With this notice, the state announces it has published its annual report to the federal Department of Health and Human services on expenditures, program responsibilities and populations to be served with Title XX Social Services block grant funds. The report is attached to this notice. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
Do Not Use
ACL 11-48: The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, And Job Creation Act Of 2010 (P.L. 111-312) (6/28/11)
PL 111-312 includes a provision that disregards tax refunds received after December 31, 2009 as income and as resources (for a period of 12 months) in programs funded in whole or in part with federal funds. This letter clarifies that it applies to programs such as Title IV-E Foster Care, the Title IV-E Adoption Assistance Program and the Title IV-E Guardianship Assistance Program.
Tax refunds must be excluded from consideration as income in the month received and must be excluded from consideration as an asset for 12 months following the month in which it was received. The letter states that workers must ensure that income information being sought and that individuals are providing, does not include a federal tax refund received after December 31, 2009.
This also applies to assets, which are excluded a tax refund for 12 months after the month the refund was received. [Download]
ACIN I-40-11: Program Information Regarding AB 12 And The Extension Of Foster Care To Age 20 (7/1/11)
AB 12 made two major changes to foster care. The first allows for Kin-GAP Program benefits to be eligible for Federal Financial Participation (FFP). This was implemented via ACL 11-15. The second major provision extends foster care up to age 21 for young adults who meet the federal participation criteria for continued eligibility after age 18, including those served under a State-Tribe IV-E agreement and supervised by probation.
Former foster youth who are in the Kin-GAP program and youth in the Adoption Assistance Program are also eligible for extended benefit payments provided the guardianship was established, or the initial adoption agreement, was signed when the youth was at least 16 years old and one of the eligibility criteria is met.
The extension of foster care and other payment benefits is effective January 1, 2012, up to age 19, and January 1, 2013, up to age 20. Extension of foster care and other payment benefits up to age 21 is effective January 1, 2014, contingent upon legislature appropriation.
The intent of this ACIN is to explain the basic framework of EFC, not to direct counties on how to implement it. Multiple ACLs and All County Information Notices (ACIN) will be released to further explain procedures for implementing AB 12. [Download]
ACL 11-40: CalWORKs: NOA’s and Forms Regarding The New 48-Month Time Limit and Income Disregards SB 72 (6/23/11)
Title speaks for itself. Counties are to begin using the long list of new forms “as soon as administratively feasible.” [Download]
SNAP Regulation Comment Period Open
Through close of business on Tuesday, July 5th, USDA is accepting public comment on proposed SNAP regulations that implement major provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill and address some additional program priorities. Either for commenting, or for general edification, FRAC’s Information sources help pull SNAP participation data and food hardship for your state.
ACIN I-38-11: NOA Requirements For Aged EBT Accounts (6/22/11)
A review of EBT purging rules and the Notices that must go out (and when) to start the process, with the NOAs attached. Once benefits are expunged, they are permanently gone and cannot be restored. NOAs are required when 1) 10-Day Notice in the month prior to the account benefits becoming dormant when an EBT balance exists (i.e., one cent or more) for either CalFresh or cash; 2) After an account has become dormant, counties have the option of sending a NOA informing the cardholder that benefits will be removed if they have not been used for 365 days.
A NOA is not required to be sent for an aged CalFresh or cash account with a zero balance, or prior to account benefits reaching an inactive status, or when account benefits have been expunged. [Download]