CalFresh / SNAP

IEVS processing deadlines

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The California Department of Social Services has issued instructions about processing Income and Eligibility Verification System (IEVS) data matches.  IEVS is a system to verify income and other information for applicants and recipients of both CalWORKs and CalFresh.

County staff must review IEVS information and compare it to information in the case record. If the information is consistent with information provided by the applicant or recipient, no action is taken.  If the information is different from information provided by the applicant or recipient, the county must verify the information from IEVS to determine if it affects eligibility or benefit level.  County staff first requests verification from the recipient.  If the recipient is unable to provide verification, county staff must seek verification from third-party sources (an employer for example).  After the county has received third party verification, county staff determines the effect on eligibility or benefit levels.

Follow-up with the recipient following an IEVS match must happen within 45 calendar days of CDSS transmitting the match to the county.  If there is no discrepancy, the county must make a case note documentating that determination.  For CalFresh only cases, failure to respond to this letter within 10 days can be a basis for terminating benefits.

Counties must either establish an overpayment or overissuance or determine that no discrepancy exists by the end of the quarter following the quarter when the county received the IEVS match.  This timeframe does not apply to closed cases.  A pending investigation by the county Special Investigation Unit cannot delay processing of an IEVS match.  ACL 17-41 (June 6, 2017).

CalFresh treatment of IHSS wages

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions about treatment of IHSS wages for purposes of CalFresh.  CDSS has decided that IHSS wages are income for purposes of CalFresh.  CDSS states that IHSS wages are not excluded as money received for care and maintenance of the third party who is not a household member because it is considered earned income.  In addition, the Internal Revenue Service rules excluding IHSS as a difficulty of care payment do not apply to CalFresh.  (ACIN I-34-17, May 26, 2017.)

CalFresh Elderly Simplified Application Project

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions about the CalFresh Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP).  CDSS received a waiver to implement ESAP beginning October 1, 2017.

ESAP will do three things for elderly (age 60 or older) and/or disabled households:

  1. Waive the recertification interview requirement for elderly and/or disabled households with no earned income. Cases will not be denied at recertification without an attempt to schedule an interview. The county can require an interview if the information supplied is incomplete, questionable or contradictory. Households will be able to request a recertification interview.  An interview at initial certification will still be required.
  2. Use data matching to reduce client-provided verifications for elderly and/or disabled households with no earned income.
  3. Extend the certification period to 36 months for elderly and/or disabled households with no earned income.

ESAP households will use the SAR-7 form to report any changes at 12 months and 24 months.  If an ESAP household becomes ineligible for ESAP but remains eligible for CalFresh (for example by becoming employed) the county will convert the case to a regular CalFresh household.  (ACL 17-34, April 25, 2017.)

CalFresh Standard Medical Expense Deduction project

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions about implementation of CalFresh Standard Medical Expense deduction.  CDSS received a waiver to implement a Standard Medical Expense deduction beginning October 1, 2017.

Elderly and/or disabled households with medical expenses over $35 per month are entitled to a CalFresh income deduction for their medical expenses.  Currently, the deduction is dollar for dollar verified medical expenses over $35 per month.  Effective October 1, 2017, the medical expense deduction will be a standard $120 per month when the elderly and/or disabled household has over $35 per month of medical expenses.  If verified medical expenses are over $155 per month, the household will be able to deduct actual medical expenses.

Households can voluntarily report medical expense increases mid-period and the new deduction amount will be used for the remainder of the reporting period.  (ACL 17-35, April 25, 2017.)

CalFresh processing for domestic violence survivors

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions about AB 2057 regarding CalFresh processing for domestic violence survivors.  A domestic violence survivor who is a resident of a shelter and whose current CalFresh household includes the abuser can apply for CalFresh as a separate household and may be eligible for an additional allotment of CalFresh once per month.  Shelter residents and their children can be aided as members of the former household and as members of a new household once per month.

If the domestic violence survivor is the head of household, the survivor may ask to close the former CalFresh case that included the abuser.  If the request is made is writing or in the presence of an eligibility worker, the change can be made with adequate notice.  If the request is made verbally, the county must provide both adequate and timely (10 days) notice.

CDSS must provide shelters with information about CalFresh eligibility for domestic violence survivors.  CDSS provided a sample with its instructions.

Domestic survivors are now deferred from mandatory participation in CalFresh Employment and Training.  Counties must accept self-attestation of domestic violence unless there is strong evidence that the self-attestation is not credible.  (ACL 17-30, April 17, 2017.)

County Welfare Department Use of Consumer Credit Reports

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NOTE — The section of this ACL regarding the Work Number being used in conjunction with, but not in lieu of, existing income and eligibility sources, is superseded by ACL 21-23.

CDSS has instructions to counties about SB 1232 regarding county welfare department use of consumer credit reports.  An example of a consumer credit report is a report from “The Work Number.”  These requirements are mandatory effective January 1, 2017.

Counties cannot obtain consumer credit reports without written authorization of the applicant or recipient.  Consumer credit reports can be used in conjunction with existing fraud detection resources.  Consumer credit reports cannot be used as the only means of verification.  The SAWS 2 Plus, CF 285 and CF 37 have been modified to include authorization for counties to obtain consumer credit reports.

If a county takes adverse action based on information in a consumer credit report, the county must provide an informing notice in addition to the notice of action.  The informing notice must include the name, address and telephone number of the consumer credit reporting agency, a statement that the consumer credit reporting agency did not make the decision, a statement of the right to free disclosure from the consumer credit reporting agency within 60 days and a statement of the right to dispute the accuracy of the information with the consumer credit reporting agency.

Information from a consumer credit report must be made available to an applicant or recipient who requests it from the county welfare department or if an applicant requests a fair hearing to regarding the information in the consumer credit report.  Note that information received from “The Work Number” is not considered verified upon receipt for CalFresh.  ACL 16-118 (December 30, 2016).