The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has proposed a new rate structure, to be made effective July 1, 2011. Implementation is contingent on approval by the Legislature and final enactment of the budget by the Governor. If/when that happens, an All County Letter with further clarification will follow. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
ACL 11-32: CalWORKs Changes To Subsidized Employment (4/6/11)
The one silver lining in the budget cuts: This letter implements the changes to AB 98, which created CalWORKs subsidized jobs. The budget bill expanded the eligible population, increased the duration of qualifying job placements, and increased the maximum amount of funding. The new eligibles are those on sanction and who have timed out. The jobs are generally capped out at 6 months, but there is an option to extend them to 12 months total. Counties can also provide additional services, including case management, supportive services, or mental health and substance abuse services, under their job retention services plan. [Download]
ACL 11-29: CalWORKs: 8% Reduction To The MAP Levels, COLA Increase To The MBSAC Levels And Changes To The Earned Income Disregard Calculation (4/6/11)
The first of several ACL’s implementing the 2011 budget trailer bill Social Services cuts. This one reviews the all grants (all regions, exempt and non-exempt MAPs) grant cut and the reduction of the earned income disregard (the first disregard is cut from $225 to a maximum of $112 — the 50% disregard remaining in place). The new chart for the MBSAC (standard of need) is adjusted upwards for the COLA. [Download]
ACL 11-22: Implementation Of The New Inter-County Transfer Process For CalFresh Program Benefits (3/25/11)
Ding dong, the wicked witch of county-only Food Stamps (CalFresh) eligibility is dead! This letter implements (new) Welfare & Institutions Code § 11053.2, and sets out the inter-county transfer process for CalWORKs and/or Medi-Cal linked cases, as well as non-assistance CalFresh cases. Implementation is to be done no later than 4/1/11. [Download]
ACIN I-14-11: Application Processing Time Frame Requirements For The CalFresh And CalWORKs Programs (3/22/11)
Titled as guidance to counties about existing application processing timelines given staff turnover, this ACIN reviews Expedited Services and Immediate Need emergency processing deadlines, as well as standard app times for both interviews and final decisions. [Download]
76 Federal Register 15, Proposed HUD Rule: Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs–Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, pp. 4194 – 4198 (January 24, 2011)
There is still time to comment on this groundbreaking proposed rule that has come to be referred to as the “LGBT HUD proposed rule”. The proposed rule cites to studies establishing significant unequal housing access for and housing discrimination against LGBT persons and families and describes its purpose as ensuring that HUD’s core programs are open to all individuals and families regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. The proposed rule contains provisions that would, among other things, clarify that the term “family” as used in regulations governing HUD’s programs is intended to include LGBT individuals and households. The rule would also prohibit owners and operators of HUD-assisted or HUD-insured housing from making inquiries of occupants or applicants for housing regarding sexual orientation and/or gender identity, but would not preclude voluntary disclosure of such information. Comments on the proposed rule must be submitted to HUD by March 25, 2011. Contact Maya Rupert of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (MRupert@nclrights.org) or Navneet Grewal of the National Housing Law Project (ngrewal@nhlp.org) to join in the comment letters their respective organizations are preparing. [Download]