COVID-19 temporary waiver of family child care fees

Posted on by

Effective April 1, 2020 for April, May, and June, 2020, all family fees for California Department of Education child care programs are waived.  Contractors must suspend collecting any family fees as of April 1, 2020 and must notify families that fees for April, May and June are waived.  Alternative Payment contractors that require providers to collect family fees directly must direct providers to suspend collecting these fees.

Contractors that are continuing to certify or recertify while family fees are waived shall continue to calculate the appropriate family fee and state the fee on the Notice of Action.  The Notice must also state that the fee is waived for April, May and June.

For families that have a delinquent family fee plan, contractors shall place the plan on hold for April, May and June.  Families must not be terminated because of outstanding fees owed during this time.  Delinquent family fee plans will resume in July, 2020.  Family fees waived for April, May and June shall not be included in the delinquent fee plan.  (Management Bulletin 20-05, March, 2020.)

VA mortgage special relief for COVID-19

Posted on by

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has issued information regarding special relief for COVID-19.  VA will conduct meetings by telephone with persons for people with symptoms of or exposed to COVID-19.

VA encourages holders or guaranteed loans to extend forbearance to borrowers in distress because of COVID-19. VA encourages waiving late charges on affected loans.  Servicers are encouraged to suspend credit reporting on affected loans.  (Circular 26-20-7, March 16, 2020.)

VA request for foreclosure moratorium

Posted on by

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) strongly encourages loan holders to establish a 60 day moratorium beginning on March 18, 2020 on completing foreclosures or initiating new foreclosures on loans.  VA regulations allow additional interest in a guarantee claim when termination is delayed by VA requested forbearance.

Loan holders should consider the impact of completing an eviction action when choosing to retain a property instead of conveying to VA.  VA requests holders not expose Veterans and their families to additional risk through an eviction action.  (Circular 26-20-8, March 18, 2020.)

IHSS reassessments during COVID-19

Posted on by

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has authorized counties to suspend any scheduled In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) reassessments through June 30, 2020.  However, initial assessments must continue to be done face-to-face. Social workers should try to collect as much information as possible by telephone prior to the assessment to minimize the time spent in the applicant’s home.

Counties may continue to conduct reassessments by phone, but any adverse action shall not take effect until June 30, 2020.

Counties should prioritize activities related to applicants and recipients receiving timely authorization of services.  These activities include initial assessments, requests for reassessment because of change in condition or circumstances (including loss of alternative resources because of COVID-19), enrollment of providers, and answering phone calls from providers and recipients.  (ACL 20-26, March 24, 2020.)

Changes to CAPI procedures because of COVID-19

Posted on by

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has announced temporary changes to the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) because of COVID-19.  Until further notice, the CAPI face-to-face interview requirement is waived for CAPI initial applications.  Counties and CAPI consortia must accept CAPI applications by mail and telephone.  For telephone applications, county stall must read each question on the CAPI Statement of Facts and Statement of Household Expenses and Contributions to the applicant in their preferred language, using an interpreter as necessary and record the answers.  Counties and CAPI consortia can also complete the application process by videoconference.

For telephone applications, the county shall ask the applicant’s permission to sign the application as a proxy for the applicant to preserve the protected application date.  If the applicant refuses, the forms must be mailed to the county, and the protected application date is the date the county receives the signed application.  The Interim Assistance Reimbursement Form must be mailed to the applicant for signature.

For applications taken by phone or video, the country must determine eligibility without waiting for signed forms or requested verification.

CAPI redeterminations are suspended until June 16, 2020.  Counties are not required to go back and conduct redeterminations for individuals whose redermination period falls between March 18, 2020 and June 16, 2020.

Counties and CAPI consortia must continue to require CAPI applicants and recipients who are qualified aliens to apply for SSI, and should direct them to telephone their local Social Security office.  The Social Security Administration has agreed to transmit SSI denials letters to counties by email.  (Program Manager Letter, March 20, 2020.)

Interim housing and homeless program guidance on COVID-19

Posted on by

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance regarding CDSS housing and homeless programs for COVID-19.  The guidance relates to CalWORKs Homeless Assistance (HA), CalWORKs Housing Support Program (HSP), Bringing Families Home (BFH), Housing and Disability Advocacy Program (HDAP) and Home Safe.

CDSS does not limit the number of days of interim shelter, including nights in a hotel or motel, for HSP, Bringing Families Home, HDAP and Home Safe.

HA applications are not required to be in person or to include a face-to-interview.  Counties can complete the CW 42 application form for the client and have then sign electronically.  Existing rules requiring issuing 3-days of benefits while homelessness is verified remain in effect.  However, counties are strongly encouraged to issue benefits without requiring clients to come to the office, including allowing sworn statements and granting good cause instead of requiring clients to come to county offices.  Although existing guidance requires counties to issue vendor payments when there has been a finding of mismanagement, if there is no feasible way to issue vendor payments because of COVID-19, counties should consider issuing benefits on the client’s EBT card.

Clients affected by COVID-19 may be eligible for an exception to the once-every 12 months rule for HA.  For example, if a parent in an assistance unit is concerned about infection and asks to isolate themselves, HA should be granted based on an exception because of illness.

HDAP funds can expand existing housing options used by HDAP clients, including shelters, recuperative care housing, hotel or motel leases, or interim housing programs.  For example, expanding a shelter program could include offering specialized quarantine options or leases with motels to provide housing for homeless persons impacted by COVID-19.  Counties can also purchase supplies for a specialized quarantine area or establish a new shelter program for HDAP clients specific to COVID-19.  In addition, HDAP funds can be spent on outreach to locate persons potentially eligible for HDAP who are residing in homeless camps who require medical care related to COVID-19.

Home Safe funds can be spent on landlord engagement, including incentives for landlords to participate in Home Safe.  Such payments can include in-kind goods to address COVID-19 impacts such as medical or sanitizing equipment and supplies.  Home Safe funds may also be used for interim housing, including motels.

HSP funds can be used for a range of financial and supportive services, including providing interim housing, helping participants navigate systems of care, providing rental assistance, incentive payments in the form of good for landlords participating in HSP, and supplies necessary to keep housing habitable.  Counties can provide landlord mediation and discussion of tenant’s rights to avoid eviction or housing displacement.

BFH for families experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness with an open child welfare case can include interim housing, tenant engagement, case management, public systems assistance, and conflict mediation with landlords or neighbors.  BFH can locate and pay for motel stays for families seeking interim housing that is not a shelter.  BFH can also pay for cleaning supplies.

A three-day notice to pay rent or quit meets eligibility requirements for HA, BFH, HDAP and Home Safe.  HA can be used to pay up to two month rental arrearages to prevent eviction.  (ACWDL, March 19, 2020.)

The HA provisions of this letter are superceeded by All County Welfare Directors Letter, March 31, 2020, summarized here.