24 CFR Parts 5, 92 and 908 – Refinement of Income and Rent Determination Requirements in Public and Assisted Housing Programs: Proposed Delay of Effective Date (02/11/09)

This notice proposes a temporary delay in implementing final rule HUD regulations excluding persons based upon SSN: 74 Fed. Reg. 4832 (January 27, 2009), that would have required public and assisted housing residents to provide a valid social security number to qualify for the program. Importantly, this notice also clarifies that the social security number requirement would not apply to individuals in families who do not claim eligible immigration status under HUD’s non-citizen regulations, thus alleviating some of the concerns raised by housing and immigration advocates regarding the effect the version of the rule issued on January 27 would have on so-called “mixed” families in which not all family members claim eligible immigration status. Comments on the February 11 (delay) notice are due March 13, 2009 and can be submitted either online at www.regulations.gov (search Enterprise Income Verification) or by mail to the Regulations Division, Office of General Counsel, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Room 10276, Washington, DC 20410–0500. [Download.] The National Housing Law Project and the National Low Income Housing Coalition sent a memo to HUD on February 3 expressing concerns and commenting on the rule issued on January 27 prompting the proposed delay set forth in the instant notice.

ACWDL 09-04: Interim guidance same sex marriages (2/9/09)

Medi-Cal eligibility for couples of the same sex who were married in California between June 16 and November 4 2008 will be determined according to the instructions in ACWDL 09-03. This letter also applied to couples of the same sex who were legally married in other states and are current residents of California. This interim guidance may change based on the outcomes of pending lawsuits. [Download]

ACWDL 09-03: The Domestic Partners Rights and Responsibilities Act of 2003 (2/9/09)

In 2005 AB 205 gave registered domestic partners (RDP) the rights and responsibilities of spouses under California law; this letter details how Medi-Cal eligibility will be determined for RDPs. This letter also applies to couples who have entered into legal unions in other states that are substantially equivalent to RDPs, not including marriage. Most Medi-Cal programs are based on federal law and receive federal funding; DHCS has determined that AB 205 has no eligibility impact on those federal Medi-Cal programs. RDPs with mutual children will be treated as unmarried parents. DHCS has determined that AB 205 will impact eligibility for certain State-only funded Medi-Cal programs. The letter works through several eligibility scenarios, some involving CalWORKs and some involving Medi-Cal only determinations. [Download]

ACIN I-96-08: CDSS) Food Stamp Policy Interpretation And Consultation System (PICS) (12/31/08)

The just posted (a tad late!) notic of a new Policy Interpretation and Consultation System (PICS) for the Food Stamp Program. PICS is available through the internet and can be accessed by the public, including advocates. Gotta ask permission first, though. The ACIN includes instructions on how to get approved to access the PICS. [Download]

ACIN I-05-09: (CalWORKs): Changes To The Enter-County Transfer (ICT) Process (1/20/09)

SB 1160, effective 1/1/09, changes the rules re: non-needy caretaker relatives receiving CalWORKs benefits on behalf of children who are dependents of the court, who are not eligible for federal Foster Care. These relatives are now exempt from the face-to-face interview requirement in their new county of residence when the family moves from one county to another. [Download]

ACIN I-01-09: Child And Family Services Review Parent And Foster Parent Survey (1/9/09)

Just a heads up to counties: a statewide survey of foster and birth parents is scheduled to begin January 2009. As part of the requirements for the federal review of California’s IV-E Program, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) will conduct four waves of a survey to obtain information about the frequency and quality of social work visits with parents and foster care providers. [Download]