Revisions to CAPI forms SOC 804 and SOC 813

This ACIN has been superceeded by ACIN I-61-20, summarized here.

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued a revised versions of the SOC 804 and SOC 813 for the CAPI program.

The SOC 804 is the annual redetermination form.  Redetermination is done every 12 months and any time that the county becomes aware of a changes in the recipient’s circumstances.  Changes to the form include requiring an answer for the claimant’s preferred language, adding the question “Are you a victim of abuse” and adding questions to facilitate referrals for In Home Supportive Services.

The SOC 813 is the form for a determination of a request for the indigence exception to sponsor deeming.  In general, the income of a sponsor is deemed to the claimant for 10 years, regardless of whether the sponsor is actually providing support.  In some situations, a CAPI applicant or recipient who is not being supported by their sponsor and who therefore is unable to obtain both food and shelter, can have sponsor deeming suspended for 12 months.

The new Living Arrangements section of the form asks about whether the claimant receives food and shelter.  The indigence exception can apply if the claimant is unable to obtain both food and shelter.  In describing this section of the form, CDSS states as a matter of policy that someone who receives CalFresh benefits can obtain food and therefore is ineligible for the indigence exception.  The form also states that Section 8 housing assistance and other government housing subsidies are to be included in calculating cash and in kind contributions from others in determining eligibility for the indigence exception to sponsor deeming.  (ACIN I-34-19, May 16, 2019.)

CAPI end of social security number requirement for PRUCOL

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued a new SOC 814 Statement of Facts that includes ending the requirement for persons who are permanent residence under color of law (PRUCOL) to provide a Social Security Number as a condition of CAPI eligibility.  The change to the SOC 814 reflects CDSS’s policy change that persons who are PRUCOL are no longer required to have a Social Security Number as a condition of eligibility for CAPI.  All other CAPI applicants must have a Social Security Number.

CDSS made several other changes to the SOC 814 including adding an opt-in box to communicate by text messaging, changes to the sexual orientation and gender identity information questions and changing the language preference question to require an answer.

The revised SOC 814 also now includes the question “Are you a victim of abuse?”  CDSS directs counties to always refer the case to Adult Protective Services if the answer is yes, and that a yes answer should notify the county that the abuse exception to sponsor deeming might apply.  (ACIN I-35-19, May 16, 2019.)

Reasonable accommodations in CDSS and DHCS programs

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) have issued a joint letter reminding counties of their obligation to ensure equal access to persons with disabilities to state and federal funded programs.  This includes providing reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities and effective communication through auxiliary aids and services.  These obligations apply to all county administered programs, services and activities funded by, or with federal pass-through funds from CDSS and/or DHCS.  These obligations also apply to county contractors and vendors that provide program benefits or services.

Counties must adopt written policies detailing how they will comply with these requirements.  Counties must have a procedure for complaints regarding disability discrimination, including failure to provide a reasonable accommodation.  Counties must inform clients of the county complaint procedure and they may file discrimination complaints with the appropriate state or federal agency.

Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits counties from excluding from participation, denying benefits or services to, or discriminating against any qualified person with a disability.  A qualified person with a disability is a person with a disability who, with or without accommodation, meets the essential eligibility requirements for the program provided by the public entity.  Disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life functions, a record of such an impairment or being regarded as having such an impairment.  California law defines disability more broadly by removing the word “substantially” from the definition of disability, and counties are required to follow California law.  The ADA also guarantees equal access to individuals who have a relationship or association with a disabled person.

The ADA does not require public entities to allow a person with a disability to participate if that person poses a direct threat to health or safety of others.  However, the county must determine whether a person is a direct threat only evaluating whether reasonable accommodations can mitigate or eliminate the risk.  The determination of whether a person poses a direct threat must be made based on objective factual evidence and an individualized assessment.

The ADA requires counties to make reasonable accommodations by modifying their policies, practices, or procedures when necessary to provide equal access to persons with disabilities.   This includes waiving a program rule or policy to help a person with a disability, or a change in the way a county carries out a policy or practice affecting a person with a disability.

Counties must notify all clients of the right to request reasonable accommodations and the protection against discrimination on the basis of disability.

When the county has actual knowledge of a disability or when the need for an accommodation is obvious, county staff must offer to assist with appropriate disability specific accommodations.  Counties are encouraged to train staff to identify disabilities and offer to assist identifying accommodations.

When an individual asks for a change in county policies, practices, or procedures because a disability, this request should be treated as a reasonable accommodation request.  While counties can make a reasonable accommodation request form available, counties cannot require individual to use a specific form for a reasonable accommodation request.   Reasonable accommodation requests can be made in person, by telephone or in writing by the individual or someone acting on the individual’s behalf.  It is not necessary that a person be an authorized representative to request a reasonable accommodation.  There is no limit to the number of accommodation requests a person can make, and each request must be individually evaluated.  Counties cannot impose an arbitrary limit on the duration of a reasonable accommodation.

County staff must document all reasonable accommodation requests and subsequent county actions in the individual’s case file.

