assistance  (HA) payments.  Effective January 1, 2009, families can use funds held in restricted accounts to help pay for securing permanent rental housing or to pay for rent arrearages to avoid becoming homeless. In addition, any savings that are held in a restricted account are now considered exempt from being counted toward the $100 limit when determining eligibility for HA.  CWDs should ensure that no CalWORKs recipients have been discontinued from January 1, 2009, forward, due to withdrawing funds to pay for costs associated with securing permanent rental housing or to pay rent arrearages to avoid becoming homeless. If discontinuances are discovered, they should be rescinded and eligibility re-determined retroactively, as necessary. [Download]