The United States Department of Agriculture has granted a one year extension of the statewide waiver of the Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) rules. The ABAWD  rule means anyone between the ages of 18 and 54 with no children and who is not disabled, might only be able to get three months of CalFresh benefits every three years. The extension is effective from November 1, 2024 to October 31, 2025.

The waiver requires counties to identify ABAWDs, screen for exemptions, inform clients of ABAWD rules, and track and report work registrant, ABAWD, and Employment and Training data.  (ACL 24-76, October 11, 2024.)

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued a Child Care Bulletin (CCB) regarding definitional changes to part-time and full-time care consistent with Senate Bill (SB) 140 and clarifies inconsistencies with other regulations and codes.

Part-time care is defined as care certified for less than 25 hours per week, and full-time care as 25 or more hours per week, effective no later than March 1, 2024. This conflicts with the existing California Code of Regulations (CCR) definitions that define part-time as less than 30 hours and full-time as 30 or more hours per week. The CDSS must adopt new regulations by July 1, 2026, but this CCB guides the implementation of the latest definitions until then.

CCR section 18075 defines multiple time-based definitions but the Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) section 10213.5(al)(1)-(2) only defines part-time and full-time weekly. Contractors need to adjust their systems to reflect the updated definitions for hourly, part-time, monthly, and full-time me as outlined in the CCB while the definition of daily remains unchanged.

Hourly care is used when a child’s need for care is fewer than 25 hours per week and fewer than five hours on any day, or when unscheduled needs are fewer than five hours per occurrence.

Daily is used when there is a certified need for child care of six or more hours per day or there is an unscheduled but documented need of six hours or more per occurrence.

Part-time monthly is used when there is a need for child care for fewer than 25 hours per week and that need occurs every week of the month or the need for care averages fewer than 25 hours per week when calculated by dividing the total hours of need in the month by 4.33.

Full-time monthly is used when there is a need for child care greater than 25 hours per week and that need occurs every week of the month or the need for care averaged more than 25 hours per week when calculated by dividing the total hours of need by 4.33.

Previously contractors receiving the standard reimbursement rate could adjust enrollment by time-based factors. They now must align with the new definitions of part-time and full-time care. Contractors must report all children according to these definitions.

The new definitions do not impact family fee determinations at this time. Contractors must adhere to the family fee schedule in CCB 23-22 while continuing to follow the 130-hour threshold for assessments.

Providers do not have to update their rate sheets but contractors must accept updates to rate sheets at any time within 60 days of implementing changes. Without updated rate sheets contractors should compare the provider’s full-time rate to the market rate ceiling and pay the lesser of the two amounts.

The new thresholds for part time and full time care end the need for the Individualized County Child Care Subsidy (Pilot) Program flexibility on service hours.

These changes do not apply to CalWORKs Stage One Child Care and the Emergency Child Care Bridge program.  (CCB 24-04, March 8, 2024.)

The Social Security Administration release guidance about medical evidence for disability claims based on symptom of Long COVID.  The  guidance discussesthe kinds of medical evidence Social Security says is needed to evaluate disability claims based on long-term health effects of COVID-19.  (Dear Colleague Letter, July 18, 2023.)

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is implementing the SUN Bucks program for Summer 2024 to provide nutrition benefits to low-income families with school age-children. The program will provide $40 per month in food benefits during the Summer Operational Period (SOP), spanning June, July, and August.

During the Summer of 2024, County Welfare Departments (CWD’s) are not responsible for implementing SUN Bucks. However, eligible families may contact CWD’s with general questions about SUN Bucks. CDSS is asking CWD’s to proactively share information about the availability of the program.

Sun Bucks cards will be mailed to addresses on file with the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) or the California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS). Families are highly encouraged to keep their addresses current with their schools or county.

For school aged children receiving Cal Fresh, Cal Works, or Medi-Cal who are experiencing homelessness and using a CWD office address for mail pick up, SUN Buck cards are delivered to the CWD office.

Children eligible for Free or Reduced Price Meals (FRPM) automatically qualify for SUN Bucks. Eligibility for FRPM is determined by

1. School meal applications or alternative income forms; OR
2. Receipt of CalWORKs, CalFresh, or Medi-Cal benefits; OR
3. Categorical eligibility for FRPM established by attending Head Start, experiencing homelessness, being in Foster Care, being a runaway, or being part of a migrant family

Children are automatically eligible for SUN Bucks if either

1. For Children age 0-22, the CALPADS system shows they have been determined eligible for FRPM based on school meal application/alternative income forms ‘categorical eligibility or
2. For Children age 6-18, the CALSAWS system shows they are eligible for FRPM based on receipt of CALWORKS, Cal Fresh, or Medi-Cal

Children who are not a part of CALPADS or CALSAWS and still want to access SUN Bucks benefits must apply for FRPM by completing a school meal application or alternative income form. Either application must be submitted to the school of enrollment by August 31, 2024. Families can obtain a correct FRPM application from the school administrators office.

For summer 2024, there is no dedicated SUN Bucks application.

SUN Bucks EBT cards look the same as Golden State Advantage EBT Cards and will arrive in the mail with activation information. SUN Bucks cards are accepted at the same locations as Cal Fresh EBT cards, including grocery stores, farmers markets, and approved online grocery retailers.

Each eligible child will get a card with $120 in food benefits. If a family has 4 eligible children, they will receive 4 separate cards. Cards will be mailed to the address on file with CALPADS and CalSAWS.

For summer 2024, EBT cards will be mailed to households by California’s EBT vendor, Fidelity Information Systems (FIS). Over the counter issuance of SUN Bucks EBT cards is prohibited.

SUN Bucks benefits will be expunged 122 days after available funds are loaded onto the EBT card. Expunged funds cannot be restored or replaced.

For Summer 2024, SUN Bucks EBT cards will be mailed by FIS staggered in stages.

Stage 1 card issuance begins June 2024 for children streamlined through CALPADS data as of March 31, 2024, or through CalSAWS data as of February 29, 2024. The first stage is anticipated to be completed in August 2024.

Stage 2 card issuance is for newly eligible children who qualify for SUN Bucks and will begin in late August. Children determined eligible through Cal SAWS data between March 1 and August 31, 2024 will be issued cards in stage 2. Children determined eligible through CALPADS data beginning April 1, 2024 will also be issued cards in stage 2 until issuance is complete. Stage 2 will include issuances related to replacement request. The second stage of SUN Bucks card issuance should be completed by the end of January 2025.

The SUN Bucks helpline is accessible via the California EBT customer service center, beginning May 28, 2024. Families can call (877) 328-9677 to reach the SUN Bucks helpline.

Requests to replace SUN Bucks card are granted if

1. A SUN Bucks card holder reports a previously activated card was lost, stolen, or damaged; OR
2. The SUN Bucks card was not received in the mail

For Summer 2024, disputes regarding eligibility or other actions will be handled at the state level through a process facilitated by SUN Bucks helpline. Families can use the SUN Bucks helpline to request a review of a decision regarding their benefits.  (ACWDL, May 28, 2024.)