Announcing that FNS has approved California’s waiver for e-notice, and implementation instructions. CalFresh sweeps in CalWORKs (which didn’t need a waiver), so the two main programs are now on board. Medi-Cal is seeking approval to join the party. Under this waiver, households can choose to get an electronic notification of official correspondence. The waiver will become effective once programmed by statewide automated welfare systems. (The notice tells you to go to a secure on-line account to view the actual notice.) CalFresh and CalWORKs clients may opt opt out and get traditional paper correspondence at any time. The instructions include what happens if the e-notice is not received/retrieved. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
CalFresh / SNAP
ACL 13-52: CalWORKs New Young Child 48-Month Time Limit And WTW Participation Exemption Clarifying Guidance (7/16/13)
Q & A’s clarifying the new “once in a lifetime” young child (under 2) exemption. Includes topics such as sharing between parents, going on-off aid, changing your mind on using the exemption, etc. [Download]
ACL 13-58: Waiving The Recertification Interview For Nonassistance CalFresh Households In Which All Adults Are Elderly Or Disabled Without Earned Income (7/8/13)
New policy to help seniors and people with disability benefits keep their CalFresh benefits, effective immediately. Recertification interviews for non-assistance (not linked to cash aid) “aged/disabled” households with no eaerned income, who are no longer required unless: (1) the household asks for one; (2) the CWD believes the recertification would be denied because of changes that would render them ineligible; or (3) the information supplied by the household or authorized representative is questionable, incomplete or contradictory. Includes the instructions about the Notices and new forms. FNS asked for a client survey to be part of the data collection on the waiver; it is included in the letter. [Download]
ACIN I-39-13: Homeless Youth (7/8/13)
Time to tackle barriers to CalFresh for homeless youth, here by passing on an FNS memo debunking many misconceptions on the subject. Covers such items as requiring photo ID, a permanent address, and that there is an eligibility age requirement. [Download]
ACIN I-38-13: Implementation Of Assembly Bill 402 97/3/13)
Instructions to implement AB 402, which allows Local Education Agencies (a school district or county office of education) and CWDs to share information regarding school lunch participants who may be eligible to receive CalFresh benefits. [Download]
ACL 13-57: CalFresh: New (And Revised) Forms For The Semi-Annual Reporting (SAR) System (7/5/13)
Trickle down from the change from Quarterly to semi-annual reporting — new forms! [Download]