COVID-19 federal instructions for FPUC

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The United States Department of Labor has issued instructions regarding the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Insurance Compensation (FPUC) program.  FPUC provides an additional $600 per week to individuals who are receiving regular unemployment insurance, including Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees and Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers.  In addition, FPUC is available to persons receiving Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Extended Benefits, Short-Term Compensation, Trade Readjustment Allowances, Disaster Unemployment Assistance and payments under the Self-Employment Assistance program.  FPUC is available until the week ending on July 31, 2020.

FPUC is not available to persons receiving extended benefits for persons in approved training who have exhausted benefits (in California that is persons receiving California Training Benefits).

FPUC benefits are disregarded for purposes of Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program.

States must notify potentially eligible individuals of their entitlement to FPUC.  That notice should include the beginning and end date of FPUC.

All terms and conditions of state or federal unemployment insurance that apply to claims for regular unemployment insurance apply to FPUC.

Individuals who are having their regular unemployment insurance intercepted to recover an overpayment are eligible for FPUC.

Child support obligations are deducted from FPUC in the same manner as they are deducted from regular unemployment insurance.

FPUC payments are taxable.  (Unemployment Insurance Program Letter No. 15-20, April 4, 2020.)

Foster Care infant supplement payment eligibility

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued a clarification regarding infant supplement eligibility.  The infant supplement is an additional payment tied to AFDC-Foster Care, KIN-Gap and Approved Relative Caregiver (ARC) programs for children of parenting foster youth who live with their parent in foster care setting.  Several other categories of parenting youth who are living with their non-dependent child are also eligible including youth under delinquency jurisdiction who are living in foster care, non-minor dependents in Extended Foster Care, and youth in non-related legal guardianships who are receiving AFDC-FC. All eligible teens and non-minor dependents must be regularly screened for current or impending parenthood.

An infant supplement payment is given to the youth’s caregiver.  Non-minor dependents living in a Supervised Independent Living Placement receive their payment directly.  Infant supplements are to be used only for the care and supervision of the child of the eligible parent.  The supplement is paid on behalf of the parent who has primary physical custody of the child.  (ACIN I-10-20, February 7, 2020.)

Semi-Annual reporting and adding both a newborn and second parent

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued a clarification to mid-period reporting rules for adding a newborn and second parent to an existing pregnant person only CalWORKs case.  The newborn and the second parent are treated separately.  Different analysis may be needed to determine how each would affect the CalWORKs grant for the existing Assistance Unit (AU).  The second parent and the newborn may be added to the pregnant person only case separately to maximize aid.

In general, when the AU voluntarily reports a new person in the home mid-period, that person is added to the AU mid-period if benefits would increase, but is not added to the AU until the first day of the next Semi-Annual Reporting period if benefits will decrease.  This rule applies to both newborns and second parents.

When the newborn reported and the second parent moves into the home, the county first evaluates whether adding the newborn will increase aid, and if so adds the newborn to the AU.  The county then evaluates whether adding the second parent will increase aid, aid if so adds the the second parent to the AU.  If either addition to the AU would cause a decrease in aid, the addition does not occur until the first day of the AU’s next semi-annual reporting period.

When the second parent is living in the home at the time the pregnant person applies for aid, the application includes the second parent but the second parent is an excluded member of the AU until the child is born.  The second parent’s income is considered in determining financial eligibility, and the second parent is subject the requirement to report increases in income that are more than the income reporting threshold.  However, even when the second parent was living in the home at the time the pregnant person applied for aid, the county determines whether adding the newborn increases or decreases aid and acts accordingly.  The county then separately determines whether adding the second parent to the AU will increase or decrease aid and acts accordingly.  (ACIN I-16-20, February 24, 2020.)

COVID-19 placement preservation guidance

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance to on meeting the placement preservation needs of children and nonminor dependents in out-of-home placements where a child or caregiver is exposed to COVID-19.

When there is exposure to COVID-19 but circumstances do not require hospital admission, children should be cared for at home.  Children who are experiencing mild or moderate symptoms of COVID-19 or who have been exposed to COVID-19 should not be relocated or issued a 14-day notice.  The fact that a child has been exposed to or tests positive for COVID-19 is not in and of itself a reason for placing the child into group care.  The child welfare system must prioritize placement preservation.  However, children in congregate care should continue to be reunified with their family or moved into home-based care setting as appropriate.

For any requests for unplanned discharge or 14-day notice for a child, families and facilities should consider all alternatives to maintain the child in the home, including relocating the children to other bedrooms, units or homes on the property, hiring additional temporary staff, requesting additional resources from the placing agency, or arranging additional support from community partners or agencies.  If a placement change is unavoidable, counties should first consider home-based alternatives, including reunification, extended home visits, or emergency placements.

Caregiver exposure or illness is not a reason in and of itself for moving a child.   When a health professional recommends that a child or caregiver be quarantined, the county or Foster Family Agency should work with the caregiver to develop an emergency plan for needs such as food delivery, medication delivery, telehealth consultation, and mental health services.  If the child is in a facility, the county should assist with the provider’s emergency plan.

Children’s residential care provides should establish health screening protocols for new admissions, children returning from being off the premises, and staff who enter and exit the facility each day.  The facility can request that the county provide COVID-19 screening.

If a congregate care facility believes a child in their care may be at high-risk for COVID-19, the provider should seek a telehealth consultation to determine if the child’s placement in congregate care is a health risk and whether an alternative placement is needed.

CDSS recommends that county placing agencies ensure that each child in a congregate care setting have a COVID-19 emergency plan.

Counties and service providers are reminded that the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) remains in effect and all ICWA requirements must be met.  Counties should contact local tribes and any tribes where they have placements to determine whether tribes have changed their procedures in response to COVID-19.  For an Indian child, any placement change must be made in accordance with ICWA. (ACL 20-33, March 31, 2020.)

COVID-19 individual stimulus payment non-filer registration

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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.)

COVID-19 CMSP access to care

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The County Medical Services Program Governing Board (CMSP) has issued instructions regarding access to care because of COVID-19.  Counties must delay discontinuances and negative actions for CMSP because of COVID-19.  This delay is effective for 90 days.

Denied Medi-Cal applicants who are age 21-64, not disabled and over income for MAGI-based Medi-Cal should be screened for CMSP eligibility and provided the CMSP Supplemental Application.  The CMSP Supplemental Application may be signed by telephonic signature.

Covered California’s special enrollment period because of COVID-19 will not be considered open enrollment for purposes of CMSP eligibility determinations.

CMSP will provide coverage for COVID-19 testing for all CMSP members at no cost.  Share of Cost requirements will be waived for any provider office, urgent care center, and emergency room visits to receive COVID-19 testing at contracted and non-contracted providers within California.  (CMSP Letter 20-02, March 31, 2020.)