ebtEDGE application

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California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has provided information about the new ebtEDGE mobile and web-based application.  The ebtEDGE application will allow people who receive CalWORKs and/or CalFresh benefits with an electronic benefits transfer card to manage their card in several different ways, including: freezing and unfreezing the card, resetting the PIN, blocking interstate transactions, blocking out of state transactions, requiring biometric identification to log in to the account, account services such as change password, update email address, and update challenge questions and answers, dispute transactions (not including lost or stolen cards and fraudulent transactions), view transaction history, and set language preference.

All existing and active web-based user name and passwords will be maintained to allow immediate access to ebtEDGE through the EBT Cardholder Website.  Users will not need to create a new username or password. These same usernames and passwords can also be used when installing the mobile application on mobile devices.  (ACIN I-50-23, September 25, 2023.)

NOTE: By separate email, CDSS announced that ebtEDGE will be available for use beginning early morning on November 10, 2023, and for new accounts beginning on November 10, 2023 at 9:00 am.

Treatment of income from Guaranteed Income Pilot Programs for HUD housing programs

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The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD has sent a letter to the California Department of Social Services regarding treatment of Guaranteed Income Pilot Programs for its programs.

HUD denied California’s request for a waiver that would allow disregard of Guaranteed Income Pilot Program payments as income for HUD programs.  However, HUD stated several possibilities regarding Guaranteed Income Pilot Programs payments.

Prior to January 1, 2024 (the implementation date of The Housing Opportunities Through Modernization Act of 2016) both public housing authorities and multifamily owners and operators can exclude Guaranteed Income Pilot Program payments as temporary income.  This can happen until the first income examination for the family on or after January 1, 2024.

Prior to January 1, 2024, public housing authorities may establish a permissive deduction for Guaranteed Income Pilot Program payments.

After January 1, 2024, both public housing authorities and multifamily owners and operators can exclude Guaranteed Income Pilot Program payments in the final year of the program if the Pilot Program will not provide payments after that.

After January 1, 2024, both public housing authorities and multifamily owners and operators may calculate family income using certain other programs determination of income, as long as those determinations are made are made during the previous 12 -month period by the other program as effective with the Housing Opportunities Through Modernization Act of 2016 changes effective on January 1, 2024.  Those other programs include CalWORKs; Medi-Cal; CalFresh; Earned Income Tax Credit; Women, Infants, and Children; and Supplemental Security Income.

After January 1, 2024, public housing authorities may establish or continue a permissive deduction for Guaranteed Income Pilot Program payments for public housing, Housing Choice Voucher, and Moderate Rehabilitation programs.  (Letter from HUD, no date given.)

New NA Back 9 form

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued a revised version of the NA Back 9 form, which is the form on the back of every Notice of Action for a CDSS administered program about hearing rights and how to request a hearing.  The new NA Back 9 form includes the ability to request a preferred hearing modality, instructions on submitting hearing requests online or by email, and information about on-line hearings accounts.

Counties must begin using the new NA Back 9 form when automation in the CalSAWS computer system is complete.  All county generated notices must include the revised NA Back 9 after it is programmed into CalSAWS.  CDSS does not state when to expect the revised NA Back 9 to be programmed into CalSAWS or state a deadline for that programming.

Counties must include the local legal aid office(s) in the “Get Help” section of the new NA Back 9.

Agencies that use a form other than the NA Back 9 to request a hearing must have those forms reviewed and approved by the CDSS State Hearings Division.  (ACL 23-81, September 19, 2023.)

CalFresh mass replacement for Northern California power outages

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The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved mass replacement of CalFresh benefits for area impacted by public outages in Northern California in August, 2023.  Based on USDA’s approval, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) will automatically replace 30 percent of CalFresh benefits for August, 2023 for zip codes: Calaveras: 95223 and 95247 Contra Costa: 94514 Del Norte: 95531, 95543, 95548, and 95567 Humboldt: 95556, 95558, and 95546 Kings: 93204 Lake: 95426 Mariposa: 95325 Nevada: 95975 Placer: 95715 Santa Cruz: 95006 Siskiyou: 95568 Trinity: 95527 and 95563 Tulare: 93633 Tuolumne: 95321 and 95372.  CDSS will automatically replace 25 percent of CalFresh benefits for August, 2023 for zip codes: Colusa: 95979 Glenn: 95939 Humboldt: 95569 Shasta: 96065, 96084, and 96047 Tehama: 96029 and 96074.

The replacement benefits will be issued to all regular CalFresh households in those zip codes.  Households that have already received replacement benefits based on a signed affidavit of loss will not receive the mass replacement benefits.  Households can submit a signed affidavit of loss to request more than the amount of the mass replacement benefits. (USDA Letters, September 8, 2023 and September 15, 2023.)

CalWORKs Income Reporting Threshold for Fiscal Year 2024

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Effective October 1, 2023, new CalWORKs Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) will be effective.  The new IRT amounts are in a chart attached to this ACL.  Income over the IRT amount must be reported mid-period, that is, when it occurs between semi-annual reports or annual recertifications.  Income that must be reported is the total combined earned and unearned income of the assistance unit.  The IRT reporting amount is 55% of the federal poverty level for a family of 3, plus the amount of income used most recently used to determine the assistance unit’s grant.  Income over the IRT must be reported within 10 days of receipt.

Assistance Units with no income or only unearned income are required to report income changes only if they receive new earned income that, when combined with other earned income, exceeds the IRT.

When income over the IRT is reported to the county, the county must determine if the income is reasonably anticipated to continue.  If it is reasonably anticipated to continue, the county must redetermine the CalWORKs grant amount using the new income amount.  If the grant will be decreased, the county must give timely and adequate notice to decrease the grant at the end of the month.  If the new income amount exceeds 130% of the Federal Poverty Level, the county must discontinue CalWORKs at the end of the month after timely and adequate notice is given.

It is possible that there will be some cases that are over the IRT, but under 130% of the Federal Poverty Level, where the assistance unit will not be eligible for a cash grant.  Those cases will have zero grant, but will be eligible for supportive services and CalWORKs special needs.

Counties must inform recipients of their IRT at application approval, at least once per semi-annual reporting period, and whenever the IRT amount changes.  The IRT level which the recipient was last notified of is used for reporting purposes.  (ACL 23-75, August 31, 2023.)