Under a federal waiver, California can deny CalFresh applications 10 days after the date of a request for verification if the applicant does not provide the requested information. This letter states that a welfare department cannot deny a CalFresh application for failure to provide verification within 10 days of a request unless an interview is completed. In addition, the denial cannot be effective until 30 days after the application is filed.

This letter also reminds counties: 1) they must schedule interviews for all CalFresh applicants who are not interviewed on the day they submit their application, 2) cannot deny an application prior to the 30^th day after application if the household misses their first scheduled interview, 3) they must send a denial notice on the 30^th day following the date of the application if the household misses a scheduled interview and does not tell the county they want to pursue the application, and 4) counties must give at least 10 days for applicants to provide missing verification.  ACL 15-93 (11/20/15).

CDSS has issued guidance on determining residency for purposes of CalFresh eligibility. CDSS states that counties cannot have a durational residency requirement, cannot require a fixed mailing address, and cannot require intent to permanently reside in the county as conditions of CalFresh eligibility.   Temporary absence from a county when there is an intent to return should not affect CalFresh eligibility or require an inter-county transfer.

“Whereabouts unknown” is not a permissible reason to terminate CalFresh benefits. If mail is returned as undeliverable, counties should send a request for information form to the last known address, if that form is not returned within 10 days, the county can terminate benefits.

Semi-annual reporting households are only required to report address changes when submitting a semi-annual report or at annual recertification. Change reporting households must report address changes within 10 days.

An overissuance cannot be established solely because a client accesses benefits in another county or state or is temporarily located in another county or state.  ACL 15-91 (11/3/15).

Currently, migrant and seasonal worker households, homeless household and households in which all adults are elderly or disabled are subject to change reporting, that is reporting all changes in household income or composition within 10 days. SB 79 Sections 54 and 55 require the elimination of change reporting and converting all households to semi-annual reporting by January 2017.

CDSS has issused instructions about transitioning these households to semi-annual reporting. CDSS states that counties that use the CalWIN computer system will convert on June 1, 2016 and counties that use the C-IV and LEADER computer systems will convert on July 1, 2016. CDSS will sent information notices to all effected households six months and three months before the change. In addition, CDSS directed counties to find good cause for late submission of a semi-annual report for twelve months after the change to semi-annual reporting occurs if the report is submitted in the first month after it is due.  ACL 15-90 (10/30/15).

CDSS has issued the CalFresh cost of living increase for Federal Fiscal Year 2016. Effective October 1, 2015, the maximum CalFresh grants increases to $194 per month for a one person household with similar increases for larger households. The maximum shelter deduction increases to $504. The standard deduction increases to $155 for a one to three person household with similar increases for larger households. The standard utility allowance increases to $385, the limited utility allowance increases to $118 and the telephone utility allowance decreases to $19.

CDSS included a chart of new income eligibility standards, maximum allotments, and deductions. ACIN I-75-15 (9/4/15).

CDSS has issued new rules about when persons can be disqualified from CalFresh for being a fleeing felon violating a condition of probation and parole. These rules comply with new federal regulations issued at 80 Fed. Reg. 54410. To be considered a fleeing felon and ineligible for CalFresh, a person must have a warrant issued for their arrest that is under the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) code for escape, flight to avoid prosecution or flight-escape. Only warrants with one of those three NCIC codes are a reason to deny or terminate CalFresh benefits.

To be considered violating a condition of probation or parole and be ineligible for CalFresh, there must be a judicial determination that the individual violated a condition of probation or parole. Issuance of a warrant for a violation of probation or parole by itself is not a reason to deny or terminate CalFresh benefits.

In addition, local law enforcement must be actively seeking the individual to enforce a condition of probation or parole. To determine whether law enforcement is actively seeking an individual, the county must contact local law enforcement and ask whether they intend to enforce violation of probation or parole within 30 days. If the answer is no, then the individual is not considered a probation or parole violator. If the answer is yes, the case is held for 30 days to find out if local law enforcement takes action to enforce the probation or parole violation. If no action is taken in 30 days, the individual is not consider a probation or parole violator.

The new rules are effective December 1, 2015. ACL 15-82 (10/14/15).