Author: Stephen Goldberg

2024 SUN Bucks implementation

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is implementing the SUN Bucks program for Summer 2024 to provide nutrition benefits to low-income families with school age-children. The program will provide $40 per month in food benefits during the Summer Operational Period (SOP), spanning June, July, and August.

During the Summer of 2024, County Welfare Departments (CWD’s) are not responsible for implementing SUN Bucks. However, eligible families may contact CWD’s with general questions about SUN Bucks. CDSS is asking CWD’s to proactively share information about the availability of the program.

Sun Bucks cards will be mailed to addresses on file with the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) or the California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS). Families are highly encouraged to keep their addresses current with their schools or county.

For school aged children receiving Cal Fresh, Cal Works, or Medi-Cal who are experiencing homelessness and using a CWD office address for mail pick up, SUN Buck cards are delivered to the CWD office.

Children eligible for Free or Reduced Price Meals (FRPM) automatically qualify for SUN Bucks. Eligibility for FRPM is determined by

  1. School meal applications or alternative income forms; OR
  2. Receipt of CalWORKs, CalFresh, or Medi-Cal benefits; OR
  3. Categorical eligibility for FRPM established by attending Head Start, experiencing homelessness, being in Foster Care, being a runaway, or being part of a migrant family

Children are automatically eligible for SUN Bucks if either

  1. For Children age 0-22, the CALPADS system shows they have been determined eligible for FRPM based on school meal application/alternative income forms ‘categorical eligibility or
  2. For Children age 6-18, the CALSAWS system shows they are eligible for FRPM based on receipt of CALWORKS, Cal Fresh, or Medi-Cal

Children who are not a part of CALPADS or CALSAWS and still want to access SUN Bucks benefits must apply for FRPM by completing a school meal application or alternative income form. Either application must be submitted to the school of enrollment by August 31, 2024. Families can obtain a correct FRPM application from the school administrators office.

For summer 2024, there is no dedicated SUN Bucks application.

SUN Bucks EBT cards look the same as Golden State Advantage EBT Cards and will arrive in the mail with activation information. SUN Bucks cards are accepted at the same locations as Cal Fresh EBT cards, including grocery stores, farmers markets, and approved online grocery retailers.

Each eligible child will get a card with $120 in food benefits. If a family has 4 eligible children, they will receive 4 separate cards. Cards will be mailed to the address on file with CALPADS and CalSAWS.

For summer 2024, EBT cards will be mailed to households by California’s EBT vendor, Fidelity Information Systems (FIS). Over the counter issuance of SUN Bucks EBT cards is prohibited.

SUN Bucks benefits will be expunged 122 days after available funds are loaded onto the EBT card. Expunged funds cannot be restored or replaced.

For Summer 2024, SUN Bucks EBT cards will be mailed by FIS staggered in stages.

Stage 1 card issuance begins June 2024 for children streamlined through CALPADS data as of March 31, 2024, or through CalSAWS data as of February 29, 2024. The first stage is anticipated to be completed in August 2024.

Stage 2 card issuance is for newly eligible children who qualify for SUN Bucks and will begin in late August. Children determined eligible through Cal SAWS data between March 1 and August 31, 2024 will be issued cards in stage 2. Children determined eligible through CALPADS data beginning April 1, 2024 will also be issued cards in stage 2 until issuance is complete. Stage 2 will include issuances related to replacement request. The second stage of SUN Bucks card issuance should be completed by the end of January 2025.

The SUN Bucks helpline is accessible via the California EBT customer service center, beginning May 28, 2024. Families can call (877) 328-9677 to reach the SUN Bucks helpline.

Requests to replace SUN Bucks card are granted if

  1. A SUN Bucks card holder reports a previously activated card was lost, stolen, or damaged; OR
  2. The SUN Bucks card was not received in the mail

For Summer 2024, disputes regarding eligibility or other actions will be handled at the state level through a process facilitated by SUN Bucks helpline. Families can use the SUN Bucks helpline to request a review of a decision regarding their benefits.  (ACWDL, May 28, 2024.)

GetCalFresh sunset

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has announced that the GetCalFresh online application tool for CalFresh will sunset on September 30, 2025.  The sunset will happen in phases.  The GetCalFresh tool for joint applications processing of CalFresh and Social Security applications with counties the Social Security Administration will sunset and transition to BenefitsCal on September 30, 2024.  The Semi-Annual reporting (SAR 7) feature in GetCalFresh will sunset in December 2024.  The GetCalFresh application assistance tool, including the community based organizations portal, and the document uploader tool in GetCalFresh will sunset in June 2025.  The GetCalFresh website and customer service will sunset on September 30, 2025. (ACWDL, May 14, 2024.)

