Information on the new rules making it easier for adopted children to find and contact their siblings. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
ACIN I-42-07: Food Stamp Q & As (8/9/07)
More of those pressing Food Stamps questions answered. Useful stuff like sponsored immigrant eligibility when the sponsor won’t cooperate (12 months through CalWORKs, before the immigrant is cut off, but FS can continue); Transitional Food Stamps (TFS) when there is Aid Paid Pending (no); TFS when there is a proposed sanction, but before it could be imposed, the family was discontinued from CalWORKs for QR 7 (yes); exempting as income contributions (any purpose) from a 3rd party, as long as used for the specified purpose, but the shelter allowance will be based on what the recipient actually pays (i.e. less the contribution towards rent); clarification that CalWORKs workstudy, in its entirety, is excluded as income for food stamps. [Download]
Errata to ACIN I-32-07E: Clarification To ACIN I-32-07: Reporting Methodology For TANF Work Participation Rates (8/6/07)
An errata to an errata, special for welfare nerds. And those of you in the position of convincing workers to leave recipients with disabilities and caring for disabled household members alone, as they are not part of the work participation count for the feds. [Download]
ACIN I-41-07: SB 1569 (Human Trafficking/Benefits) , Post-Implementation Questions And Answers (8/8/07)
A much needed follow up on ACL 06-60, with policy clarifications about the implementation of the provision of public assistance to victims of trafficking. Recognizing the sensitivity of the issue, there is an attached suggested screening tool, and a list of resources. Key issues covered:
- Proof of trafficking (not “other serious crime” which requires a U Visa Interim Relief) = sworn statement + one piece of evidence, unless not available and county documents applicant is credible);
- Victims are required to seek a SSN and work authorization so they can comply with welfare to work;
- Food Stamps has NO work requirements (ABAWD, work registration, etc.) for this population;
- Discussion of what employment/training services are appropriate and when, including when physical or psychological trauma are such that the person cannot comply, as well as all the standard Refugee Services and CalWORKs exemptions;
- If a person with a T-visa is approved for the federal refugee program, s/he gets an additional 8 months of refugees services. (The 8 month through the state-only trafficking program don’t count against the federal benefits.);
- As solely-state funded (non-MOE) folks, trafficking (T and U visas) people are NOT in the federal welfare to work count. (So, you have a handle if the county is trying to focus on federal, instead of state, activities.)
[Download]
ACIN I-38-07: Tribal TANF And Child Care Interface
Info on funding, and coverage of child care services to folks in Tribal TANF. [Download]
ACL 07-25 (6/25/07) CalWORKs 60-Month Time Limit Exemption For Recipients Living In Indian Country
CalWORKs exempts recipients living on Tribal Reservations and Rancherias where unemployment is higher than 50%. This is the list of the areas that triggered the exemption in 2006. Impacted counties are: Amador, Amador, Butte, Del Norte, Eureka, Humboldt, Inyo, Lake, Mendocino, Modoc, Mono, Riverside, San Diego, San Joaquin, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Tulare. Folks in areas not on the list can also qualify for the exemption by providing verification from Tribal authorities that they lived somewhere where the unemployment exceeded 50%. [Download]