The federal SGA amount will increase to $980 effective January 1, 2009. Counties will retroactively redetermine Medi-Cal eligibility based on disability if a case has been denied erroneously due to a delay in implementing the new SGA amount. SGA rules do not apply to blind individuals, Medi-Cal beneficiaries who return to work after disability has been approved, or to applicants of the Medi-Cal 250% Working Disabled Program. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
ACL 08-57E: Relative/Nonrelative Extended Family Member (NREFM) Approvals – Revised SOC 815 Form (11/25/08)
The Errata (to a letter that didn’t get posted) on the new form used in assessing and approving relative and NREFM caregivers. The form was modified to comply with the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006. [Download]
Emergency Regulation Packets
The following packets are being sent (in the next 6 business days) to the Office of Administrative Law (OAL). As emergency regulations, they are effective January 1, 2009. They are also open for public comment:
1. Senate Bill (SB) 39 Regulations for the Reporting and Disclosure Requirements of Child Abuse and/or Neglect Fatalities. Comments due March 18th, 2009.
2. Asset Exclusion Changes and EITC Outreach in CalWORKs Program. Comments due February 11, 2009.
ACWDL 08-49: 2009 Medicare Catastrophic Coverage act (MCCA) spousal impoverishment caps (11/10/2008)
Effective January 1, 2009, the community spouse resource allowance is $109,560 and the new maximum spousal income allocation/minimum monthly maintenance need allowance is $2,739 per month under the MCCA. [Download]
ACL 08-61: CalWORKs IRT For Quarterly Reporting (12/3/08)
The letter provides the 2008-2009 Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) chart ….effective 10/1/08. It also reviews the IRT rules and informing notice requirements. The IRT rules also apply to the Refugee Cash Assistance and Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Programs. [Download]
ACL 08-54: Instructions Regarding The Supplement To The Rate Paid On Behalf Of A Dual Agency Child (12/1/08)
This ACL provides instructions and a form for determining eligibility for, and the appropriate level of the supplement to, the regular “dual-agency” rate. The supplement is based on “extraordinary care and supervision needs”. (A dual agency child is a child receiving Foster Care or Adoption Assistance Program (AAP) benefits and who is concurrently a consumer of California regional center services due to a developmental disability, and/or a child receiving services under the California Early Start Intervention Services Act.) The children must be three years of age and older to be eligible for the supplement; counties have sole discretion to determine a supplement, which cannot exceed $1,000 per month. The ACL also has a Q & A section, and reviews the use of the “Supplement to the Rate Eligibility Form (SOC 836).” [Download]