Through close of business on Tuesday, July 5th, USDA is accepting public comment on proposed SNAP regulations that implement major provisions of the 2008 Farm Bill and address some additional program priorities. Either for commenting, or for general edification, FRAC’s Information sources help pull SNAP participation data and food hardship for your state.
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
ACIN I-38-11: NOA Requirements For Aged EBT Accounts (6/22/11)
A review of EBT purging rules and the Notices that must go out (and when) to start the process, with the NOAs attached. Once benefits are expunged, they are permanently gone and cannot be restored. NOAs are required when 1) 10-Day Notice in the month prior to the account benefits becoming dormant when an EBT balance exists (i.e., one cent or more) for either CalFresh or cash; 2) After an account has become dormant, counties have the option of sending a NOA informing the cardholder that benefits will be removed if they have not been used for 365 days.
A NOA is not required to be sent for an aged CalFresh or cash account with a zero balance, or prior to account benefits reaching an inactive status, or when account benefits have been expunged. [Download]
ACIN I-29-11: Juvenile Court Jurisdiction: Services And Benefits (6/16/11)
Information on implementing SB 945, which requires that notice to former foster children ( W&IC 300 or 727) of services to which they may be eligible. This includes availability of federal and state programs that provide financial assistance, housing, and educational resources for which the person may be eligible; and information about the availability of federal and state independent living program for youth 16+. [Download]
ACL 11-46: SSI/SSP Recipients In Suspended Status And Eligibility To CalFresh (6/17/11)
California got a federal waiver, expanding access to CalFresh. SSI rules provide that if eligibility is terminated for certain reasons, the person is “suspended” for 12 months, so they don’t have to reestablish disability if the basis for the termination ends. However, federal rules provide that in Cash-Out states (California), people on SSI suspend status remain ineligible for SNAP. Effective June 23, 2011, people who were suspended from SSI because of state budget cuts or federal lifetime limits for refugees, should be eligible. The basis for the suspension must be verified. [Download]
Public Comment Period Open: SNAP Trafficking and Disqualifiation Proposed Regulation
FNS has published proposed regulations, and is soliciting public comments. Although much of the proposed regulations cover defining retailer trafficking, large portions of it apply to collusive practices between retailers and recipients and other “program abuses by client.” The proposed regulations also address mandatory 2008 Farm Bill provisions requiring reciprocal disqualification in SNAP when an individual is disqualified from the FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations). There is even a discussion of purchasing drinks with bottle deposits and keeping the cash for the bottle return. “Nonetheless, clients who intentionally purchased products in containers for purposes of disposing of the products and exchanging the containers for cash are, in effect, trafficking without a complicit retailer.” Comments due on or before August 19, 2011.
ACL 11-42E: Foster Family Home Rate Increase As A Result Of California State Foster Parent Association v. Lightbourne (6/14/11)
Clarification on the start date of the court ordered higher foster care family home rates. On June 9, 2011, the Court found that “effective immediately,” means any check that had not been issued by the date of the May 27, 2011 order shall include the increased rate. Since checks for reimbursement of foster care for the month of May had not yet been issued by May 27th; increased rates apply for the provision of foster care for the entire month of May 2011. Contains a chart of the rates, and notes that a COLA will kick in July 1st. [Download]