Guaranteed Income pilot for nonminor dependents exiting foster care

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iFoster is operating a Guaranteed Income Pilot Project statewide.  Youth can be eligible for the iFoster Guaranteed Income pilot if they 1) are exiting extended foster care in California, and are California residents, except for youth exiting foster care in San Francisco, Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino, Napa, San Mateo, and Alameda (because those counties operate their own guaranteed income projects for exiting foster youth); 2) are youth in foster care who are expected to exit foster care on their 21st birthday and who apply within 90 days prior to, or 30 days after, their 21st birthday, for the enrollment window specified above; 3) have income below a predetermined threshold; and 4) are not currently enrolled in another Guaranteed Income Pilot Project.

iFoster will give $750 per month for 18 months to 354 people who qualify for the program. Individuals will be selected for receipt of guaranteed income using random assignment or a lottery. Participants will be selected by random assignment or lottery on a regular basis over 12 months.  Youth exiting extended foster care in any county except Napa, San Mateo, and Alameda.

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) encourages counties and probation departments to give information about iFoster to youth exiting foster care during their transition planning. iFoster will work with CDSS to verify a youth’s eligibility and help them complete the application.

Applications will be accepted until October 31, 2024.  Individuals who are not selected for the program may still be able to be compensated for participation in research activities. iFoster will provide resource navigation services including referral and application, and government benefits counseling and application support, to all youth referred by counties regardless of eligibility for or enrollment in iFoster’s guaranteed income pilot. (ACIN I-60-23, October 16, 2023, and ACIN I-60-23E, August 7, 2024.)

CalFresh Student Handbook Version 2.0

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has released its CalFresh Student Eligibility Handbook version 2.0.  The Handbook provides guidance regarding student eligibility for CalFresh, key definitions, student exemptions, student income, and verification procedures.

Version 2.0 updates sections about the Restaurant Meals Program, paid work exemption, Local Programs that Increase Employability, exception for community colleges offering baccalaureate degrees, student income eligibility for CalFresh, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and verification of exemptions.  (ACL 24-31, May 3, 2024.)

Increase in CalWORKs vehicle value limit

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The California Department of Social Services has informed counties that the vehicle value for the CalWORKs program increases to $32,968 effective July 1, 2024. This increase also applies to Refugee Cash Assistance, Entrant Cash Assistance, and Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program (TCVAP). The vehicle value is the amount of the value of a vehicle that does not count toward the program resource limit.

The welfare department computer systems will be programmed for the increased vehicle value effective July 1, 2024. (ACL 24-36, May 31, 2024.)

Suspension and expulsion from subsidized child care programs

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The California Department of Social Service (CDSS) has issued a Child Care Bulletin (CCB) regarding the implementation of Assembly Bill (AB) 2806 which implements new rules limiting the expulsion and suspension of children in child care and development programs. AB 2806 mandates that the CDSS contracting agencies, in consultation with parents and guardians, must take certain measures before expelling or suspending children from services. The intent of the legislation is to significantly reduce the number of children expelled or suspended from programs. Additionally, the legislation provide special safeguards for children with Individualized Education Programs (IEP) or Individualized Family Support Plans (IFSP), ensuring their disabilities are appropriately addressed in cases of disciplinary action within educational settings. A child cannot be suspended for more than 10 days without re-convening with Local Education Agency parents and relevant members to consider special support services.

Effective January 21, 2023 child care contractors in programs like general child care and development CCTR (centers only), migrant child care and development programs excluding migrant alternative payment programs (CMIG), and childcare and development service for children with severe disabilities (CHAN), are mandated to comply with certain requirements before expelling a child. This does not apply to licensed family child care providers until a joint labor-management committee makes recommendations.

Programs cannot suspend a child due to behavior or urge parents to pick up their children prematurely. Suspension should only occur in exceptional circumstances where there is a safety threat that can otherwise be resolved. Before deciding on suspension programs must collaborate with parents or legal guardians to use resources to try and avoid suspension. If the suspension is still deemed necessary, programs must facilitate the child’s return to participation by engaging with parents, developing a plan, offering referrals to community services, and, if the child has an IFSP or IEP with written parental consent, contacting the agency responsible for seeking consultation.

Programs cannot expel a child due to behavior or encouraging parents to voluntarily enroll their child in programs due to behavior. Before expulsion, programs must take immediate action including consulting parents, mental health professionals, and teachers to ensure the child’s safety in the program. If the child has an IFSP or IEP and with written parental consent, the agency responsible should be contacted to seek consultation and if appropriate comprehensive screenings to address the child’s needs. If after all this a program determines that a child’s participation is a serious safety threat, it should assist the parents in finding other suitable enrollment.

Contractors must follow due process requirements when proposing disenrollment.

Beginning July 1, 2023, upon enrolling, programs are required to inform parents and legal guardians in writing about limitations on expulsion and suspension along with information on how to appeal both. In the event a child is suspended or expelled they must be issued a “Notice of Action, Recipient of Services,” as described in Section 18095 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations. If a child is suspended guardians must be notified 24 hours in advance. Parents and guardians must appeal within 14 days of being notified of expulsion or suspension.

Future guidance for data collection will be provided for contractors but for now, they must maintain records on the number of times expulsion/suspension was initiated, the outcome, and how long a child was excluded. The data should include for each child, at a minimum, age, sex, race, ethnicity, foster status, home language, disability, and whether the child has an IFSP or IEP.  (CCB 23-24, September 6, 2023.)