A reminder that the law now requires that foster care children who have moved to a new county of residence be disenrolled from the County Organized Health System (COHS) in the previous county of residence within two working days by the entity or person authorized to make medical decisions on behalf of the FC child. Includes “how to” instructions, including a reminder of the crucial need to immediately update the MEDS system of the new address. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
ACL 09-07: TANF Work Verification Plan (3/5/09)
Effective 10/1/08, here’s the “how to verify WTW activities” letter. Reminder to counties that this is JUST for counting towards federal work participation, and does not alter CalWORKs rules (i.e. individual assessment used to develop assignment of activities). Of note: study time; excused absences; job search time calculation as hours not calendar weeks; BA’s and other advanced degrees are permissible voc ed. Finally, the letter describes permissible verification of hours of participation: The verifying party confirms the participant was enrolled in an allowable course of study during the period of time for which hours are being reported and that the hours of participation correspond to the days classes are scheduled.
Counties are reminded that homework time must be allowed in the County plan, but are encouraged to use language that is not overly narrow to ensure inherent flexibility to accommodate any regulatory changes to this provision in the future. [Download]
ACIN I-19-09: Child Care Programs – IRS Inquiries And Employment Status For Child Care Providers (3/5/09)
If the IRS comes a knockin’ – CDSS advises counties how to describe the CalWORKs child care program. Bottom line: “work closely with your county counsel.” [Download]
ACIN I-08-09: Compilation Of Annual Food Stamp Survey Of Operations And Access (2/18/09)
The Who is doing What, by county, regarding FS access (language, office hours, etc.) [Download]
ACL 08-55: TANF Program Work Participation Data Reporting For Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 (12/29/08)
For the counties… instructions for reporting county-specific FFY 2009 TANF work participation rate data using the Enterprise II Lite (E2L) system. [Download]
ACL 09-05: CalWORKs Information Regarding California Registered Domestic Partners (RDPs) And Same-Sex Spouses (2/27/09)
Policy direction regarding eligibility of same-sex married spouses to the CalWORKs, Food Stamp, and Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) programs, and instructions regarding eligibility for Medi-Cal. (DHCS has issued ACWDL 09-03 and ACWDL 09-04 regarding this.) The California RDP is an individual who has a declaration of domestic partnership registered with the California Secretary of State. AB 205 extended these rights and responsibilities to a member of a legal union validly formed in another jurisdiction that is equivalent to a California RDP.
For CalWORKs , RDPs have the same rights and responsibilities as stepparents. Pending judicial resolution, all same-sex marriage licenses issued between June 16, 2008 (when the In re Marriage Cases finding the bar on same-sex marriages unconstitutional became final) and November 4, 2008 (Prop 8 ) are deemed to be valid on the basis of marriage for the purposes of CalWORKs eligibility. Massachusetts and Connecticut also permit same-sex marriages. CalWORKs Stage One child care services does not change – RDPs and same sex spouses are treated as stepparents. The CalWORKs parent will have the option include or exclude the RDP/same-sex spouse in the AU, which could impact the availability of child care in the home. If a RDP/same-sex spouse adopts the eligible child(ren), the RDP/same-sex spouse will be considered a parent and a member of the AU, so the same eligibility requirements for two-parent families will be applied.
No change to the Food Stamp Program, which never cared about this, looking only at the group that purchases/prepares food together.
RCA is the same as CalWORKs.
RDPs/same-sex spouses are not eligible for federal Medi-Cal benefits unless they are a natural or adoptive parent of a child in the AU, the name of both RDPs/same-sex spouse appear on the child’s birth certificate, or they can establish eligibility on their own behalf (e.g. by being aged, blind, disabled, pregnant, etc.) The RDP/same-sex spouse may be eligible for specific state funded Medi-Cal programs because he/she is treated as a spouse under state law. When the RDP/same-sex spouse is not the natural or adoptive parent of a child in the AU, but he/she is eligible for CalWORKs, a separate Medi-Cal determination must be made for that RDP/same-sex spouse and in some instances for the rest of the family. [Download]