Electronic theft occurs when a recipient (or authorized representative) has not lost physical possession of their EBT card and money is stolen from their EBT account electronically (skimming). The CDSS protocol includes a reporting form, timelines for county review, instructions regarding when a referral for investigation is made, and notice of action language. The programs covered by the protocol are: CalWORKs and all Welfare to Work supportive services, Refugee Cash Assistance, CAPI and county administered GA/GR) in counties that distribute GA/GR using EBT. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
CalFresh / SNAP
ACIN I-50-13: Traditional And Modified Categorical Eligibility (8/23/13)
An overview of the different types of CalFresh categorical eligibility and the rules that apply. [Download]
ACIN I-41-13: FFY 2014, Standard Utility Allowance (SUA), Limited Utility Allowance (LUA), And Telephone Utility Allowance (TUA) –Effective October 1, 2013 (7/31/13)
Notice that the SUA and LUA went up, and the TUA stays at $20. [Download]
ACL 13-18: Timely Submission Of Recertification Applications (7/30/13)
Ooops. DSS became aware that the regs were, shall we say, in need of modification. Correct policy is set out in this letter. Most households are certified for longer than two months, and for these folks, an application for recertification is considered timely when submitted by the 15th day of the last month of the certification period. In the rare circumstance that a household is given a one or two month certification period, an application for recertification is considered timely when it is submitted within 15 days of receipt of the Notice of Expiration of Certification, which must be given along with the approval for CalFresh benefits. [Download]
ACIN I-35-13: Best Practices For Increasing Eligible Youth Participation In The CalFresh Program (7/24/13)
In yet another effort to boost former foster youth and non-minor dependent participation in CalFresh, DSS has issued a best practices review, to supplement ACL 09-25 and ACIN I-22-12. [Download]
ACL 13-61: CalFresh Waiver To Send E-Notifications And View Notices Electronically (7/24/13)
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]