The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) has issued a directive regarding admissions to and discharges from facilities under its jurisdiction.  DDS is now denying admission and delaying discharge from the Porterville Developmental Center, the Canyon Springs Community Facility and all Stabilization, Training, Assistance and Reintegration homes under its jurisdiction and control.

DDS and Regional Center staff can continue to prepare for admissions and discharges.  For people in community transition planning, the regional resource development project will have conversations to ensure where feasible that such planning continues.  (Regional Center Executive Directors Letter, March 25, 2020, extended to May 20, 2020.)

The Department of Insurance (DOI) has orders insurers to make premium refunds for March and April, 2020 because of COVID-19 because of curtailed activities of policyholders.  These refunds are for private auto insurance, commercial auto insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, commercial multiple peril insurance, commercial liability insurance, medical malpractice insurance, and any other line of coverage where measures of risk have become substantially overstated because of COVID-19.

Insurers can reclassify exposure or reduce the exposure base (miles driven, payroll receipt etc) without prior approval of rates or rules by DOI if done consistent with the insurer’s existing rate plan.

Insurers may refund premium without prior DOI approval if they apply a uniform premium reduction for all policyholders in an individual line of insurance.  The amount of the refund can be an average percentage based on estimated change in risk and/or reduction in exposure base.

Alternatively, insurers can reassess the classification and exposure bases of affected risks on a case-by-case basis. For example, an insurer could reclassify a personal automobile exposure from commute use to pleasure use and reduce estimated miles driven accordingly for the duration of COVID-19.

Insurers must provide each affected policyholder a notice of the amount of the refund, and a check, premium credit, reduction, return of premium or other adjustment within 120 days.  Insurers must report to DOI actions taken and planned to refund premiums within 60 days. (Bulletin 2020-3, April 13, 2020.)

SSI recipients will receive the federal individual stimulus payments automatically.  The payments will be made by direct deposit, Direct Express debit card or paper check depending on how the recipient normally receives their SSI benefits.   SSI recipients should receive the payment by early May.

SSI recipients who have dependent children will need to register on the Internal Revenue Service portal or file a tax return to receive the payment for their dependents.

The individual stimulus payment will not be considered income for purposes of SSI and will be excluded as a resource for 12 months.  (Department of the Treasury Press Release, April 15, 2020.)

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has launched a web tool to allow registration to receive individual stimulus payments for people who do not normally file a tax return. The web tool asks for information including Social Security Number, name, address and dependents. Entering bank or financial account information will allow for direct deposit of the payment.

The web tool is available to people who are under the income limit for filing a tax return which is single filers who made under $12,200 and couples who made under $24,400 in 2019. It is also available for persons who receive SSI or veterans benefits. IRS states it is exploring ways to make payments automatically to SSI and veterans benefits recipients. The web tool is also available for Social Security, Social Security Disability and Railroad Retirement beneficiaries to receive the $500 dependent payment for each qualifying children under age 17.

IRS expects to release another web tool on April 17 to allow people to track the status of their stimulus payment and to provide bank account information for direct deposit. (IR 2020-69, April 10, 2020.)