This is a meaty one, folks!

• Counties must continue to exempt all clients who qualify for the young child exemptions (children 12-23 months or 2 under 6) through December 31, 2012; if exempt by the end of the year, they remain exempt until the client is reengaged sometime after January 1, 2013.  (More instructions to come on that!)
• The “no funding for support services” exemption ends 12/31/12, if there are no supportive services, it will be good cause, but the clock runinng.  Counties must notify affected clients of this before the end of the year (and hopefully get them services!).
• Counties can continue to redirect mental health/substance abuse funds to WTW.
•  There is a new once in a lifetime young child exemption for clients with children birth through 23  months, starting 1/1/13 – this is “off the clock” time; clients have discretion when to use this (cannot be automatically applied).  The “new baby” exemptions that don’t stop the clock remain in place.

[Download]

One of a series of “gotta read” letters implementing the budget bill’s changes to CalWORKs. This one covers the new hours, with some (important) teasers about the 24 month WTW clock (which will be explained in another letter in more detail. [Download]

Phew! The last of three letters on the collection (no longer!) of overpayments from minors.  What we get here are the final implementation guidelines, in six sections: Who is Covered; Notice; Corrective Actions (that CWDs and collection agencies will need to take to address prior collection attempts); Grant Adjustments and Amounts Collected in Error; Reimbursements; and New NOAs. And just to round it up, a nice little Q & A for those head scratching moments.   [Download]

Can’t quite explain why, but DSS posted today this ACL from August, telling counties to resume their CalLearn reporting.  [Download]

 

The prior NOA said for students to ask their worker for the list of excluded student financial aid.  Since that lists “is constantly changing” (?), the new notice just says to “ask your worker if you have questions.”  [Download]