Assembly Bills 2466 and 1078 changed the asset exclusion rules in the CalWORKs and Food Stamp programs and provide for EITC outreach activities in the CalWORKs program. Until the implementing regulations are released (“soon”), the counties must follow the rules in this ACL. 1) Effective January 1, 2008, there is no maximum amount that current CalWORKs recipients may save in a restricted account. (This changes the existing regulation at MPP Section 89-130.) The ACL tells counties to “ensure” that no one has been discontinued since 1/1/08 for excess resources in restricted accounts, and if they have, to restore aid retroactively. Already a rule in the Food Stamps program, and CalWORKs through Food Stamp simplification (MPP Sect. 42-213.2) the letter also instructs counties that both the principal and interest in 401(k), 403(b) and 457 retirement plan accounts are exempt from consideration as property for both CalWORKs applicants and recipients. Additionally, effective January 1, 2007 (yes, over a year ago), AB 2466 exempted IRAs, 529 college savings plans and Coverdell Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs) from consideration as property for CalWORKs recipients only. Counties must immediately exempt these three accounts for either applicants or recipients, and correct any cases denied or terminated for these accounts on or after January 1, 2007. Food Stamps does not exclude IRAs, 529 college savings plans and Coverdell ESA accounts for non-assistance households, per Food and Nutrition Service’s Administrative Notice (AN) 02-26. Since there is no separate food stamp resource test for CalWORKs families who are categorically eligible for food stamps, accounts excluded for CalWORKs eligibility purposes shall also be excluded for categorically eligible food stamp households. There’s a handy chart of what counts/doesn’t in these two programs, attached to the letter. Finally, the letter reminds counties that they are required to provide applicants/recipients the federal EITC form and encourage and assist the recipient to take advantage of it. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
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ACWDL 08-14: Revised mail-in Healthy Families Program and Medi-Cal joint application (4/10/2008)
The Healthy Families Program/ Medi-Cal joint application has been revised. Changes to the application include a lower reading level, a table of contents, and a documents needed checklist. The applications now include an option for applicants to consent to have their information forwarded to their County Healthy Kids Program if they do not qualify for full-scope Medi-Cal or Healthy Families. The application also provides a space for pregnant woman to indicate how many babies they are expecting. [Download]
ACIN I-27-08: CalWORKs And Food Stamps: Treatment Of Tax Rebates Provided By The Economic Stimulus Act Of 2008 (4/9/08)
Squeaked out just before tax day, the perhaps tardy letter on Tax Rebates: they don’t count as a resource in the month of receipt or the following two months. They’re also exempt income for CalWORKs and Food Stamps. [Download]
ACL 08-01E: Foster Care, Kinship Guardianship, Assistance Payments Program, And Adoption Assistance Program Rates (4/11/08)
The corrected wraparound rates, effective January 1st, 2008. [Download]
ACIN I-19-08: Sibling Mutual Consent Program – Confidential Intermediary (3/28/08)
In 2007, Family Code Section 9205 was amended to permit adoptees and siblings greater opportunities to initiate and make contact with each other. (See ACL 07-17.) This ACIN “regrets to inform” counties that, due to budgetary shortfalls, Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed funding for implementation of AB 2488, stating that implementation of the program would be delayed for one year. Furthermore, the state has recommended repealing AB 2488 altogether. [Download]
ACL 08-14: CalWORKs Wage Subsidies (4/10/08)
Mostly about county coding, but noted for describing AB 98. AB 98 added WIC Sect. 11322.63, which provides for CDSS to reimburse counties for 50 percent of a CalWORKs recipient’s wage subsidy outside of the county Single Allocation.The reimbursement is limited to a maximum of six months for each recipient. The amount of wage subsidies claimed outside of the Single Allocation may not exceed 50 percent of the maximum aid payment for the assistance unit of which the recipient is a member. In 2001, the state must report to the legislature about the wage subsidy program. [Download]