The CalWORKs WTW Best Practices website is up and running. Also includes “promising practices” (the difference being whether there is data to support the success.) [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
Author: Webdog
ACL 09-05E: Correction to ACL 09-05 Re: Registered Domestic Partners And Same-Sex Spouses (6/4/09)
The revisions were made to clarify that the date of the marriage, not the date a marriage license was issued, will determine whether the marriage is deemed valid for the purpose of CalWORKs eligibility determinations. This errata also clarifies that same-sex spouses are to be treated as stepparents unless they are the natural or adoptive parent of their partner’s children. In addition, the language was changed to reflect the California Supreme Court’s Proposition 8 decision. [Download]
ACIN I-48-09: Order Affecting State Participation In-Home Supportive Services Provider Wages And Health Benefits (6/30/90)
This notice relays the injunction issued in Martinez v. Schwarzenegger. The proposed IHSS wages cut, from $12.10 per hour to $10.10 per hour, is stopped. [Download]
ACL 09-25: Food Stamp Application Process For Youth Who Are “Aging Out” Of Foster Care (6/16/09)
Starting now, but no later than August 1, 2009, counties should essentially pre-file and pend food stamps applications for youth who are expected to “age out” of the foster care system. The letter describes transmitting an application during the dependency, forwarding it to the appropriate county FS office, and holding the application for up to 30 days from the date it is received. At the time dependency is terminated, the FC staff will notify the food stamp office so that the application can be acted upon. If the dependency does not terminate when expected (within 30 days) the county is to deny the application, and “encouraged to look for” another opportunity to have the youth complete another application, thus starting the 30-day clock again.
The letter also discusses jurisdiction issues (the county of FC jurisdiction must coordinate with the county of residence/where the application must be filed), SFIS, out of county office interviews, and other FS issues. [Download]
ACIN I-46-09: Time-Eligibility For Refugee Cash Assistance And Entrant Cash Assistance Recipients (6/9/09)
Just letting the counties know that the state has improved automation to help cut folks off aid (to avoid overpayments). Programming changes made to the Medi-Cal Eligibility Data System (MEDS) will provide an alert 90 days before the 8 months period of eligibility ends for Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) and Entrant Cash Assistance (ECA) clients. At the end of the 90 days, the system will terminate the aid. Counties must still issue 10-day NOAs. [Download]
ACL 09-22: CalWORKs): Impacts Of The American Recovery And Reinvestment Act Of 2009 (6/3/09)
The ACL focuses on the impact to the CalWORKs program of four sections of the ARRA: (1) increased Unemployment Insurance Benefits (UIB) [counts as income]; (2) a one-time payment of $250 to recipients of Social Security, SSI, Railroad Retirement Benefits, and Veteran Disability Compensation or Pension Benefits [doesn’t count as income, and if kept exempt as resources for 9 months]; (3) a temporary increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) [always was exempt, remains so]; and (4) the Making Work Pay Credit (MWPC) [not income, excluded for 2 months after receipt as resource]. [Download]