Benefits and same-sex marriages and domestic partnerships

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Stephen Goldberg

The California Department of Social Services has issued policies about how same-sex marriages and domestic partnerships are treated for purposes of various programs. For CalWORKs, same-sex spouses and registered domestic partners who have adopted the children are treated as members of the assistance unit who are subject to welfare-to-work requirements. These households are considered two parent households for purposes of welfare-to-work requirements. Same-sex spouses and registered domestic partners who have not adopted the children are considered step-parents, meaning they can be considered part of the assistance unit and participate in welfare-to-work but are not required to do so.

For purposes of eligibility for child care, same-sex spouses and registered domestic partners who have adopted the children are treated as members of the assistance unit, meaning the same-sex spouse or registered domestic partner can be considered an able and available parents who can provide child care. Same-sex spouses and registered domestic partners who have not adopted the children are considered optional step-parents and are not considered for purposes of eligibility for child care.

For purposes of CalFresh, any group of persons who customarily purchase and prepare meals together are considered a household. Same-sex spouses are considered spouses and must be included in the CalFresh household. However, registered domestic partners are not considered spouses and are not automatically included in the household. Registered domestic partners who are part of the CalWORKs assistance unit or customarily purchase and prepare meals with the family must be included in the CalFresh household.

Refugee Cash Assistance has the same requirements as CalWORKs. Registered domestic partners have the same status as married couples for purposes of eligibility for Refugee Cash Assistance. ACL 16-13 (March 28, 2016).

Sanctioned adults are eligible for stage 1 child care

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Stephen Goldberg

Following substantial advocacy by the Child Care Law Center, CDSS has clarified that adults in CalWORKs sanction status can be eligible for Stage 1 child care. Under MPP Section 42-721.41, sanctioned adults are eligible for child care when the client is in the process of curing a sanction or during the months in sanction the client is working or participating in a county-approved program activity, which are activities in the assigned as part of the a welfare-to-work plan or activities necessary to accept or retain employment. Sanctioned adults in a cure plan remain in Stage 1 child care. Sanctioned adults performing an approvable activity should be assessed for transfer to Stage 2 child care.

CDSS also reiterated that clients in sanction status can request to cure the sanction by entering into a plan to cure the sanction and performing the activity stated on the cure plan up to a maximum of 30 days, whichever is shorter.

ACL 15-53

ACIN I-47-14: Revised Family Fee Schedule (8/13/14)

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Jodie Berger

This Notice issues the revised family fee schedule for subsidized child care, effective July 1, 2014. The revised fees will not exceed 10 percent of the family’s monthly income. [Download]

ACIN I-46-14: Title XX Social Services Block Grant Pre-Expenditure Report (8/15/14)

Posted on August 14, 2014 by Jodie Berger

This report summarizes Title XX expenditures, program responsibilities, and the population served. The programs covered are Child Welfare Services, Foster Care, Community Care Licensing, Deaf Access, CalWORKs Child Care, CDE Child Care Programs, and the DDS Regional Center Program. [Download]

ACIN I-49-13: Title XX Social Services Block Grant Pre-Expenditure Report (8/22/13)

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Jodie Berger

Just sends on the report sent to HHS that summarizes Title XX expenditures, program responsibilities, and the population served. [Download]

ACL 12-73: Assembly Bill 1707, Child Abuse Central Index (12/20/12)

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Jodie Berger

Info on a new Index purging: Effective January 1, 2013, the Department of Justice must purge an individual’s name from the Child Abuse Central Index if the individual was listed as a minor at the time of the initial substantiated report, and has no subsequent substantiated listing(s) made to the Index ten years after the incident resulting in the CACI listing. [Download]

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