CalWORKs

Referring CALWORKS overpayments that occurred during COVID-19 for IPV investigation

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CalWORKs overpayments established on or after August 1, 2021 for the period April, 2020 to or June 30, 2022, must be classified as administrative error.  However, counties are still required to refer any overpayment for investigation when they suspect fraud.  An overpayment that is initially classified as an AE under this policy must be reclassified if the county substantiates an Intentional Program Violation (IPV). An IPV can only be substantiated through a criminal court conviction, a signed Disqualification Consent Agreement, an Administrative Disqualification Hearing (ADH), or a signed ADH waiver.

Counties should consider how restrictions of in-person appointments, employment instability, income fluctuation, and delays in processing unemployment benefits have affected the ability for recipients to timely report changes when determining whether it is appropriate to refer a case for investigation as an intentional program violation.  (ACL 21-151, January 22, 2022.)

Eligibility for federal benefits for Humanitarian Parolees from Ukraine

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The California Department of Social Services has issued new guidance about eligibility for federal benefits for Humanitarian Parolees from Ukraine.  This guidance supersedes ACIN I-40-22 for federal benefits.

Ukranians and Non-Ukranian individuals paroled into the United States because of the war between February 24, 2022 and September 30, 2023 are eligible for CalWORKs, CalFresh, MediCal, SSI, and Refugee Cash Assistance and Office of Refugee Resettlement programs.

A spouse, or child of an Ukranian or Non-Ukranian individuals paroled into the United States because of the war between February 24, 2022 and September 30, 2023 is eligible for CalWORKs, CalFresh, MediCal, SSI, and Office of Refugee Resettlement programs.

A parent, legal guardian, or primary caregiver of an unaccompanied refugee minor or an unaccompanied child who is an Ukranian or Non-Ukranian individuals paroled into the United States because of the war between February 24, 2022 and September 30, 2023 is eligible for CalWORKs, CalFresh, MediCal, SSI, and Office of Refugee Resettlement programs.

These individual are eligible for benefits until the end of their parole term.

People who adjust their status from humanitarian parolee to Temporary Protected Status are eligible for Refugee Cash Assistance and Office of Refugee Resettlement programs until the end of their parole term after they have exhausted 12 months of Refugee Cash Assistance, whichever is first.  People who enter as Temporary Protected Status without humanitarian parole are ineligible for benefits.

For Refugee Cash Assistance, Ukranians and Non-Ukranian individuals paroled into the United States because of the war between February 24, 2022 and September 30, 2023, the state date for Refugee Cash Assistance is May 21, 2022 or the date of parole, whichever is later. Eligibility for Refugee Cash Assistance is extended to 12 months.

For CalWORKs, submitting the Form I-765 is sufficient verification that the client has met their obligation to apply for a Social Security Number.  If the applicant does not complete the application for a Social Security Number within 30 days of applying, the county will determine if the client has good cause for not having a Social Security Number.  Counties must help the client get verification.

For child support cooperation, counties must inform families of their right to request good cause for non-cooperation.  The circumstances of people from Ukraine may be good cause for non-cooperation.

For Ukranians and Non-Ukranian individuals paroled into the United States because of the war between February 24, 2022 and September 30, 2023, income and resources of a sponsor and a sponsor’s spouse who lives with the sponsor do not count in determining CalWORKs eligibility.

For Ukranians and Non-Ukranian individuals paroled into the United States because of the war between February 24, 2022 and September 30, 2023 can be eligible for Homeless Assistance and Housing Support Program.  Homeless Assistance and Housing Support Program can be used to supplement federal refugee resettlement funds.

For CalFresh, Ukranians and Non-Ukranian individuals paroled into the United States because of the war between February 24, 2022 and September 30, 2023 are eligible for CalFresh to the same extent as refugees.  They are eligible effective May 21, 2022.  Counties should reach out to people denied under prior policy to inform them that they now may be eligible.  For CalFresh, the household must verify that they have applied for a Social Security Number or show good cause for failure to provide a Social Security Number.

Ukranians and Non-Ukranian individuals paroled into the United States because of the war between February 24, 2022 and September 30, 2023 may be eligible for SSI.  Counties should issue Refugee Cash Assistance until SSI is granted.

Ukranian Humanitarian Parolees who entered the United States prior to February 24, 2022 are not eligible for Refugee Case Assistance or SSI.  (ACWDL, July 6, 2022, chart corrected by ACWDL, July 22, 2022.)

 

Duties regarding county Statement of Position to Limited English Proficient claimants

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County hearings representative for both California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) programs must enclose the GEN 1365 Notice of Language Services form with the Statement of Position.  For non-county administered DHCS programs, county hearings representatives must enclose the DHCS Non-Discrimination Policy and Language Access Process document.

CDSS is working on a new version of the GEN 1365 specifically for fair hearings that will be released soon.

When the applicant or recipient indicates their preference for communication in a language other than English, counties must provide forms in that language when the translation is provided by CDSS or DHCS in that language.  Counties must provide oral interpretation services of any document on request, including non-standardized forms and individually tailored documents.  If requested, the county or agency must provide an oral interpretation of the Statement of Position, including any exhibits attached to the Statement of Position, at least two days before the hearing.

