CalFresh / SNAP

EBT card CVV enablement and card replacement update

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The California Department of Social Services has updated its instructions regarding activating Card Verification Value (CVV) on Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards.  Prior instructions are in ACWDL, March 17, 2022, summarized here.  The EBT CVV functionality will be enabled in June, 2022.  When the CVV functionality is enabled, any card that does not have the CVV will be deactivated.  Cards issued by the EBT vendor before June, 2018 and by counties before October, 2019 do not have the CVV and will be deactivated.

Counties should connect cardholders who have issues, including not receiving their new card or otherwise needing a replacement card, with the EBT vendor FIS.  In addition, current county cardstock can be used because the CVV coding is added by the card printer. (ACWDL, June 6, 2022.)

COVID-19 CalFresh emergency allotment for June, 2022

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California has been approved to issue an emergency allotment of CalFresh for June, 2022.  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 $95 minimum.

The emergency allotment will be issued on July 17, 2022 for CalSAWS counties and July 24, 2022 for CalWIN counties.

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  There will be a one-month phase out of emergency allotments after the public health emergency is rescinded.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 9, 2022.)

Changes to Integrated Earnings Clearance/Fraud Detection match frequency change

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Integrated Earnings Clearance/Fraud Detection (IFD) is quarterly match that gives various income data to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to compare CalFresh and CalWorks records submitted by the counties. These records show quarterly wage data maintained by the Employment Development Department (EDD) and Social Security Administration (SSA).

A workgroup was formed in 2016 to provide technical assistance, updates on policy changes, and calculations of best practices to ensure precise determination for benefits in the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) and CalFresh programs.

The workgroup identified some previous issues with the frequency and outdated data provided by the IFD match. Finding that data was nine months old by the time it reached the association. Income data will now come in faster and will be no more than four to six months old to prevent outdated information from showing up two quarters later. The processing timeframes for the IFD match remain unchanged. Match follow-up must be finalized within 45 days of transmission of the data to the County Welfare Departments.  (ACIN I-30-22, April 21, 2022.)

COVID-19 CalFresh emergency allotment for May, 2022

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California has been approved to issue an emergency allotment of CalFresh for May, 2022.  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 $95 minimum.

The emergency allotment will be issued on June 12, 2022 for CalSAWS counties and June 19, 2022 for CalWIN counties.

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, May 3, 2022.)

Eligibility of Ukranian nationals for federal and state benefits

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THIS LETTER HAS BEEN SUPERCEEDED FOR FEDERAL BENEFITS.  SEE ACWDL, July 6, 2022, summarized here.

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has provided guidance regarding eligibility of Ukranian nationals for various public benefits programs.

Ukranian arrivals who have refugee or asylee status qualify for CalWORKs, CalFresh, SSI, and Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA).

Ukranian refugees and asylees are eligible for RCA. Persons with Temporary Protected Status are not eligible for RCA.  Counties must accept a declaration under penalty of perjury of the applicant’s immigration status while documentary verification is pending.

Ukranian nationals who have Temporary Protected Status are not eligible for most federal or state public benefits.

Ukranian humanitarian parolees can be eligible for CalWORKs with state funds.  This is because humanitarian parolees have Permanent Residence Under Color of Law (PRUCOL).  This includes eligibility for Homeless Assistance and Housing Support Program, both of which can supplement federal refugee resettlement funding.

Ukranian humanitarian parolees are eligible for the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI).  They are not eligible for SSI.

Ukranian humanitarian parolees are eligible for CalFresh or California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) if they have been paroled into the United States for at least one year.  Paroled for at least one year means the duration of parole.  A humanitarian parolee is eligible for CalFresh or CFAP from the day they are paroled into the United States if their parole will last at least one year.  Ukranian humanitarian parolees for less than one year are not eligible for CalFresh or CFAP.

Public interest parolees must be admitted to the United States for at least one year and must meet two additional criteria to be eligible for CalFresh, including five years of residence, working 40 quarters, children under age 18, elderly or disabled as defined.  People who do not meet two of the additional criteria can be eligible for CFAP.

Ukranians with refugee, asylee or humanitarian parolee status are eligible for Project Roomkey, Bringing Families Home, Housing and Disability Advocacy Program, and Home Safe.

Ukranian arrivals, including humanitarian parolees, can be eligible for Medi-Cal.

Regardless of the documentation presented, counties must verify immigration status with the SAVE system.  (ACIN I-40-22, April 22, 2022, ACIN I-40-22E, May 24, 2022.)

COVID-19 CalFresh emergency allotment for April, 2022

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California has been approved to issue an emergency allotment of CalFresh for March, 2022.  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 $95 minimum.

The emergency allotment will be issued on May 15, 2022 for CalSAWS counties and May 22, 2022 for CalWIN counties.

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, April 7, 2022.)