New informing and approval notices. MPP 63-504.39 requires that the counties inform all households of new CalFresh benefits and deductions. The state says that the county may use the new mass change notice or may notify households via the news media or posting in offices and other sites ‘frequented by households.’ [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
CalFresh / SNAP
ACIN I-07-13: New EBT Posters For CalFresh Authorized Retailers And Farmers’ Markets (2/20/13)
New colorful signage “that promotes healthy eating and can be prominently displayed by retailers.” Farmer’s markets will get them automatically, retailers have to request them or download a printable version. Comes in Spanish. [Download]
ACIN I-04-13: SB 35, And The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) (2/12/13)
SB 35 codified portions of the NVRA, which places additional requirements on voter registration agencies. The Secretary of State is in the process of revising the California NVRA Manual, specifically Chapter 4, for public assistance to reflect the new requirements, and updating training materials. This ACIN reviews the complete process that all county welfare departments must do whenever a person applies for services, or renews or recertifies eligiblity, and when the CWD is notified of a client’s change of address. These instructions also go over the requirements as applied to on-line processes, and language access. [Download]
ACL 12-49E: Corrections To ACL 12-49: Implementation Of The Annual Reporting/Child Only (AR/CO) System In The CalWORKs And CalFresh Programs (2/12/13)
Corrections to make clear that the reporting threshold is the specified dollar amount “or more.” In case anyone thought the reporting was only for the exact dollar amount… [Download]
ACL 13-08: CalFresh Semi-Annual Reporting Waivers (1/31/13)
A review of the FNS waivers sought for Semi-Annual Reporting, and the results. Approved: the shortening of certification periods for CalFresh households at any time to align with the other programs, as long as notice is given. The rest were either denied, and one is still pending. [Download]
ACL 12-74: Implementation Of Policy Changes Regarding CalFresh Expedited Service (12/21/12)
FNS realized that the California Expedited regulations and forms, which ask that a client “apply” for ES, do not comply with the requirement that ALL applicants for SNAP benefits must be screened for Expedited services. (AB 1359 also requires this as of 1/1/13.) FNS also stated that California must ensure that CalFresh benefits issued under ES for applications submitted on or before the 15th, do not extend past the month of application (when postponed verifications are not completed). This ACL goes over the new rules until the regs are changed. [Download]