CalFresh / SNAP

COVID-19 CalFresh waiver extension and end of CalFresh interview waivers for September 2020

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California had three federal waivers for CalFresh because of COVID-19.  The federal waiver for not conducting CalFresh initial application and recertification interviews has not been extended.  As a result, counties must begin conducting initial application and recertification interviews on September 1, 2020.

The federal waivers for not conducting a face-to-face interview even on request of the applicant, and not requiring specific recording equipment for telephonic signatures are extended until September 30, 2020.  For details about these waivers, see ACWDL April 2, 2020, summarized here, and ACWDL May 28, 2020, summarized here.  (ACWDL, August 19, 2020.)

Using corrected CalWORKs amount to determine CalFresh overissuance

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The California Department of Social Service (CDSS) has provided clarification that when determining the amount of a CalFresh overissuance or underissuance, the county must use the CalWORKs and CalFresh amount that the household should have received if the household has correctly reported and the county had taken timely action.  For example, if a household has income that was not considered when determining the CalWORKs and CalFresh grants, the CalFresh overissuance is determined using the corrected amount of CalWORKs as income, that is, the lower CalWORKs grant caused by the increase in income.

ACIN I-16-05 is incorrect and is corrected by this letter.  ACL 03-18 is correct.

Households with established claims as of the release of this letter may request a recalculation using the correct methodology.  (ACIN I-05-16E, August 13, 2020.)

Puente Projects no longer automatically cause exemption from CalFresh student eligibility rule

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has notified counties that enrollment in a Puente Project program no longer automatically causes students to be exempt from the CalFresh student eligibility rule.

In general, college students are ineligible for CalFresh.  One exception to that rule is if a student is participating in a program to increase student employability.  This includes programs for students with low-income that are operated by state or local government where at least one component of the program is equivalent to a CalFresh Education and Training Component, such as job retention, job search, work experience, vocational training or on-the-job training.

Puente Project programs are designed to improve the college going rate for educationally underrepresented students. There are Puente Project programs at 65 California Community Colleges.  In 2017, in ACL 17-05, CDSS decided that all Puente Project programs were considered programs to increase employability, and as a result, participating students were exempt from the CalFresh student rule.

CDSS has now decided that not all Puente Project programs meet the definition of a program to increase employability.  As a result, students in Puente Project programs are no longer automatically exempt from the CalFresh student rule.  However, individual Puente Project programs can be approved by CDSS on a case-by-case basis if they provide one or more components that is equivalent to a CalFresh Education and Training program.  If the program is approved, then students in the program will be exempt from the CalFresh student rule. Individual Puente Project programs can request approval using a CDSS request form.

Ongoing CalFresh households that include a student who was exempt from the CalFresh student rule because of participation in a Puente Project program must be reassessed for an exemption from the CalFresh student eligibility rule as soon as possible, but no later than the household’s next semi-annual report or recetification. (ACL 20-34, July 26, 2020.)

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has notified counties that enrollment in a Puente Project program no longer automatically causes students to be exempt from the CalFresh student eligibility rule.

In general, college students are ineligible for CalFresh.  One exception to that rule is if a student is participating in a program to increase student employability.  This includes programs for students with low-income that are operated by state or local government where at least one component of the program is equivalent to a CalFresh Education and Training Component, such as job retention, job search, work experience, vocational training or on-the-job training.

Puente Project programs are designed to improve the college going rate for educationally underrepresented students. There are Puente Project programs at 65 California Community Colleges.  In 2017, in ACL 17-05, CDSS decided that all Puente Project programs were considered programs to increase employability, and as a result, participating students were exempt from the CalFresh student rule.

CDSS has now decided that not all Puente Project programs meet the definition of a program to increase employability.  As a result, students in Puente Project programs are no longer automatically exempt from the CalFresh student rule.  However, individual Puente Project programs can be approved by CDSS on a case-by-case basis if they provide one or more components that is equivalent to a CalFresh Education and Training program.  If the program is approved, then students in the program will be exempt from the CalFresh student rule. Individual Puente Project programs can request approval using a CDSS request form.

Ongoing CalFresh households that include a student who was exempt from the CalFresh student rule because of participation in a Puente Project program must be reassessed for an exemption from the CalFresh student eligibility rule as soon as possible, but no later than the household’s next semi-annual report or recetification. (ACL 20-34, July 26, 2020.)

COVID-19 CalFresh emergency allotment for August 2020

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California has been approved to issue an emergency allotment of CalFresh for August, 2020.  The emergency allotment will be issued on September 12 to raise each household’s monthly CalFresh allotment to the maximum allowable for the household size.  Per guidance from the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), households already receiving the maximum allotment are not eligible to receive an emergency allotment.

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. (ACWDL, August 3, 2020.)

COVID-19 extension of tax intercept suspension

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has extended suspension of state tax intercepts for collection of CalWORKs overpayments and CalFresh overissuances until the end of 2020.

The Food and Nutrition Service extended suspension of submission of CalFresh debts to the Treasury Offset Program for federal tax intercept of CalFresh overpayments until August 6, 2020.  California can ask for another 30-day extension.

Refund requests for federal or state tax intercepts that occurred after March 1, 2020 are not mandatory but may be approved on a case-by-case basis following a request from any individual in the former CalWORKs or CalFresh household who has been impacted by COVID-19.  Any refunded debts will remain outstanding and will be collected when CDSS resumes tax intercepts.  (ACWDL, July 30, 2020.)

COVID-19 CalFresh interview waiver extended through August

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The federal waiver for not conducting CalFresh initial application and recertification interviews has now been extended through August 31, 2020.  This is a reversal of the initial denial of California’s request to extend the interview waiver through July. Now, counties are not required to conduct interviews for CalFresh applications and recertification during July, 2020 except under specified circumstances.  For details about this waivers, see ACWDL April 2, 2020, summarized here.  (ACWDL, July 24, 2020.)