DHCS announced that the 2018 Statewide APPR for nursing home services is $8841. Use the new APPR to determine any periods of ineligibility due to transfer of property for less than fair market value.
DHCS ACWDL 18-08 (May 18, 2018)
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
Clarification of Accessing Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)
Recently, DHCS issued a letter educating counties about non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT). NEMT services are covered through Medi-Cal when a beneficiary cannot safely use other means of public or private transportation due to medical contraindication. These beneficiaries can be transported by litter vans, wheelchair vans, ambulances, or air. Counties are to direct beneficiaries and providers to an NEMT provider or to the DHCS San Diego Field Office at (858) 495-3666.
DHCS MEDIL I 18-05 (April 12, 2018)
CalFresh student eligibility
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions implementing AB 214 regarding CalFresh student eligibility.
The California Student Aid Commission must now provide written notice to Cal Grant A and B recipients of their potential eligibility for CalFresh. Only Cal Grant A and B are TANF funded and make recipients eligible for CalFresh. Cal Grant B Access and CalGrant C are not TANF funded and do make recipients eligible for CalFresh.
Students who are enrolled less than half-time are eligible for CalFresh. Half-time enrollment is now defined as enrolled in at least half of the number of credits needed each semester in order to graduate in four years, or within two years if enrolled as a transfer student.
Students are eligible for CalFresh if they are approved for any state or federal work study program for the current term and can anticipate working during the term. Anticipating participation is defined as reasonably expecting or forseeing being assigned a work study job, and a student is deemed to be anticipating participation until they receive notice from the institution of higher education that they have been denied participation in work study.
Students participating in a program that increases employability are eligible for CalFresh. CDSS must maintain a non-exhaustive list of local education programs that increase employability. Education institutions can request that a local education program be approved as a program that increases employability. In addition, participation in an Unaccompanied Refugee Minors program qualifies the student for an exception to the CalFresh student eligibility rule. (ACL 18-27, April 2, 2018.)
Welfare-to-Work 24-month time clock extenders
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions implementing AB 818 regarding extension of the 24-month Welfare-to-Work time clock.
The 24-month time clock allows flexibility in wefare-to-work activities by allowing activities that are not federally approved for up to 24-months. Welfare and Institutions Code Section 11322.87 includes circumstances that can extend the 24-month clock.
In addition to the existing extension categories, a recipient making satisfactory progress toward a high school diploma or equivalent with a known graduation, transfer or expected completion date may now be granted an extension of the 24-month Welfare-to-Work time clock.
In addition, participants who have completed a high school diploma or equivalent during their time on the 24-month clock may be granted an extension of the 24-month clock to engage in an education program or other activities which would meaningfully increase the likelihood of employment. (ACL 18-41, April 2, 2018.)
Welfare-to-Work assignment for high school diploma
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions implementing AB 1604 requiring counties to offer completing a high school diploma or the equivalent as a welfare-to-work plan.
For clients who do have a high school diploma counties must develop a welfare-to-work plan designed to earn a high school diploma or equivalent as the primary activity before making any other assignment. If the client does not want to participate in education at that time, the client may continue in other welfare-to-work activities. The client must make this choice in writing. These requirements do not apply to clients participating in, required to participate in or exempt from Cal-Learn.
A plan to complete a high school diploma equivalent must meet weekly welfare-to-work participation requirements. Hours in education may include homework time. Supervised homework time and up to one hour of unsupervised homework time for each hour of class time may be included. Distance or electronic learning is an option to obtain a high school diploma or equivalent. Assigned hours can also include English as a Second Language classes and accommodations or other resources necessary for the client to earn a high school diploma or equivalent.
If the client requires additional hours to meet requirements or if the appraisal determines that additional activities may be beneficial, the client must be referred to Assessment to complete their plan. The client cannot be required to attend Assessment prior to beginning their course of study unless a course of study is not immediately available. Other assigned activities cannot reduce the hours assigned to the course of study without the client’s written consent. Clients age 19 or younger are not required to participate in additional activities. (ACL 18-40, April 2, 2018.)
CalWORKs and domestic violence
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions implementing AB 557 regarding domestic abuse protocols for CalWORKs applicants and recipients.
Effective January 1, 2018, counties must inform all CalWORKs applicants and recipients of the availability of domestic violence services both verbally and in writing at application, during development of a welfare-to-work plan, and at annual redetermination. Domestic violence information must be provided in a safe and private space to allow confidential disclosure of domestic violence. Counties must also have a current list of domestic violence resources and provide materials to clients.
Effective July 1, 2018, domestic violence is added as a circumstances constituting good cause for not complying with immunization or school attendance requirements. If the abuse occurred in the past, the issue causing the non-cooperation or inability to comply must be related to the current situation. This good cause determination is separate from domestic abuse waiver determinations for welfare-to-work requirements.
Effective July 1, 2018, CalWORKs applicants who provide a sworn statement of past or present abuse and are fleeing the abuser are eligible for termorary homeless assistance regardless of any income or assets attributed to the abuser. (ACL 18-34, March 29, 2018.)