Counties can be reimbursed for General Assistance/General Relief paid to claimants from retroactive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. One condition of this reimbursement is the claimant signing an agreement for interim assistance reimbursement called the SSP 14.
The Social Security Administration has agreed to allow telephone attestations instead of wet signatures on the SSP 14 form for the duration of the COVID-19 state of emergency. (ACL 20-64, June 4, 2020.)
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) informs counties that personal protective equipment is being made available to both In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) providers and recipients who requests it. Personal protective equipment is available at the Public Authority offices in each county. Each set of personal protective equipment will include a face mask and a pair of gloves. (ACL 20-61, June 1, 2020.)
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued information and guidance about Project Roomkey which provides non-congregate shelter options to people experiencing homelessness, particularly private hotel rooms and trailers. California has distributed 1,305 trailers for Project Roomkey.
CDSS recommends that who are experiencing homelessness and have tested positive for COVID-19, have been exposed to COVID-19 or are at high risk of COVID-19 be prioritized for Project Roomkey.
Project Roomkey providers should: 1) anticipated the need within priority populations and determine how best to triage individuals, 2) identify appropriate locations and properties and execute agreements with property owners, and 3) identify and operationalize core operating services, including wraparound supports. (ACWDL, June 1, 2020.)
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has informed counties that the CalWORKs Minimum Basic Standard of Care (MBSAC) will increase by 3.72% effective July 1, 2020. This will increase the MBSAC in Region 1 to $741 for a 1 one person assistance unit, $1,216 for a 2 person assistance unit, $1,507 for a 3 person assistance unit and increasing with increases in assistance unit size. The MBSAC for Region 2 will increase to $703 for a 1 one person assistance unit, $1,155 for a 2 person assistance unit, $1,430 for a 3 person assistance unit and increasing with increases in assistance unit size.
The same increase will apply to the MBSAC for Refugee Cash Assistance, Entrant Cash Assistance and Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program. The same increase will apply to the CalWORKs Income in-kind level. (ACL 20-60, May 29, 2020.)
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has provided information about financial support for eligible at-risk families with child welfare contact during the COVID-19 state of emergency. Households are eligible if they meet one of the following criteria with a case open at any time in April, 2020 or a new case opened in May or June, 2020:
Eligible households will be issued prepaid cards. The assistance payment will be $200 per month for April, May and June, 2020 or $400 per month for an eligible household with three or more children at risk of entering Foster Care. Households with cases opened in May will receive the payment for May and June, and households with cases opened in June will receive the payment for June.
These payments will not count as income for CalWORKs or CalFresh. (ACIN I-44-20, June 1, 2020.)
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) guidance about independent adoptions during COVID-19. This guidance is in effect until June 30, 2020.
In person contact with the birth parent must continue. Alternative communication methods are not allowed. There must be an evaluation if the birth parent’s history or current condition indicates inability to understand the content, nature and effect of signing an adoption agreement.
An agency representative must witness, in person, the birth parent signing the adoption placement agreement. An agency representative must also interview, in person, all persons who are consenting to the adoption. The agency representative must witness the signing of the consent to the adoption in person.
An adoption service provider or representative of the CDSS Regional Office or delegated county agency should not by alternative communication witness or give an interview about the waiver of the right to revoke consent.
The adoption placement and adoption consent form can be filed with the court as soon as it reopens. If the forms cannot be filed with the court, the prospective adoptive parent can submit a copy of the form with 50 percent of the investigation fee directly to CDSS or the delegated county agency and the agency can begin the investigation. All mandatory requirements, including criminal background check, are required before the adoption investigation is finalized.
CDSS or the delegated agency can begin the adoption investigation before the investigation fee is paid, but the fee must be collected before the report is submitted to the court.
Home visits and interviews with prospective adoptive parents can occur via videoconference.
For Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children cases, the required study must be done within 60 days and it must be done in person.
The 180 day time period for investigation reports is suspended because of court closures. The 180 day time period will resume when the state of emergency is lifted. (ACL 20-56, May 18, 2020.)