With this notice, the state announces it has published its annual report to the federal Department of Health and Human services on expenditures, program responsibilities and populations to be served with Title XX Social Services block grant funds. The report is attached to this notice. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
ACL 11-49: CalFresh Eligibility and Budgeting of Anticipated Unemployment Insurance Income (8/11/2011)
Shedding further light on what CDSS thinks the term “reasonably anticipated” means, this ACL explains when to use expected unemployment benefit income in prospective quarterly budgeting. That income is only “reasonably anticipated” and countable when a CalFresh recipient has (1) been formally notified, in writing, of a pending unemployment insurance benefit award, (2) when that benefit amount is known, and (3) the date of expected receipt is known. It also clarifies that an unemployment benefit award received mid-quarter that was not reasonably anticipated during budgeting will not create an over-issuance. [Download]
ACIN I-46-11: Federal Fiscal Year 2012 Plan Template, Policy Guidelines and Allocations for Counties Participating in the CalFresh Employment and Training Program (8/9/2011)
By September 28 participating counties are required to submit their FFY 2012 plan for CalFresh Employment and Training (E&T) to the state or they risk having their share of E&T funding reallocated among those counties that do submit a plan on time. This notice provides a “how to” guide for counties to develop programs that are consistent with CDSS policies and procedures. [Download]
ACIN I-44-11: Child Care Monthly Report CalWORKs Families [CW 115(7/11)] and Child Care Monthly Report Two-Parent Families [CW 115A(7/11)] During Cal-Learn FY 11-12 Suspension Period (7/26/2011)
Following up on ACL 11-36 that announced the one-year suspension of Cal-Learn through June 2012, this ACIN tells counties how to report the status of pregnant and parenting teens receiving child care on CW 115 and 115A reports (the monthly reports on child care submitted to the state by counties). [Download]
ACL 11-54: Foster Care: California Necessities Index Increase In Group Home Rates (7/27/11)
New rates, effective 7/1/11. [Download]
ACL 11-55: IHSS Medical Certification Form (7/27/11)
Starting August 1st, all new IHSS applicants must have a new form SOC 873 completed. Recipients must have the form completed around the time of their reassessment. (The ACL also describes alternative documentation to the 873 that will be acceptable.) New WIC section 12309.1 required a medical certification form that includes a declaration from a licensed health care professional that the applicant/recipient is unable to independently perform some activity of daily living and that without the assistance of IHSS services, the applicant/recipient would be at risk of placement in out-of-home care. The form must also include a description of any condition or functional limitation that has resulted in, or contributed to, the applicant/recipient’s need for assistance. (Same purpose, new look.) Individuals will have 45 days from the date the county requests the form to obtain the verification, with good cause extensions for recipients (but not applicants). The form must have questions 5 and 6 completed. The county will perform an assessment only if both 5 and 6 answers are YES. If either is a “no” IHSS will be denied, and for recipients, services terminated. Once the new form is completed, it does not need to be done at subsequent reassessments, as counties can use the 873 or their own form at that time.
Counties can give the form to the applicant/recipient, but if the person requests assistance, the county must send it for them. (Even if the county sends the form, it is the individual’s responsibility to ensure it is returned, but can sign the release section on the form, which permits the counties to contact the provider.) If 5 and 6 are marked “yes” the form will not be the sole determinative factor in services, as usual. [Download]