When the county is aware of the need for assistance in a language that is not listed in the GEN 1365, the county or agency should attempt to inform the claimant of how to get a free oral interpretation of the Statement of Position in the claimant’s preferred language.  (ACL 22-56, July 8, 2022.)

EBT card CVV enablement and card replacement update

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The California Department of Social Services has updated its instructions regarding activating Card Verification Value (CVV) on Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards.  Prior instructions are in ACWDL, March 17, 2022, summarized here.  The EBT CVV functionality will be enabled in June, 2022.  When the CVV functionality is enabled, any card that does not have the CVV will be deactivated.  Cards issued by the EBT vendor before June, 2018 and by counties before October, 2019 do not have the CVV and will be deactivated.

Counties should connect cardholders who have issues, including not receiving their new card or otherwise needing a replacement card, with the EBT vendor FIS.  In addition, current county cardstock can be used because the CVV coding is added by the card printer. (ACWDL, June 6, 2022.)

Welfare to Work and college summer session, winter intersession and adult school

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SB 1232 (2020) changed education as a welfare-to-work activity for publicly funded institutions, including establishing an advanced standard supportive services payment for necessary books and supplies, requiring counties to accept education as a welfare-to-work activity, allowing 3 hours of study time for each academic unit, and mandating that full time post-secondary school enrollment meets minimum welfare-to-work requirements.  The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has provided clarification regarding application of welfare to work policies to summer session, winter intersession, adult schools and adult education.

For education activities that do not have academic units such as non-credit courses and adult schools, one instructional hour will be considered one academic unit, rounded up to the nearest hour.

Students in summer sessions that last the duration of the summer term as determined by the academic institution, are eligible for a $350 supportive services payment for full-time enrollment and $175 for part-time enrollment.  For a condensed summer session, all students are entitled to a $175 supportive services payment.  Students enrolled in two condensed summer sessions are entitled to two $175 supportive services payments.  Students who are enrolled full time meet their minimum welfare-to-work requirements regardless of the duration of the session.

All students enrolled in winter intersessions are entitled to a $175 supportive services payment.  Students who are enrolled in winter intersessions meet their minimum welfare-to-work requirements.

For adult schools, students enrolled for 13 weeks or less are considered enrolled in a quarter term, and students enrolled for more than 13 weeks are considered enrolled in a semester term.  This applies to open entry enrollment.  Students who enroll midsession have their quarter/semester determination made based on the number of weeks they have enrolled.

For adult schools, enrollment for 12 or more instructional hours per week are considered full time. Enrollment for less than 12 hours is part time.  Enrollment in an academic session that is less than 8 weeks is part-time for purposes of the standard supportive services payment.  The number of hours in a self-directed course is based on the number of expected hours for the course as documented in school materials.

For adult schools, study time is calculated based on the number in instructional hours.  Students get 3 hours of study time per instructional hour.  Students can request actual study time that is more than 3 hours per hour of instruction if the school verifies the need or based on the student’s individual need (such as a learning disability that requires more study time).

For students enrolled in multiple education institutions at the same time, counties must determine the number of units or instructional hours across all institutions.  Students who are enrolled for a total of 12 units or hours, or more, are full time, and students enrolled for less than 12 units or hours are part time.  Students enrolled in quarter-based and semester-based programs at the same time receive the semester standard supportive services payment amount.

Clients must provide proof of enrollment for each term.  Counties must provide a new or revised welfare-to-work plan at least 30 days prior to the start of the term.  If the county does not provide a new plan, the prior plan remains in effect.  Counties must issue the standard supportive services payment regardless of whether a welfare-to-work plan is signed on time.  The standard supportive services payment must be issued at least 10 days prior to the start of the term.

Overpayments can occur when the client is not eligible for the payment they received, such as not being enrolled.  Overpayment do not occur if the client’s enrollment status changes or they drop out.  Counties cannot ask for receipts to show how the supportive services payment was spent.  Counties cannot seek an overpayment is the actual cost of books and supplies is less than the standard supportive services payment.

For requests for supportive payments above the standard supportive services payment amount, the student must verify the expenses that exceed the amount of the standard supportive service payment.  The county shall issue the amount that exceeds the standard supportive services amount within 20 days of the request and providing verification of expenses.  (ACL 22-31, April 27, 2022.)

Changes to Integrated Earnings Clearance/Fraud Detection match frequency change

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Integrated Earnings Clearance/Fraud Detection (IFD) is quarterly match that gives various income data to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to compare CalFresh and CalWorks records submitted by the counties. These records show quarterly wage data maintained by the Employment Development Department (EDD) and Social Security Administration (SSA).

A workgroup was formed in 2016 to provide technical assistance, updates on policy changes, and calculations of best practices to ensure precise determination for benefits in the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) and CalFresh programs.

The workgroup identified some previous issues with the frequency and outdated data provided by the IFD match. Finding that data was nine months old by the time it reached the association. Income data will now come in faster and will be no more than four to six months old to prevent outdated information from showing up two quarters later. The processing timeframes for the IFD match remain unchanged. Match follow-up must be finalized within 45 days of transmission of the data to the County Welfare Departments.  (ACIN I-30-22, April 21, 2022.)