There are two Food Stamps regulation packets up for comment. The packets are: Restaurant Meals for the Homeless, Elderly and Disabled and Food Stamp Program Recertification Simplification and Statewide Finger Imaging System Exemptions. Comments are due November 14, 2007.
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
Author: Webdog
Errata to ACL 07-09: Correction Implementation Of Assembly Bill 1633 (9/11/07)
This corrects the error in ACL 07-09, which said that 18 year old foster youths could participate in a GED program less than full time basis and still meet Aid Foster Care requirements. Wrongo. The youth MUST be in the GED program full time. The County Welfare Department (CWD) is to verify only full time attendance. Full-time enrollment is defined by the school or program. It is not the duty or function of the CWD to check on the school’s or program’s standards or definitions in this area. [Download]
ACL 07-33: Foster Youth Proof Of Wardship Documentation (9/21/07)
Two years later, CDSS realized the need for revised instructions the verification document given to youth upon emancipating from foster care to eliminate delays in the processing of the application for Chafee Education and Training Vouchers (ETV) and financial aid. Turns out that the prior ACL 05-32, which provided the original instructions, used “dependency” and “wardship” in a way different from the financial aid programs. This ACL includes acceptable language of “proof of wardship.”
Students who check the status of their Chafee ETV award at the Chafee WebGrants for Students website, who see in red “Department of Social Services Record,’ need foster care verification. Students can submit either the proof of wardship, or their Independent Living Plan. Although previously, students and county social workers were informed that the ILP Eligibility Certification Form was no longer required to verify the foster care eligibility for the Chafee ETV Program, when a “proof of wardship” is not available, the Eligibility Certification Form will be necessary. Youth who are/were in legal guardianship or the KinGAP are ineligible for the Chafee grant unless in a foster care placement at any time between the ages of 16-18. Each county should identify a point person who can assist in foster care eligibility verification for the purpose of the Chafee program. [Download]
ACL 06-32: Additional Claims To Be Submitted Through The Conlan II Claims Process (9/13/07)
More instructions re: reimbursement for expenses during 3-month retroactive Medi-cal coverage period. This one pertains to reimbursement of IHSS recipients who have paid excess out-of-pocket Share of Cost (SOC) expenses. The “complex issue” of IHSS-buy out cases will be deferred to a future ACL, but in the meantime, recipients who believe they have paid a SOC in excess of their obligation must submit their claims through the Department of Health Care Services (CDHCS) Beneficiary Services Center (BSC), unless it is a Buy-Out claim for reimbursement for the current month or one month prior. That category of buy-out claims is to be made bay the County using the Special Pre-Authorized Transaction (SPEC) created for this purpose. [Download]
ACL 07-31: Food Stamp Simplification – Clarification Of The $50 Child Support Disregard And “19 Year Old” Student Earnings Exclusion (9/7/07)
Another oops. Last August, CDSS provided instructions on the changes made to align Food Stamps with CalWORKs. This included how to treat the $50 child/spousal support pass-through and student income. Only problem was that the Food Nutrition Services said the state misinterpreted federal law, and got those two areas of instructions wrong. So, here are the corrected instructions. Can’t disregard legally obligated support. And, the student exemption is for children under 18, not 19. The correct policy is effective immediately and to be implemented no later than November 1, 2007, with encouragement to do it early to avoid QC issue and overissuances. (Although there is a “hold harmless” provision for following prior policy, and no need to do a retroactive case review.) [Download]
ACL 07-13E: Correction re: Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program Enhancements (8/9/07)
Oops. ACL 07-13E had a tiny error. Like what the eligibility requirement is for the program! It erroneously stated that to be eligible youth needed to be 12 continuous months with a legal guardian. Turns out the CORRECT statement is that the youth 1) have lived with a relative 12 continuous months; 2) have a kinship guardian appointed by the juvenile court; 3) have the juvenile court case dismissed. Also a reminder that though the letter was about probation youth, the regular Kinship rules re: dependents is unaffected…. [Download]