Second time’s a charm? Clarification of prior letter to explain the timing of the new program (1/1/11 for all new Kin-GAP applications to comply with the provisions of this ACL for determining benefits under both the new state-funded or federally-funded Kin-GAP Programs, and starting 1/1/11, to convert all existing Kin-GAP cases to the new program at or before the time of the child’s annual redetermination. The ACL also corrects the omission of two state KinGAP criteria: 1. If a relative guardian fails to negotiate a written binding agreement PRIOR to the establishment of the guardianship and the child still meets all other eligibility criteria, the child is only eligible for state-funded Kin-GAP; and 2. If dependency is left open by court order and the child meets all other eligibility criteria when dependency is dismissed, the child may be eligible for Kin-GAP. Finally, there is a clarification about extended Kin-Gap benefits. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
KinGap
ACWDL 12-3: Six New Aid Codes To Identify Assembly Bill 12 Non-Minor Dependents in the Foster Care, Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment Program, CalWORKs, and Adoption Assistance Program
More Medi-Cal aid codes! These new codes will identify dependents age 18 through 21, who qualify for the current Foster Care (FC), Kin-GAP, CalWORKs, and Adoptions Assistance Program (AAP), who meet certain criteria under AB 12 to continue to receive extended benefits starting January 1, 2012.
Effective April 1, 2012, counties must begin using the new aid codes (43, 49, 07, 4N, 4S, and 4W). Until then, counties must perform a MEDS transaction maintain eligibility for these beneficiaries. Download
ACL 11-67: Case Plan And Kin-GAP Program (10/6/11)
A description of what needs to be in a Kin-GAP case plan to meet federal requirements. [Download]
ACL 11-69: Extension Of Foster Care Beyond Age 18: Part One (10/13/11)
Like your favorite movie, this one has (will have) a sequel. AB 12 provided for extended Foster Care after the youth turns 18, as described in ACIN I-40-11. The young adults who remain under the jurisdiction of the court, in EFC after age 18 are referred to as Non-Minor Dependents (NMDs). The extension of benefits also applies to Adoption Assistance Payments (AAP) and Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment (Kin-GAP). See ACL 11- 15 for information on Kin-GAP; more ACLs on extended Kin-GAP and AAP are coming soon. Long ALC, with a table of contents is included to assist in finding specific information within this ACL. [Download]
ACL 11-63: Foster Care Rate (AB 106) (September 20, 2011)
Sets out the foster care benefit rate increases for children in family care mandated by AB 106. This ACL addresses AFDC-FC and Kin-GAP. CDSS is going to issue a separate ACL concerning adoption assistance. Please note: 1. The increases apply to children placed with approved relatives, not just those living with licensed foster parents. Some counties were not applying the increase to children in the care of relatives. This ACL should clarify the situation. 2. The ACL correctly notes that AB 106 did not increase the specialized care increment (SCI.) However the SCI is an amount over and above the basic rate. Therefore children who receive an SCI will get a rate increase. It will just be an increase in the basic rate not the SCI. 3. The effective date of the increase is May 1, 2011, with a COLA that was effective July 1, 2011. Given the release date of the letter, some cases may be owed a retroactive adjustment. [Download]
ACL 11-28: Brazwell V. Wagner (KinGap) (3/30/11)
Instructions to the counties to implement Brazwell: a subsequent wardship (delinquency removal from the legal guardian) does not defeat the initial Kin-GAP eligibility. [Download]