CalWORKs

CalWORKs Family Stabilization for baby formula

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In light of the shortage and increase in price of baby formula, the California Department of Social Services encourages counties to use the CalWORKs Family Stabilization program to help CalWORKs Welfare-To-Work (WTW) participants to obtain or cover costs related to baby formula.

CalWORKs WTW clients are eligible to participate in Family Stabilization when county determines that the family is experiencing an identified situation and/or crisis that is destabilizing the family. This includes families that are struggling to feed their children because they cannot obtain formula or are having difficulty affording baby formula.

CalWORKs recipients who are exempt from WTW are also eligible to participate in Family Stabilization if the county determines that Family Stabilization will enable future WTW participation.  (ACWDL, June 3, 2022, and errata ACWDL, August 2, 2022.)

CalWORKs Welfare-to-Work pregnancy exemption

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance regarding Senate Bill 65 (Chapter 449, Statutes of 2021) which allows all pregnant persons to be exempt from WTW. Senate Bill 65 initially took effect on the 1st of January 2022 but CDSS delayed notice of this change because CalWORKs recipients have been exempt from WTW because of COVID-19.  

Pregnant recipients are no longer required to provide proof of medical impairment to be exempt from participation in WTW activities. Pregnant recipients are any pregnant person in any trimester of their pregnancy, verified through a sworn written statement or verbal attestation. Following a request for a WTW exemption based on pregnancy, recipients are required to submit medical verification of their pregnancy to the county within 30 working days. 

The pregnancy exemption from WTW does not stop the CalWORKs time on caid clock.  Eligible pregnant recipients may be able to get a time limit exemption by requesting a different WTW exemption such as an exemption for disability. 

If a pregnant recipient chooses to participate as an exempt volunteer, they must agree to a WTW plan including an activity of their choice to receive WTW services that consist of child care, diaper costs, transportation, ancillary expenses, and to the extent of their availability, personal counseling and related supportive services. Not complying with the WTW plan returns the participant to the pregnancy exemption.  (ACL 22-55, July 8, 2022.)

CalWORKs Maximun Aid Payment increase

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Effective October 1, 2022, Senate Bill (SB) 187 grants an eleven percent increase to the CalWORKs Maximum Aid Payment (MAP).  This MAP increase remains effective unless there are insufficient funds, which will be determined before October 1 each year.

SB 187 grants an additional ten percent increase to the CalWORKs MAP that is effective until September 30, 2024.

Recipients must be informed of the MAP increase by October 1st. The country welfare department computer systems must have the MAP increase programmed into their system by October 1st, and if not, they must manually issue the benefits increase.

Under SB 380, children who receive child support in an amount more than the CalWORKs grant can opt-out of the CalWORKs case.  For some of these cases, the increase in the MAP will increase the CalWORKs payment to more than the child support paid.  In those cases, the family can ask to add the child to the CalWORKs case mid-period.  If the family does not ask for that mid-period change, the child will be added to the case at their following semi-annual report or annual recertification.

These grant increase are mandatory mid-period county actions.  For CalFresh, the CalWORKs increase is considered Verified Upon Receipt, meaning that it will immediately change the CalFresh allotment.  (ACL 22-60, July 20, 2022.)

End of requiring CalWORKs overpayments to be classified as administrative error

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All CalWORKs overpayments established on or after August 1, 2021 for the period April, 2020 to either the end of the COVID-19 state of emergency or June 30, 2022, whichever is earlier, must be classified as administrative error.  Because the COVID-19 state of emergency remained in effect, the requirement to establish all CalWORKs overpayments as administrative error ended on June 30, 2022.  (ACWDL, June 27, 2022.)

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.)