The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued clarifications regarding recent changes to the CalWORKs Homeless Assistance program.

Participants who become homeless because of a state or federally declared disaster qualify for good cause for failure to provide proof of housing search.  In addition, counties can waive the initial three-day limit on temporary homeless assistance and instead issue temporary homeless assistance in increments of more than one week for persons who become homeless because of a state or federally declared natural disaster.  There is no limit on the number of times in a year a family can receive homeless assistance because of a state or federally declared natural disaster, and receiving benefits on this basis does not count toward once every 12-month limit on Homeless Assistance.  Counties must indentify and inform CalWORKs in a state or federally declared disaster area of their eligibility for Homeless Assistance.

Homeless CalWORKs families who are receiving Family Reunification services are eligible to receive temporary homeless assistance if the county determines that these benefits will assist with reunification, despite the fact that these cases do not receive a cash grant.

CDSS has revised the CW 42 Homeless Statement of Facts to include information about expanded Homeless Assistance for persons fleeing domestic violence.  CDSS has also issued new and revised notice of action messages.  (ACL 19-77, July 31, 2019.)

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance regarding changes to CalWORKs income disregards and income reporting threshold (IRT) in SB 80.  Effective June 1, 2020 or when CDSS notifies the legislature that the computer systems have been programmed, whichever is later, the disregard for earned income or disability based income will increase from $225 to $500 and 50 percent of the remaining earned income.  Effective June 1, 2021 or one year from the date the first increase is automated, the earned income disregard will increase to $550. Effective June 1, 2022 or two years from the date the first increase is automated, the earned income disregard will increase to $600.

Effectvie June 1, 2020 or when CDSS informs the legislature that programming is complete, whichever is later, grants will be reevaluated by the county using the new income disregard amount.

There are currently three different CalWORKs income reporting threshold amounts.  Effective June 1, 2020, or when automation is complete, whichever is later, there will only be two income reporting threshold amounts – 55 percent of the federal poverty level for a family of three plus the amount of income last used to calculate the grant, and 130 percent of the federal poverty level, or the level at which a family becomes ineligible for CalFresh.  This change will allow families to earn more income without losing eligibility.

When the family receives income over the IRT and reports it to the county, the county must determine whether the reported income is reasonably anticipated to continue.  If income over the IRT is reasonable anticipated to continue but not at a level that will result in ineligibility, the county must recalculate the grant.

CDSS issued modified notices to reflect the new income disregard and IRT amounts.  (ACL 19-76, August 2, 2019.)

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued information regarding the increase in CalWORKs assets and vehicle value limits in SB 80.  Effective June 1, 2020 or when CDSS notifies the legislature that the computer systems have been programmed, whichever is later, the maximum resource limit for CalWORKs assistance units will increase to $10,000.  The maximum resource limit will increase to $15,000 for assistance units with a member who is 60 years of age or older, or disabled.  Beginning on January 1, 2021, or when CDSS notifies the legislature that the computer systems have been programmed, whichever is later, the resource thresholds will increase by an amount equal to the increase in the California Necessities Index for the most recent fiscal year.

Effective June 1, 2020, or when CDSS notifies the legislature that the computer systems have been programmed, whichever is later the maximum equity value of a car will increase to $25,000 for all applicants and recipients.  Beginning on January 1, 2021, or when CDSS notifies the legislature that the computer systems have been programmed, whichever is later, the maximum equity threshold for cars will increase by an amount equal to the increase in the United States Transportation Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.  Current exemptions for cars will remain in place.

The rules regarding restricted accounts will not change.  (ACL 19-67, July 26, 2019.)

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions implementing SB 1446 (2018).  Effective July 1, 2019, recipients meeting federal participation requirements cannot be sanctioned and are eligible for supportive services.  This applies to recipients who are in sanction status or noncooperation status.

For recipients who are in sanction status and who are meeting federal participation requirements, the sanction is deemed cured and aid is restored the first of the following month.

Recipients who are meeting federal participation requirements at any stage of the noncompliance process shall be found to be compliant with welfare-to-work and the county must stop the noncompliance process.  (ACL 19-68, August 5, 2019.)