Author: Stephen Goldberg

Increase in CalWORKs Earned Income Disregards

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For the CalWORKs program, certain earned income and disability-based income is disregarded in determining eligibility.  This is called the Earned Income Disregard.  Starting July 1, 2022, the Earned Income Disregard for applicants will increase from the first $90 per month of earned income for each employed person to the first $450 of earned income.

Starting June 1, 2022, the Earned Income Disregard for recipients will increase from $550 per month to $600.   This increase in the recipient Earned Income Disregard applies to the state KinGAP program, but not to the federal KinGAP program.

(ACL 21-130, November 29, 2021 and ACL 21-130E, March 22, 2022.)

 

Extension of COVID-19 flexibilities for Refugee Cash Assistance

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance implementing the extension of COVID-19 flexibilities for Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), Entrant Cash Assistance (ECA), Refugee Support Services (RSS), Services to Older Refugees (SOR), and Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program (TCVAP) Cash Assistance benefits through September 30, 2022.  These waivers include:

  • Allowing verbal attestation for eligibility determinations. This waiver continues flexibility regarding verification of immigration status. This flexibility also applies to arrivals from Afghanistan.
  • Excluding certain types of COVID-19 emergency assistance when determining eligibility and grant amounts. Such assistance is excluded as income, and excluded as an asset for 12 months.
  • Flexibility regarding participation in employment services. Under the waiver for employment services, counties are highly encouraged to continue to use remote case management and learning.
  • providing interim RCA payments for eligible applicants with pending CalWORKs applications who cannot complete application requirements because of COVID-19. When possible, counties must assess and grant good cause instead of interim RCA payments when Social Security Number applications and approvals are delayed because of COVID. However, when good cause is not possible, counties can issue interim RCA payments when CalWORKs approvals are delayed because of COVID.  These COVID-related delays can include inability to apply for or get a Social Security Number because of office closure.

TCVAP follows the same administrative rules as RCA and therefore these waivers also apply to TCVAP.  (ACWDL, March 3, 2022.)

Social Security protective filing tool

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The Social Security Administration (SSA) has implemented its Online Protective Filing Too.   It allows submitting a request for an appointment to file for benefits and record a protective filing date online.  A protective filing date is established upon submission from the Tool.  The Tool collects responses to initial screening questions, determines applicable Title II and Title XVI claim types, and establishes Title II and Title XVI protective filing dates.  The individual must complete all required fields and submit the inquiry to establish a protective filing date.

The Tool gives a confirmation message onscreen and sends an email confirmation that Social Security will schedule an appointment within 7-14 business days.

The Tool is located at https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/ssi/start.html.

(EM-22015, March 19, 2022.)

Posted in SSI

COVID-19 CalFresh emergency allotment for March, 2022

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California has been approved to issue an emergency allotment of CalFresh for March, 2022.  All households will receive at least the maximum CalFresh allotment.  Households eligible to receive the maximum allowable allotment based on household size are now eligible to receive an emergency allotment of $95 per month. Households who are not eligible to receive the maximum allowable allotment based on household size, but whose emergency allotment would be less than $95 per month to receive the maximum allotment, will receive additional CalFresh benefits to raise their emergency allotment to the $95 minimum.

The emergency allotment will be issued on April 17, 2022.

Moving forward, emergency allotments may be approved by FNS on a month-to-month basis until the Secretary of Health and Human Services rescinds the public health emergency.  There will be a one-month phase out of emergency allotments after the public health emergency is rescinded.  (ACWDL, March 21, 2022.)

CalFresh electronic signature requirements

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The California Department of Social Services has issued instructions implementing Welfare and Institutions Code section 18900.4.  This section requires counties to give CalFresh households the option to complete an application and recertification by telephone and capture their signature by an electronic method, such as a telephone signature.  The electronic signature method must require the client to take an affirmative action to indicate concurrence, such as a PIN number or giving verbal affirmation; the record of the signature must be maintained electronically and linked to the documents; and the process must constitute a legal signature.

In addition, federal law requires the county to make an audio recording of the household’s verbal assent and a summary of the information to which the household assents; the audio file must be linked to the application; and the county must provide the household with a printed copy of the application with instructions for how to correct any errors or omissions.  (ACL 22-20, March 4, 2022.)