Reminds counties that they must make two contacts with applicants when attempting to get enough information from applicants to complete the application procedure. Contacts can be either verbal or written, but leaving a voicemail does not count as contact. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
ACWDL 08-06: NEW LIMITS AND DISREGARDS FOR THE AGED AND DISABLED FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL PROGRAM FOR 2008 (2/25/2008)
The 2008 income limits and disregards for the A&D FPL program are now out. $1,097 is the limit for an individual beginning April 1st. [Download]
ACIN I-05-08E: Correction-Obsolete Food Stamp Q & As Regarding The Notice Of Missed Interview (NOMI) Process At Recertification (3/5/08)
Barely a month old, and already in need of correction! Two questions and answers recently published in ACIN I-05-08 regarding the recertification NOMI process are being made obsolete. CDSS is drafting an ACL informing CWDs of a new policy change regarding the NOMI process at recertification to be released in early Spring. [Download]
ACIN I-12-08: Implementation Of New Readoption Provisions For Intercountry Adoptions (2/25/08)
Senate Bill 1393 amended Family Code Section 8919 to include specific requirements that must be met in order for a a California Superior Court to issue a final readoption order. (Readoption is the process of completing a second adoption in California after a foreign born child has been adopted in a foreign country by California residents.) Currently, readoption in California is not mandatory by California law, but may be required by the federal government for immigration purposes.
The bill also establishes alternative requirements for readoption when the original adoption occurred in a country whose adoption laws have been certified by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) as meeting or exceeding those of California’s. The countries eligible for certification are: China, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Russia, and South Korea. The certification process is currently being developed by the CDSS. When these countries have been certified, the state will provide further instructions. A new birth certificate shall be established by the State Registrar upon receipt of a readoption order issued by the Superior Court. [Download]
ACWDL 08-05: New Federal Poverty levels (2/14/2008)
The new Medi-Cal FPL chart is here. For most Medi-Cal programs these new levels do not go into effect until April. There is also a Sneede v. Kizer chart based on the new poverty levels. [Download]
PIH 2008-12: Enhanced voucher requirements for over-housed families (2/15/08)
This HUD Notice, PIH 2008-12, establishes new improved policies for “over-housed” families receiving enhanced vouchers following the loss of federally subsidized housing, e.g. project-based Section 8 opt outs, prepayment of HUD-subsidized mortgages. Prior to the issuance of this notice, if the bedroom size of a family’s unit exceeded the size that the family qualified for under the voucher subsidy standards based on family size, the family was deemed “over-housed” and if there was no “appropriately” sized unit for them to move into in the development in which the subsidy loss took place, the household would be forced to move elsewhere with less housing assistance. This placed a burden on a great many empty-nesters and seniors. Among other things, the Notice obligates the owner to identify all appropriately sized units for the over-housed family to move into and, if there are none, permits the family to remain in their original unit and receive a subsidy for the oversized unit until an appropriately sized unit becomes available.