During the weekend of June 23 and 24, 2018, the vender for CalWORKs and CalFresh EBT changed to Fidelity Information Systems (FIS).  As a result of this change, the network of surcharge-free ATMs also changed.  The new network will be effective starting June 25, 2018.

The new surcharge-free ATM includes every Bank of America ATM in California, ATMs at Citibank, Comerica Bank, Rabobank, U.S. Bank and several smaller financial institutions.  CDSS states the new network will be about 7,400 surcharge-free ATM, which is an increase of about 2,200 surcharge-free ATMs.

Effective June 25, 2018, MoneyPass ATMs will no longer be part of the surcharge-free ATM network.  However, CDSS will hold clients harmless from surcharges at MoneyPass ATMs until September 30, 2018.  CDSS will be sending a mailer to all clients explaining the changes to the surcharge-free ATM network.  (ACIN I-39-18, June 22, 2018.)

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions regarding the end of the Statewide Fingerprint Imaging System as a requirement for CalWORKs benefits.  Effective July 1, 2018, finger print imaging will no longer be required as a condition of receiving CalWORKs benefits and counties must stop using SFIS.

Effective July 1, 2018, counties are required to verify the identity of all adult applicants in person.  With limited exceptions, this will mean that applicants must present a form of photo identification in-person to the county to complete their CalWORKs application.  This requirement will apply to application interviews completed by telephone or other electronic means.

Applicants who received CalWORKs, CalFresh or Medi-Cal prior to July 1, 2018 and who have a photo identification in their case record will not be required to resubmit photo identification in person.  If evidence of identity is conflicting, inconsistent or incomplete, counties will require in-person identity verification.

If the applicant qualifies for Immediate Need and the county must verify identity within 15 working days of the Immediate Need request.

If the applicant does not have acceptable photo identification, the applicant’s sworn statement will be considered sufficient.  However, the applicant must present photo identification in-person within 15 days for benefits to continue.  Aid must continue if the applicant presents evidence of good-faith efforts to obtain a photo identification.  When the applicant presents evidence of good faith efforts to obtain a photo identification but a third party imposes a fee to obtain the evidence, the county must pay the fee on behalf of the applicant or recipient.

Examples of acceptable photo identification are driver’s license, photo identification from a government agency or school, passport or immigration document with photo.

Counties can still choose to provide the CalWORKs application interview by telephone or other electronic means.  (ACL 18-68, June 7, 2018.)

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions implementing AB 818 regarding extension of the 24-month Welfare-to-Work time clock.

The 24-month time clock allows flexibility in wefare-to-work activities by allowing activities that are not federally approved for up to 24-months.  Welfare and Institutions Code Section 11322.87 includes circumstances that can extend the 24-month clock.

In addition to the existing extension categories, a recipient making satisfactory progress toward a high school diploma or equivalent with a known graduation, transfer or expected completion date may now be granted an extension of the 24-month Welfare-to-Work time clock.

In addition, participants who have completed a high school diploma or equivalent during their time on the 24-month clock may be granted an extension of the 24-month clock to engage in an education program or other activities which would meaningfully increase the likelihood of employment.  (ACL 18-41, April 2, 2018.)

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions implementing AB 1604 requiring counties to offer completing a high school diploma or the equivalent as a welfare-to-work plan.

For clients who do have a high school diploma counties must develop a welfare-to-work plan designed to earn a high school diploma or equivalent as the primary activity before making any other assignment.  If the client does not want to participate in education at that time, the client may continue in other welfare-to-work activities.  The client must make this choice in writing.  These requirements do not apply to clients participating in, required to participate in or exempt from Cal-Learn.

A plan to complete a high school diploma equivalent must meet weekly welfare-to-work participation requirements.  Hours in education may include homework time.  Supervised homework time and up to one hour of unsupervised homework time for each hour of class time may be included.  Distance or electronic learning is an option to obtain a high school diploma or equivalent.  Assigned hours can also include English as a Second Language classes and accommodations or other resources necessary for the client to earn a high school diploma or equivalent.

If the client requires additional hours to meet requirements or if the appraisal determines that additional activities may be beneficial, the client must be referred to Assessment to complete their plan.  The client cannot be required to attend Assessment prior to beginning their course of study unless a course of study is not immediately available.  Other assigned activities cannot reduce the hours assigned to the course of study without the client’s written consent.  Clients age 19 or younger are not required to participate in additional activities.  (ACL 18-40, April 2, 2018.)

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions implementing AB 557 regarding domestic abuse protocols for CalWORKs applicants and recipients.

Effective January 1, 2018, counties must inform all CalWORKs applicants and recipients of the availability of domestic violence services both verbally and in writing at application, during development of a welfare-to-work plan, and at annual redetermination.  Domestic violence information must be provided in a safe and private space to allow confidential disclosure of domestic violence.  Counties must also have a current list of domestic violence resources and provide materials to clients.

Effective July 1, 2018, domestic violence is added as a circumstances constituting good cause for not complying with immunization or school attendance requirements.  If the abuse occurred in the past, the issue causing the non-cooperation or inability to comply must be related to the current situation.  This good cause determination is separate from domestic abuse waiver determinations for welfare-to-work requirements.

Effective July 1, 2018, CalWORKs applicants who provide a sworn statement of past or present abuse and are fleeing the abuser are eligible for termorary homeless assistance regardless of any income or assets attributed to the abuser.  (ACL 18-34, March 29, 2018.)

CDSS has issued instructions implementing AB 480 regarding diapers as a welfare-to-work (WTW) supportive service.  Starting April 1, 2018, counties must provide $30 per month to welfare-to-work participants to assist with diaper costs for each child under 36 months of age.

To qualify, WTW participants must have a child who is under 36 months of age at the beginning of the month and is either receiving CalWORKs or is ineligible for aid but is under the care and control of the WTW participant.

A participant in the WTW program is defined as a CalWORKs client who is not sanctioned or removed from aid, exempt from WTW or excused from participation because of participation by another adult.  Persons who are sanctioned or removed from aid who are participating as part of a cure plan are eligible for the diaper benefit.  Exempt or excused persons who are voluntarily participating are eligible for the diaper benefit.  Teens in the Cal-Learn program are eligible for the diaper benefit.  Clients in noncompliance who are not yet sanctioned and clients with good cause for non-participation are eligible for the diaper benefit.

Designation as participating is not based on assignment to WTW activities, scheduled hours or verified actual hours.  A WTW plan is not required to be eligible for the diaper benefit.  Persons are considered participating regardless of their number of participation hours, even if the participation hours are zero.

Counties must provide diaper payments to all qualifying WTW participants who have time remaining on their 48 month clock.  Diaper payments can also be provided to persons who have reached their 48 month time limit as a job retention service or a post-aid service depending on the County Plan.

The diaper benefit is available to both single and two parent assistance units.  Child only assistance units where the parent is ineligible for CalWORKs are ineligible for the diaper benefit.

Diapers are considered a necessary supportive service and participants will have good cause for not participating in WTW if payment is not provided in advance of the assigned activity.

The benefit will be a $30 payment per month for each qualifying child in the home.  The benefit is not prorated.  Any number of days in the month that the parent qualifies for the diaper benefits will result in the full $30 payment for each child.

Payments will be issued automatically to eligible clients unless the clients opts out of the payments.  Payments will be distributed on the household’s EBT card.

Counties must inform all new and current WTW participants of the diaper supportive service and payments must begin immediately without action or communication from eligible participants.  The diaper benefit must be issued in advance of any assigned WTW activity.

(ACL 18-38, March 28, 2018.)