Author: Stephen Goldberg

COVID-19 CalFresh emergency allotment for June, 2021

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California has been approved to issue an emergency allotment of CalFresh for June, 2021.  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 new $95 minimum.

The emergency allotment will be issued on July 18, 2021.

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  There will be a one-month phase out of emergency allotments after the public health emergency is rescinded.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, June 2, 2021.)

Change to unemployment insurance reapplication requirement

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The California Employment Development Department (EDD) will now automatically process benefits from claimants who have not earned wages in the last 18 months, regardless of the type of claim, without needing to reapply for benefits. These claimants will need to continue certifying for benefits, and EDD will notify them when the additional benefit weeks are processed.

Claimants who have earned wages in the last 18 months must still reapply for benefits, even if they currently have are on either a PEUC or FED-ED benefits extension. EDD will then establish a new regular claim or deliver extended federal benefits on their behalf. All claimants will be notified if they need to reapply. Claimants can go to UI online and attempt to “File New Claim” to find out if they need to reapply. The application will proceed if a new application is necessary. Claimants can also use the Unemployment Insurance Benefit Calculator to see if they must reapply.

EDD also stated that, while there currently is no job search requirement, the requirement will return soon. EDD has a job search toolbox that can assist with employment searches. (EDD News Release No. 21-33, May 27, 2021.)

Express Interviews for evidence and Social Security cards

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Effective May 28, 2021, Field Offices and Social Security Card Centers nationwide will begin offering the new Express Interview option. Express interviews are brief interviews, lasting approximately 5-7 minutes, which allow eligible individuals to apply for an original or replacement Social Security card and submit necessary evidence in person.

Although this process is intended for Social Security card customers, Express Interviews are also available for gathering evidence for processing claims and workloads.

To qualify for an Express Interview, individuals must be unable to use automated or online services AND meet current critical appointment criteria such as:

  • original cards for individuals age 12 or older;
  • replacement cards for individuals who need to update or correct their information to obtain income, resources, medical care or coverage, or other services or benefits (e.g., filing a tax return, applying for housing, or seeking an Economic Impact Payment)

Individuals unable or unwilling to send original evidence documents by mail are also qualified for an Express Interview.

Individuals must call the Field Office to pre-screen for an Express Interview. If they meet the criteria above, the employee must consider all other virtual or drop-off options available before approving an Express Interview. Non-citizens should not mail or drop off immigration documents, as non-citizens are required to have their immigration documents in their possession at all times.

Instructions on conducting the in-person interviews are listed in the Emergency Message. (EM-21041, May 27, 2021)

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Verification of CalFresh student eligibility rule exemptions

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Effective immediately, exemptions from the CalFresh student eligibility rule are now no longer mandatory verifications. Counties must only require verification that a student meets an exemption when information provided by the household is questionable or when a student’s claim of physical or mental unfitness is not evident to the county.

A student is defined as any person who is enrolled at least half-time, as defined by the institution, at an institution of higher education. A student must be determined ineligible to participate in CalFresh unless they meet at least one exemption. Students who are enrolled less than half-time in courses are not considered a student for CalFresh purposes and do not need to meet an exemption. Exemptions include but are not limited to:

  • Working 20 hours a week or 80 hours a month
  • Attending school as part of an employment and training program
  • Attending school as part of a program to increase employability
  • Being a TANF-funded benefit recipient
  • The student is physically or mentally unfit

Previously, the county verified all exemptions, but now must only verify exemptions from the student eligibility rule in questionable cases or when a student’s physical or mental unfitness is not evident to the county. When verifying exemptions, the county must follow existing guidelines.

Information is considered questionable when the application differs from the applicant’s statements or other information received by the county. The county must document why the information is questionable, or where in the case file the inconsistency exists and what documentation was used to resolve the inconsistency.

Verification for physical or mental unfitness is required when the unfitness or disability is not evident to the county. Verification can be provided by any medical health professional or the applicant’s case manager.

Counties must review relevant information during the application and reapplication process to mitigate the occurrence of errors and variances. (ACL 21-58, May 21, 2021.)

Treatment of the Golden State Grant for Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants recipients

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The Golden State Grant Program provides a $600 one-time grant payment to Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) recipients. The $600 one-time payment applies to all CAPI recipients who had an active CAPI case and received a CAPI payment in March 2021.

Beginning on May 24, 2021, payments will be sent out by paper check weekly by zip code. These payments are not counted as income for recipients and will not count toward the resource limit for 12 months from the payment receipt. The payment is not included in CAPI overpayment rules.  The California Department of Social Services State Hearings Division does not have jurisdiction regarding issues eligibility for and payment of the Golden State Grant.  (ACL 21-57, May 21, 2021.)

Correction: based on updated guidance from the Social Security Administration, the Golden State Grant Payment is excluded from being counted as income and resources.  (ACL 21-57E, August 11, 2021.)

CalWORKs and CalFresh changes to semi-annual reporting and annual recertification

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions regarding changes to the semi-annual reporting and annual recertification processes. CalFresh Households and CalWORKs assistance units now provide information about income received during the 30 days prior to submitting the annual recertification.  Counties must determine the relevant period based on when the household or assistance unit submits their annual recertification or when the county sends a CW 2200 Request for Verification form.  This does not change the process for semi-annual reports or initial applications.

Counties must request verification of any income received during the 30 days prior to submission of the annual recertification.  Verification is not required for households or assistance units that report no income during the 30 days prior to submission of the annual recertification. Verification is also not required the income source has stopped (for example job loss) or the income is not reasonably anticipated to continue, and the loss of income is not questionable.

If complete income information is not submitted with the annual recertification, the county must send a CW 2200 Request for Verification form to request verification of income.  The CW 2200 must list the specific date range for which income verification is requested.  The CW 2200 must request income verification for 30 days prior to the date of the form.  If the client returns income verification that is outside of the 30 day period stated on the form, but is sufficient to determine eligibility, the county must accept it.

The 30 day verification period may not always fall within one calendar month.  The household or assistance unit can only be required to provide income verification for a specific calendar month.  If the household or assistance unit submit income verification that crosses more than one month, the county must convert the income to a monthly average.

There is no change to the process for either delayed processing of CalFresh application, or CalWORKs late redetermination and good cause for late filing.

Semi-annual reports (SAR 7) no longer must be signed no earlier than the first of the month to be considered complete.  The SAR 7 is now considered complete if the form is signed and dated by persons specified by CDSS, all questions and items are fully answered, and all required verification is provided.

Personal contact for late or incomplete SAR 7 can now be made by text or other electronic means if the household or assistance unit consents.

Counties must implement one of these interview scheduling methods for CalWORKs no later than July 1, 2021: time block interviews, telephonic contact in conjunction with written communication about scheduling an interview, and same day interviews.  For time block interviews, the designated time block must give households a reasonable window of time to expect a call. For initial applications, the interview must be scheduled as promptly as possible to ensure that eligible households have an opportunity to participate.  For recertification, the interview must be scheduled so that the household has at least 10 days after the interview to provide verification. Regardless of the scheduling method used, if a household misses its scheduled interview, at initial application or recertification, the county must send a Notice of Missed Interview.  (ACL 21-24, March 4, 2021, and ACL 21-24E, December 30, 2022.)