Uncategorized

ACL 08-15: Department Of Homeland Security Interim Final Rule On New Classification For Victims Of Criminal Activity; Eligibility For U Nonimmigrant Status (4/4/08)

Posted on by

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 created U Nonimmigrant Status for certain victims of criminal activity. The feds created U Visa Interim Relief, since U Visa regulations not forthcoming. (See ACL No. 06-60 and ACIN No. I-41-07). An Interim Final Rule regarding New Classification for Victims of Criminal Activity and Eligibility for U Nonimmigrant Status has now been issued, effective October 17, 2007.

Now that an Interim Final Rule has been issued, USCIS stopped accepting U Visa Interim Relief applications after October 17, 2007. New applicants for SB 1569 benefits must now present evidence that they have filed for a U Visa (or have obtained one) if they do not have proof that they filed for U Visa Interim Relief before October 17, 2007. The letter includes an exemplary list of acceptable evidence. (Forms I-797, I-918, Form I-797; employment Authorization Document Category A19 or A20, etc.)

USCIS has indicated that petitioners who have previously been granted interim relief and have filed a Form I-918 for a U Visa will have their interim relief extended until USCIS completes its adjudication of the application. Therefore, cases determined eligible based on a request for U Visa Interim Relief prior to October 17, 2007 may remain eligible if a U Visa application has been filed (or a U Visa has been issued) or until a denial of interim relief has been issued. USCIS anticipates issuing the Final Rule on nonimmigrant U Visas sometime in the fall of 2008. [Download]

ACWDL 08-13: Errata to all county welfare directors letter 07-26 (4/3/2008)

Posted on by

This letter has revisions to the effective date of the 2008 SSI/SSP cash grant levels. The SSP COLA increases originally scheduled for June 1, 2008 have been delayed. The ACWDL includes handy charts showing the rates from January 1, 2008 to September 30, 2008 and from October 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008. The rate for an independently living couple where both are aged or disabled rises from the current $1,524 to $1,558 on October 1. [Download]

ACWDL 08-12: Economic stimulus act of 2008 (4/3/2008)

Posted on by

Any credits or refunds from the stimulus package are not to be counted as income or resources for the month of receipt and the following two months. Woohoo! [Download]

Also please note, for anyone who regularly checks for new all county welfare director letters, new letters are now only posted on the DHCS website. The DHS website has older letters but it appears the site is no longer being updated as new letters come out.

ACIN I-20-08: Psychotropic Medications (3/26/08)

Posted on by

Part of an ongoing series of letters to ensure correct data reporting and documentation in child welfare cases. This one pertains to Authorized Psychotropic Medication, which must be reported under W&IC § 16010’s requirement to maintain a health and education record that includes current medications, including those prescribed to manage a mental health condition.

For dependents of the juvenile court with a prescribed psychotropic medication, court authorization or parental consent for the administration of the medication shall be documented in the child’s record. Part of an ongoing series of letters to ensure correct data reporting and documentation in child welfare cases. This one pertains to Authorized Psychotropic Medication, which must be reported under W&IC § 16010’s requirement to maintain a health and education record that includes current medications, including those prescribed to manage a mental health condition. [Download]

ACIN I-26-08: 2008 Cost-Of-Living Adjustments That Affect CAPI (4/1/08)

Posted on by

With love from the state, a CAPI Payment Standards chart with the grant that will be effective on October 1, 2008. There are no changes to the 2008 rates for the Presumed Maximum Value of In-Kind Support and Maintenance, Allowance for Ineligible Children in Deeming Situations, Sponsor’s Allocation in Deeming Situations, or COLA Coordination When One Spouse Receives SSI/SSP as a result of this change. [Download]

ACL 08-16: Vu Settlement Agreement And Survey Of Languages Requiring Translation Of Food Stamp Program and CalWORKs Joint Forms (3/25/08)

Posted on by

Pursuant to court settlement, the state needed to survey county food stamp service area language populations and then translate forms into any newly identified languages. This letter informs counties that all Food Stamp Program (FSP) forms
and specified forms jointly used with the CalWORKs program now will be translated into: Cushite, Formosan, Japanese, Mien, Punjabi, Portuguese, Syriac, and Ukrainian. The above languages are in addition to the Arabic, Armenian, Cambodian, Chinese, Farsi, Hmong, Korean, Lao, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese translations. (PS: Since Formosan uses written Chinese, this is probably not a new form language.) The bigger news: the state is not providing additional funding for automation, since “due to the limited number of applicants/recipients expected to require and/or request forms in the identified languages.” Counties are reminded they must use the forms, however, and how to get them on the internet. [Download]