The state budget cut CalWORKs grants (both regions, exempt and non-exempt households). This ACL lists the new grant amounts, and reminds counties that this cut may result in higher Food stamps. The Maximum Aid Payment (MAP) COLA is suspended, but the Standard of Need (the MBSAC) goes up. All clients will get the attached stuff in a May mailing.
The cut also applies to Refugee Cash Assistance and the Trafficking/Crime Victims programs. [Download]
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Health Care Services struck up an agreement that facilitates the completion and submittal of Medi-Cal applications for inmates and wards of CDCR prior to their release. Attached to this letter is the memo of understanding between the two departments. The letter includes a summary of the mou. [Download]
To receive the FMAP increase under ARRA states cannot have more restrictive policies then were in place on July 1, 2008. Since July 1, 2008 California had reduced the continuous eligibility for children (CEC) period from one year to six months as well as added a Mid-Year Status report requirement for some children. The 6 month CEC and the MSR requirement will be suspended until the Director of DHCS issues a declaration specifying that the increased FMAP is no longer available through the ARRA. Upon such a declaration, the CEC time period will be restored to six months and MSR requirements for children will be required. The letter includes instructions to reinstate any child who was discontinued because of the 6 month CEC or the MSR. [Download]
The final regulations are out on eligibility for victims of domestic violence, trafficking and other serious crime victims. (These policies previously were done as emergency regs and through ACLs.) Of note: County eligibility workers are to use an individual’s self-declaration that he/she is a human trafficking victim unless the county documents in writing an independent and reasonable basis to find the applicant not credible; Continued presence can only be requested by federal law enforcement; Victims of human trafficking who are granted continued presence may assist local and state, not just federal, law enforcement officials; Victims who petitioned for U visa interim relief prior to the issuance of final federal regulations governing U visas, are eligible for state-funded benefits and services. [Download]
Clarification on determining the number of Special Investigative Unit (SIU) investigators counties need to investigate suspected cases of fraud in CalWORKs, Food Stamps, and CalWORKs Stage One Child Care programs. The clarification is that the one investigator for every 1,000 CalWORKs case includes CalWORKs stage One child care, and that food stamps requires a fraud detection unit in areas where 5000 or more households participate in the program. The case starts as a CalWORKs child care case once a person is on CalWORKs. [Download]
Te Income and Eligibility System (IEVS) report transmittal process is going to change. Currently, the New Hire Registry System (NHR) and Integrated Fraud Detection (IFD) System reports are via automated file. In addition, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) currently provides printed reports to some counties. Effective May 31, 2009, CDSS will make the NHR and IFD information only in electronic format. Counties must choose between the option of using their automation consortium’s IFD and NHR solutions or receiving IFD and NHR information directly from CDSS as data files or print image files. Poor ole’ ISAWS counties must choose to receive data files or print image files. [Download]