If an accommodation is not immediately agreed upon, or if there is a disagreement about the appropriateness of a requested accommodation, county staff must engage in an interactive process with the individual requesting the accommodation or a person acting on their behalf.

A county can deny a reasonable accommodation request only when the accommodation would  fundamentally alter the nature of the program, service or activity, or would impose an undue financial or administrative burden taking into account all resources available to the program, service or activity.  The determination that an accommodation request would be a fundamental alternation or an undue burden must be made by the county welfare department director or designee and must be accompanied by a written statement of the reason for the decision.  If such a decision is made, the county must take alternative action to ensure that the person with a disability can access relevant benefits or services while avoiding a fundamental alteration or undue burden.

Counties cannot impose eligibility criteria that exclude or tend to screen out individuals with disabilities unless such criteria are shown to be necessary for the operation of the program.  Counties must provide programs, activities and services in the most integrated manner possible.  Counties cannot change individuals with disabilities for the cost of reasonable accommodations.

Counties must ensure effective communication with individuals who have vision, hearing or speech disabilities.   Communication with these individuals must be equally effective as communication with people who do not have these disabilities.  This requirement extends to companions of applicants or recipients.  For persons who are blind, have vision loss, or are deaf-blind, this requirement includes providing individuals with disabilities with auxiliary aids and services when necessary to communicate effectively. This can include providing written communication in large print, braille, accessible electronic format for use with a screen reader or via audio recording or a qualified reader.  For persons who are deaf, have hearing loss, or are deaf-blind, this requirement also includes providing a note taker, qualified sign language, oral, cued-speech or tactile interpreter, real-time captioning, telecommunication devices, or written materials.  For persons who have speech disabilities, this requirement includes providing a qualified transliterator.  Counties cannot require persons with communication disabilities to provide their own interpreter.  Counties may allow another adult accompanying an individual with a disability to interpret only in emergency situations or when requested by the persons with a disability.  Counties cannot rely on minors to interpret except in emergency situations when no other interpreter is available.

If counties choose to use Video Remote Interpreting, the service must meet specific technical performance standards.

Counties must consider how the individual normally communicates and must give primary consideration to a request for a particular auxiliary aid or service.

Counties must modify their policies, practices and procedures to allow individual with disabilities to use service animals on their premises.  Counties may not require certification or other proof that an animal has been trained or licensed as a service animal.  When it is not obvious what service an animal performs, county staff may only ask if the animal is required because of a disability and what work or tasks the animal is trained to perform.  (ACL 19-45, May 16, 2019.)

Increase in CAPI payment standard

The payment standard for the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) program is increasing by $10 per month for an individual and $20 per month for a couple effective June 1, 2019.  This increase is because of the end of the SSI cash-out.  CAPI recipients received less than SSI/SSP recipients because they were eligible for CalFresh but SSI/SSP recipients were not and received an extra $10 per month for an individual and $20 per month for a couple.  Because SSI/SSP recipients will be eligible for CalFresh instead of receiving the extra cash benefit beginning June 1, the CAPI payment standard is increasing to match the SSI/SSP payment standard.

Counties and CAPI consortia must send each of their CAPI recipients a notice of action reflecting this grant increase.  (ACIN I-23-19, April 8, 2019.)

CAPI state interim assistance reimbursement authorization

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions regarding recovery of state interim assistance to Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) applicants while their applications are pending or during suspense periods prior to reinstatement of CAPI benefits.  The state interim assistance program allows counties to recover General Assistance or General Relief, and other types of cash or in-kind assistance paid to individuals while their CAPI application is pending from a retroactive CAPI award.  Counties may not recover state interim assistance reimbursement for payments or in-kind benefits financed wholly or partially with federal funds.  In addition to General Assistance or General Relief, state interim assistance can include food, clothing, shelter, personal and hygiene supplies or transportation passes.

To recover state interim assistance, the applicant must sign the SOC 455 form and CAPI benefits are granted.  The SOC 455 form is valid for only one year.  The county must also send a written notice of action NA 693 when recovering state interim assistance.

State interim assistance is separate from interim assistance recovery from SSI benefits, which is done through the Social Security Administration and requires signing of the SSP 14 form.  (ACIN I-24-19, April 8, 2019.)

Disability and domestic violence questions computer system flags

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued directions regarding AB 2030.  AB 2030 requires CDSS to include in any amendments or revisions to standard application or semi-annual reporting forms after January 1, 2019 that allow applicants or recipients to disclose disabilities, the need for reasonable accommodations because of a disability and any experiences of domestic violence. 

CDSS states that initial application forms and semiannual report will capture the need for reasonable accommodations the next time they are revised.

The current welfare computer system vary in how they flag reasonable accommodations.  CalWIN has an icon for disability accommodations that is displayed in the upper-right side of the “Display Individual Demographics Summary” window.  CalACES North (formerly known as C-IV) can flag cases with an indicator type that county users can select (special accommodations, special circumstances etc.)  CalACES South (formerly known as LRS) allows any county user with access to falg a case to alert the first point of contact.  These flags are identified by a banner at the top of every page.  (ACL 19-13, February 21, 2019.)