CalFresh / SNAP

ABAWD 36-Month Fixed Statewide Clock

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In general, able bodied adults without children (ABAWDs) are eligible for CalFresh for only three months within a 36 month period unless the client 1) lives in a county or area of a county that has an ABAWD waiver; 2) satisfies the ABAWD work requirement; 3) qualifies for an exemption or 4) is granted an individual 15 percent exemption.

California has had a statewide waiver of the ABAWD rule.  This waiver expires on December 31, 2017.  CDSS has decided to implement the 36 month period using a fixed statewide clock.  This means all ABAWDs will have the same time 36 month time period, and when the clock starts it will continue uninterrupted.  The clock will begin on January 1, 2017 and will reset on January 1, 2020.  When the statewide clock ends, all ABAWDs will have their clock restart and can again receive their 3 months of CalFresh.  The choice to use a fixed statewide clock is intended to maximize benefits.  ACIN I-88-16 (December 14, 2016).

CalFresh Student Eligibility

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CDSS issued instructions to counties about CalFresh eligibility for students.  The general rule is students age 18-49 are ineligible for CalFresh.  However, there are several exceptions.  Eligibility workers must evaluate whether a student meets one of the exceptions.  The exceptions are when the student is:

  • Employed average of 20 hours per week for the month
  • Has parental control of a child under age 6
  • Has parental control of a child 6-12 but do not have child care to allow attending class and working 20 hours per week
  • Approved for Work Study and anticipate getting a work study job. Exception applies even if no work study jobs are available as long as will take Work Study job if it is offered
  • Receives CalWORKs
  • Enrolled full time and single parent with responsibility to care for a child under age 12
  • Participating in an education and training program and placed in education for that program. Placements with Workforce Investment Opportunity Act, CalFresh Employment and Training, JOBS, Section 236 of Trade Act or state or local government education and training program can qualify.

ACIN I-89-15 (December 1, 2015).

Requiring use of the “Here’s Why” section of CalFresh overissuance notices

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CDSS has issued instructions to counties about the content of CalFresh overissuance notices.  Counties must complete the free-form “Here’s Why” section of the overissuance notice.  The drop-down menu explanations in the “Here’s Why” section of the overissuance notice do not provide sufficient detail about the reason for the overissuance and must be accompanied by additional information that is specific to the case.  The free-form “Here’s Why” section must be completed even if the county consortia computer system allows the notice to be issued without completing the free-form section in order to meet state and federal due process requirements.

At a minimum, the free-form “Here’s Why” section must include: 1) the amount of benefits the household received, 2) the amount of benefits the household should have received, 3) the time period of the overissuance, 4) the specific reason that caused the overissuance, 5) the amount of benefits to be repaid, and 6) how the household can pay the claim.  ACL 16-71 (September 12, 2016).

Benefits eligibility for persons paroled as refugees

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The California Department of Social Services has issued instructions about benefits eligibility for persons paroled as refugees.  The immigration status paroled as a refugee is a category of parole that includes persons who enter the United States under the Central American Minors program and persons eligible for conditional entry, between February 1970 and April 1980 whose application for admission to the United States was denied because of an inadequate number of visas.

Persons paroled as refugees are eligible for Refugee Resettlement Program benefits, CalWORKs and CalFresh.  Persons paroled as refugees should be eligible for SSI after one year and are eligible for CAPI until they are eligible for SSI because they are considered permanent residents under color of law.  ACIN I-48-16 (June 29, 2016).

The Work Number

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The California Department of Social Services has issued instructions about using an employment verification service called The Work Number.  After counties execute contracts and Memoranda of Understanding, they can use The Work Number for initial and ongoing CalWORKs and CalFresh eligibility, fraud investigations, and to verify employment and income for TANF participation rate data.

If a county takes adverse action based on information received from The Work Number, the county must send a notice stating the name, address, and telephone number of The Work Number, the right to get a copy of the report from The Work Number if requested within 60 days, and that the information can be disputed by contacting The Work Number.

The Work Number is in addition to the existing IVES income verification system.  As with IVES matches, counties must contact the assistance unit and give an opportunity to resolve any discrepancies before taking adverse action.  ACL 16-43 (May 12, 2016).

Benefits and same-sex marriages and domestic partnerships

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The California Department of Social Services has issued policies about how same-sex marriages and domestic partnerships are treated for purposes of various programs.  For CalWORKs, same-sex spouses and registered domestic partners who have adopted the children are treated as members of the assistance unit who are subject to welfare-to-work requirements.  These households are considered two parent households for purposes of welfare-to-work requirements.  Same-sex spouses and registered domestic partners who have not adopted the children are considered step-parents, meaning they can be considered part of the assistance unit and participate in welfare-to-work but are not required to do so.

For purposes of eligibility for child care, same-sex spouses and registered domestic partners who have adopted the children are treated as members of the assistance unit, meaning the same-sex spouse or registered domestic partner can be considered an able and available parents who can provide child care.  Same-sex spouses and registered domestic partners who have not adopted the children are considered optional step-parents and are not considered for purposes of eligibility for child care.

For purposes of CalFresh, any group of persons who customarily purchase and prepare meals together are considered a household.   Same-sex spouses are considered spouses and must be included in the CalFresh household.  However, registered domestic partners are not considered spouses and are not automatically included in the household.  Registered domestic partners who are part of the CalWORKs assistance unit or customarily purchase and prepare meals with the family must be included in the CalFresh household.

Refugee Cash Assistance has the same requirements as CalWORKs.  Registered domestic partners have the same status as married couples for purposes of eligibility for Refugee Cash Assistance.  ACL 16-13 (March 28, 2016).