Several changes to increase the participation in the HIPP program became effective January 1, 2008 (they say, could they have meant 2009?). Some of the changes are: Having a share of cost of over $200 is no longer an automatic disqualifier. If someone does not have a medical condition predetermined by DHCS to be cost effective, a cost effective test will be conducted based on the individuals coverage, share of cost, premium cost, and the annual cost of the condition. HIPP will pay for additional family members’ premiums if the individual and family premium costs cannot be separated. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
ACWDL 09-01: Juvenile detention facility contacts for SB 1469 requirements (1/9/2009)
This letter contains the list of chief probation officer contacts for county welfare departments. These contacts are to be used by counties to carry out the requirements of SB 1469. SB 1469 required DHCS to develop a process so that juveniles who are incarcerated for at least 30 days can establish Medi-Cal eligibility immediately upon release if they are eligible, see ACWDL 07-34 for more details. ACWDL 08-36 contains the contact information for the county welfare department contact person regarding the SB 1469 process. [Download]
Notice PIH 2008 – 43 – Housing Choice Voucher Portability Procedures and Corrective Actions (December 3, 2008)
This notice guides PHAs regarding portability moves. The notice “describes the conditions that must exist in order for a PHA to deny a family’s request under the portability procedures as a result of insufficient funding in accordance with 24 CFR part 982.314(e)(1)” and sets forth the penalties that will be imposed on PHAs that wrongfully deny such a request. This Notice updates and supersedes the portability guidance originally issued in HUD Notice PIH 2004-12. [Download]
ACIN I-03-09: CalWORKs/Food Stamps: Revised Eligibility/Status Report (QR 7) And QR 7 Addendum Forms (1/6/09)
A joint effort to improve the Quarterly Reporting (QR) forms for ease of client use, to simplify the questions, and to make the quarterly reporting process more efficient is done. Forms attached. Reminds counties that information about determining “completeness” of the document can be found at ACL 03-18 and ACIN I-29-04. [Download]
ACIN I-100-08: New EBT Types For Ancillary/Work-Related Cash Benefits (12/31/08)
EBT gets bigger: counties can choose (but are not required) to add Cal-Learn and Welfare-to-Work benefits to the EBT system. Theory is better data, reporting and tracking, and faster client receipt of benefits, than those old fashioned checks. Available payment are transportation, ancillary, and bonuses for Cal-Learn; transportation costs and ancillary expenses necessary for WTW participation. (The letter does not address this issue, but one hopes that counties will counsel recipients about these payments appearing on the EBT, for budgeting purposes.) [Download]
ACIN 1-02-09: Federal Family Unification Program (1/5/09)
In this hard economic time, some good news. $20 million in new Section 8 vouchers through the federal Family Unification Program (FUP) is now available. The funds are for families for whom the lack of adequate housing is a primary factor in the removal, or imminent separation, of children from their families; and youth who are at least 18 years old but not yet 22, who left foster care at age 16 or older, and lack adequate housing. (Youth only qualify for a voucher for a maximum of 18 months.)
Although child welfare agencies certify eligible recipients for the vouchers, public housing authorities are the only eligible applicants for funding. The Housing Authority must submit its application to HUD by 1/28/09. There must be an MOU between the child welfare agency and the housing authority. Includes resource links. [Download]