Instructions on the treatment of households with three or more members who are categorically eligible (CE) to CalFresh, but whose net income would not entitle them to receive any benefits. It is possible for the household to be gross income eligible, as a result of CE, but actually not entitled to receive benefits due to their level of net income. Reviews the initial month and subsequent month rules for 3+ HH’s as well as the rules for the smaller households. [Download]
Here are the new tables regarding deductions and allotments, for the period of October 1, 2014 through September 30, 2015. Homeless households lose out again, being the only category not to get an increase. [Download]
DSS is providing an option to county welfare directors that may provide workload relief by lowering the precision and the sample size for the County Work Participation Rate. [Download]
FNS has granted California a statewide waiver of the ABAWD requirements. Counties wishing to opt out must inform DSS by 9/1/14. [Download]
Comprehensive information regarding CalFresh Categorical Eligibility (“MCE”). Culminating several other “Cat El” changes, with the passage of SB 855 effective July 1, 2014, all households with gross income at or below 200 percent of the FPL, must be conferred MCE status if the file documents their receipt of the TANF service (PUB 275). All counties must immediately implement a 200 percent FPL gross income level for MCE for all Non-Assistance (NACF) households. Until automation is programmed, this must be done manually.
For any case pending as of July 1, 2014, if automation indicates ineligibility for a non-aged/disabled CalFresh applicant household because of the 130 percent FPL gross income limit, the county must pull the case and manually verify whether eligibility under MCE status exists because of gross income at or under 200 percent FPL. Additionally, counties must check any applications that were denied for exceeding gross income since July 1, 2014, as well as applications denied in June where the 30 day processing would have gone into July. Corrective action must be taken on any cases that would have been eligible under the MCE 200 percent FPL gross income test. [Download]
In an effort to reduce the backlog of pending Medi-Cal applications, DHCS has issued this guidance to the counties on using MAGI and Express Lane Enrollment (ELE) aid codes as a manual workaround.
These aid codes are to be used when at least one member of the household has an active Medi-Cal or CalFresh aid code in MEDS and SAWS, and only when:
Counties cannot use this process to manually grant Medi-Cal eligibility for non-MAGI cases, limited/restricted scope cases, cases where no household member is on an active Medi-Cal/CalFresh aid code in MEDS/SAWS, or when the only eligible case members are TLICP children.
The state will send NOAs to beneficiaries granted eligibility through ELE aid codes based on this process. Counties will send NOAs to those granted eligibility under MAGI aid codes. All of these beneficiaries will receive intake packets.