Although SB 1341 was effective January 1, 2009, this Notice is now providing the changes to the Restricted Accounts for CalWORKs and CalFresh recipients and to the spend down rules for eligibility to Homeless Assistance  (HA) payments.  Effective January 1, 2009, families can use funds held in restricted accounts to help pay for securing permanent rental housing or to pay for rent arrearages to avoid becoming homeless. In addition, any savings that are held in a restricted account are now considered exempt from being counted toward the $100 limit when determining eligibility for HA.  CWDs should ensure that no CalWORKs recipients have been discontinued from January 1, 2009, forward, due to withdrawing funds to pay for costs associated with securing permanent rental housing or to pay rent arrearages to avoid becoming homeless. If discontinuances are discovered, they should be rescinded and eligibility re-determined retroactively, as necessary. [Download]