Mostly about county coding, but noted for describing AB 98. AB 98 added WIC Sect. 11322.63, which provides for CDSS to reimburse counties for 50 percent of a CalWORKs recipient’s wage subsidy outside of the county Single Allocation.The reimbursement is limited to a maximum of six months for each recipient. The amount of wage subsidies claimed outside of the Single Allocation may not exceed 50 percent of the maximum aid payment for the assistance unit of which the recipient is a member. In 2001, the state must report to the legislature about the wage subsidy program. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
Author: Webdog
ACIN I-11-08: Good Standing Letter For Intercountry Adoptions (3/28/08)
The “how to’s” of getting a Good Standing letter. Available only to licensed agencies, and not individuals. Includes a reminder that when adoption agencies are facilitating adoptions with non-Hague Convention countries, requests may be made by these countries that may be outside the parameters of California’s laws and regulations. As such, the adoption agency and prospective adoptive family may find the CDSS is unable to accommodate these requests, and the adoption may be at risk. Accredited agencies must inform a prospective adoptive family in the adoption services contract whether it will or will not provide any post-adoption services, such as reports. [Download]
FNS Admin. Notice 08-13
FNS has clarified when a recipient can get deductions for expenses not timely reported. A prior memo stated agencies could add language to the Rights & Responsibilities that said “Failure to report or verify any … expenses will be seen as a statement by your household that you do not want to receive a deduction…”
The deduction can be disallowed if the household fails to report or verify an expense at: 1) certification; 2) recertification (can disallow a prior expense). An agency may not disallow the expense when reported for an interim changes (e.g. change in shelter costs) or quarterly report change, unless after proper request for verification (i.e. only certain changes need verification, and the agency shall help obtain verification, etc.) [Download]
FNS Admin. Notice 08-14
This notice reviews how to handle rebates from the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. These amounts will be excluded as income for eligibility, allotment, and all other purposes, for all households. Additionally, the rebates are excluded as resources for 3 months (month of receipt +2). [Download]
FNS Admin. Notice 08-17
Superceding AN 08-11, this notice reviews that Iraqis are now treated differently than Afghanis, as a result of new legislation. The National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2008 that extended program eligibility to affected Iraqi immigrants for a period not to exceed 8 months. To the contrary, the appropriations Act granted Afghanis special immigrant status that results in them being treated as a refugee for purposes of resettlement assistance, entitlement programs and other benefits, but limited to six months. The AN also reviews beginning dates of eligibility, including a review on how this interacts with the qualified alien rules. Eligibility runs from the date the person gets the special immigrant status, not the later date of the application. [Download]
ACL 08-15: Department Of Homeland Security Interim Final Rule On New Classification For Victims Of Criminal Activity; Eligibility For U Nonimmigrant Status (4/4/08)
The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 created U Nonimmigrant Status for certain victims of criminal activity. The feds created U Visa Interim Relief, since U Visa regulations not forthcoming. (See ACL No. 06-60 and ACIN No. I-41-07). An Interim Final Rule regarding New Classification for Victims of Criminal Activity and Eligibility for U Nonimmigrant Status has now been issued, effective October 17, 2007.
Now that an Interim Final Rule has been issued, USCIS stopped accepting U Visa Interim Relief applications after October 17, 2007. New applicants for SB 1569 benefits must now present evidence that they have filed for a U Visa (or have obtained one) if they do not have proof that they filed for U Visa Interim Relief before October 17, 2007. The letter includes an exemplary list of acceptable evidence. (Forms I-797, I-918, Form I-797; employment Authorization Document Category A19 or A20, etc.)
USCIS has indicated that petitioners who have previously been granted interim relief and have filed a Form I-918 for a U Visa will have their interim relief extended until USCIS completes its adjudication of the application. Therefore, cases determined eligible based on a request for U Visa Interim Relief prior to October 17, 2007 may remain eligible if a U Visa application has been filed (or a U Visa has been issued) or until a denial of interim relief has been issued. USCIS anticipates issuing the Final Rule on nonimmigrant U Visas sometime in the fall of 2008. [Download]