CDSS has issued guidance on determining residency for purposes of CalFresh eligibility. CDSS states that counties cannot have a durational residency requirement, cannot require a fixed mailing address, and cannot require intent to permanently reside in the county as conditions of CalFresh eligibility.   Temporary absence from a county when there is an intent to return should not affect CalFresh eligibility or require an inter-county transfer.

“Whereabouts unknown” is not a permissible reason to terminate CalFresh benefits. If mail is returned as undeliverable, counties should send a request for information form to the last known address, if that form is not returned within 10 days, the county can terminate benefits.

Semi-annual reporting households are only required to report address changes when submitting a semi-annual report or at annual recertification. Change reporting households must report address changes within 10 days.

An overissuance cannot be established solely because a client accesses benefits in another county or state or is temporarily located in another county or state.  ACL 15-91 (11/3/15).

Currently, migrant and seasonal worker households, homeless household and households in which all adults are elderly or disabled are subject to change reporting, that is reporting all changes in household income or composition within 10 days. SB 79 Sections 54 and 55 require the elimination of change reporting and converting all households to semi-annual reporting by January 2017.

CDSS has issused instructions about transitioning these households to semi-annual reporting. CDSS states that counties that use the CalWIN computer system will convert on June 1, 2016 and counties that use the C-IV and LEADER computer systems will convert on July 1, 2016. CDSS will sent information notices to all effected households six months and three months before the change. In addition, CDSS directed counties to find good cause for late submission of a semi-annual report for twelve months after the change to semi-annual reporting occurs if the report is submitted in the first month after it is due.  ACL 15-90 (10/30/15).

CDSS has issued the CalFresh cost of living increase for Federal Fiscal Year 2016. Effective October 1, 2015, the maximum CalFresh grants increases to $194 per month for a one person household with similar increases for larger households. The maximum shelter deduction increases to $504. The standard deduction increases to $155 for a one to three person household with similar increases for larger households. The standard utility allowance increases to $385, the limited utility allowance increases to $118 and the telephone utility allowance decreases to $19.

CDSS included a chart of new income eligibility standards, maximum allotments, and deductions. ACIN I-75-15 (9/4/15).