CalFresh / SNAP

COVID-19 temporary 15% increase in CalFresh maximum benefit

Posted on by

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) informs counties of the temporary 15% increase in the maximum CalFresh benefit from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021.  This change effectively increases all CalFresh benefits by 15%.  The minimum benefit amount is temporarily increased to $19.

Counties must use mass change informing practices of this temporary benefit changes, including news or other media outlets, social media, client facing websites, text messages, and posters in welfare department offices.

This increase in benefits must be excluded when calculating the amount of an overissuance against a household.

For January 2021, the benefit increase will be issued on February 7.  Starting with February benefits, the increase will be issued with the household’s normal benefits.

Because of automation issues, the emergency allotment for January will now be issued on February 14, 2021.  (ACIN I-11-21, January 27, 2021.)

COVID 19 – CalFresh treatment of Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Payments

Posted on by

The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 reauthorized Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (PUC) payments through March 14, 2021.  These payments will be $300 per week from January 1, 2021 through March 14, 2021.  Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, these payments are not income for CalFresh purposes.  These payments are excluded from being considered a resource through October 31, 2021.  (ACWDL, January 19, 2021.)

COVID-19 additional exceptions to the CalFresh student rule

Posted on by

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance regarding additional exceptions to the CalFresh student rule added by Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021.  These additional exceptions because of COVID-19 are in effect from January 16, 2021 until 30 days after the federal public health emergency is lifted.

In general students enrolled half time who are aged 18 to 49 are are physically and mentally fit are ineligible for CalFresh.  There are several exceptions to this rule.  The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 expands the exception for work study to any student eligible to participate in a state or federally financed work study during the regular school year, as determined by the school.  While this exception is in effect, it is no longer required that students be approved for work study and anticipate working.  CDSS has temporarily changed the work study verification letter to reflect this change.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 adds an exception to the CalFresh student rule for students who have a zero dollar expected family contribution.  This is determined by information on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application.  The California Student Aid Commission determines who has a zero dollar expected family contribution.  Verification can include, but is not limited to, a letter from the California Student Aid Commission confirming a zero dollar expected family contribution, a student’s Student Aid Report or a financial aid offer letter.  The California Student Aid Commission will send all students with a zero dollar expected family contribution an informing letter about this new exception to the CalFresh student rule.  The California Student Aid Commission letter now includes a bolded statement instructing students to submit the letter in its entirety.  However, failure to submit the California Student Aid Commission letter is not a basis for requesting further verification or denial.

Requests to add a newly eligible student or to report a previously ineligible student being newly eligible are voluntary mid-period reports of a household composition change.  These reports can be made verbally or in writing and must be considered verified upon receipt.  However, a student’s exception to the student eligibility rule must be verified.  If verification is submitted timely, benefits are adjusted no later than the first allotment issued 10 days after the change is reported.  No supplement is issued for the month of the report.  If the household does not provide verification within 10 days of the report, but provides verification at a later date, the timeframe for taking action runs from the date verification is submitted.

(ACL 21-11, January 22, 2021 and ACL 21-11E, March 3, 2021.)

Homelessness prevention programs

Posted on by

The California Department of Social Services has issued information about various homelessness prevention programs.  CalWORKs diversion is a payment to help the family meet a short term need instead of receiving CalWORKs.  A diversion payment can be used to pay overdue rent to help prevent eviction or homelessness.  If a family accepts a diversion payment and needs to reapply for CalWORKs during a period equivalent to the months of aid a diversion payment would cover, the family must repay the diversion grant or those months count toward the CalWORKs time on aid clock.  Diversion recipients who reapply for CalWORKs are eligible for all housing services available to CalWORKs recipients.

Non-Recurring Short-Term Benefits is a lump sum payment to help address a family’s specific crisis or item of need.  Non-Recurring Short-Term Benefits is for a maximum of four months.  Non-Recurring Short-Term Benefits can be used for any accrued debts or liabilities that may be covered including rent.  There is no limit on the amount of benefits that can be provided. Families may provide sworn statements to document their need.  Counties may accept a verbal statement if the applicant is unable to provide a physical or electronic signature.

Family Stabilization provides intensive case management and services to CalWORKs families facing crisis.  Family Stabilization can be used to pay rent owed and provide additional services including case management, referrals to legal services and credit repair to prevent eviction or homelessness.

