ACIN I-95-08: CalWORKs And Food Stamp: Impacts Of Social Security COLA Effective December 1, 2008 (12/17/08)

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Social Security recipients will receive a 5.8 percent cost-of-living increase in their Social Security benefits effective December 1, 2008, payable January 2009. For new applicants in both the CalWORKs and FS programs, the actual amount of the Social Security benefit, including the increase, shall be used for eligibility and budgeting purposes beginning with the month of January 2009.

For CalWORKs and FS households currently in the October, November, and December quarter, the County Welfare Department (CWD) will reasonably anticipate the increase in the SSA income. This means that starting with the QR Data month of November 2008, the SSA COLA will be reasonably anticipated to be received in the QR Payment Quarter of January/February/March 2009. counties shall take mid-quarter actions based on SSA COLAs. Since the SSA COLA is effective December 2008 and payable in January, counties are to take a mid-quarter county-initiated action to decrease benefits effective January 1, 2009.

The requirements for a timely and adequate Notice of Action shall apply. [Download]

ACWDL 08-58: Documentation needed when referring applications to the Healthy Families Program (12/22/2008)

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This letter reminds counties which children should be bridged to Healthy Families, what documentation should be provided to Healthy Families, and that income verification provided to Healthy Families must be dated within 45 days. With MSRs for many children going into effect 1/1/09 more children may be bridged to Healthy Families; the new MSR form contains an opt out box that parents check if they do not want their children’s information forwarded to Healthy Families. [Download]

ACWDL 08-57: 2009 Medicare premiums and Supplemental Security Income standard and parent allocations for the Qualified Medicare/Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary/Qualifying Individuals-1 and other programs (12/18/2008)

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The standard allocation increased from $319 to $337. The parent allocation is $674 for an individual and $1,011 for a couple. The 2009 Medicare Part A premium is $443 for those with fewer than 30 quarters of work and $244 for those with 30-39 quarters of work. The Part B premium will hold steady at $96.40 (more for those who make over $85,000) and the deductible will remain $135. Title II COLAs for all FPL programs will be disregarded until the new FPLs are effective for the particular program. [Download]