Permanent Homeless Assistance is available for families that are eligible for, apparently eligible for or receiving CalWORKs and are at risk of eviction or homelessness.  Permanent Homeless Assistance can pay up to two months back rent to prevent eviction once every 12 months with exceptions.  The monthly rent must be less than 80% of the family’s total monthly income.  Note not included in the letter that alternatively permanent homeless assistance can cover security deposit and first and last month rent.

Disaster Homeless Assistance is available for families that become homeless or are at risk of homelessness because of a state or federally declared natural disaster.  Disaster Homeless Assistance can include 16 days temporary homeless assistance or permanent homeless assistance.

Tribal TANF programs can provide eviction and homelessness prevention services.

CalFresh Employment and Training can provide housing stability services for recipients who are at risk of eviction of homelessness.  Federal reimbursement for subsidized housing is limited to no more than two months per year.

Refugee support services can provide emergency assistance, including housing and utility assistance if they experience job disruption, job loss, or other COVID-19 related challenges.

The Bringing Families Home program can pay overdue or ongoing rent for families experiencing or at imminent risk of homelessness who are involved with the child welfare system in counties that operate the program.  Bringing Families Home can also provide housing navigation, case management, and coordination with additional necessary services including legal services.

The Home Safe Program provides, in participating counties, assistance to persons involved in the Adult Protective Services system who are at risk of imminent homelessness because of elder or dependent adult abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or financial exploitation.  Home Safe Program assistance includes landlord engagement, case management, legal services, eviction protection, short-term financial assistance, heave cleaning and landlord mediation.  (ACWDL, January 14, 2021.)

Modifying CDSS required forms

Posted on by

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) states that they have learned that counties have been modifying required forms with proper consent.  Forms that are in the “Required Forms – No Substitute Permitted” category cannot be modified or restructured.  No changers can be made to a required form unless required for a computer system.  Reformatting or restructuring a required form for a computer can only be done with CDSS approval.  If a county wants to modify a required form, the county must submit a written request to CDSS before implementing the proposed changes.  (ACL 21-02, January 4, 2021.)

Transitional CalFresh guidance

Posted on by

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance regarding Transitional CalFresh.  Counties must automatically provide Transitional CalFresh to CalWORKs households who leave CalWORKs “in good standing.”  CalWORKs household that are eligible for Transitional CalFresh include CalWORKs households that are discontinued because the household exceeded income or resource limits, asked to close their case, a parent timed out or a child aged out, or disqualified because of a CalWORKs rule change.

Individual members if CalWORKs households are not eligible for Transitional CalFresh if they are approved for benefits in another state, sanctioned, disqualified for an Intentional Program Violation, ineligible for CalWORKs because of immigration status, discontinued for not providing necessary information or completing a periodic report, disqualified for knowing transfer to resources to maintain CalFresh eligibility, disqualified for duplicate CalFresh participation, disqualified from CalFresh for being a fleeing felon, or being in violation of conditions of probation or parole, or disqualified for not complying with Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents requirements.  Other members of the household are eligible for Transitional CalFresh.

If an entire CalWORKs household is denied Transitional CalFresh, the county must assess whether the entire household or individual members are eligible for regular CalFresh.

The maximum Transitional CalFresh benefits period is 5 months. The Transitional CalFresh allotment is based on the CalFresh allotment prior to the CalFresh discontinuance adjusted for the loss of CalWORKs income.  Additional income is not considered.  The benefit amount is based on information already available to the county.  The county cannot contact the household to establish Transitional CalFresh eligibility or amount.

During the Transitional CalFresh period, the benefit allotment is frozen.  Households do not need to report changes, and counties do not need to act on third party information.

At any time during the Transitional CalFresh period, the household may reapply for regular CalFresh by completing the CalFresh recertification process. The county must evaluate the application and inform the household if the regular CalFresh allotment would be lower and give the household the chance to withdraw their application.

Households restoring CalWORKs and CalFresh benefits within 30 days of the CalWORKs discontinuance do not need to submit a new CalFresh application.  In cases where a CalWORKs discontinuance is rescinded, there cannot be a CalFresh overissuance because the Transitional CalFresh benefit is determined based on information available at the time.

Any Transitional CalFresh household member who returns to CalWORKs during the Transitional CalFresh period must be recertified before receiving regular CalFresh.

(ACL 20-129, January 6, 2021.)