Another one of those “must reads” for those doing Food Stamps. Too many issues to summarize, but this is THE place to go for TFS info. (There’s very little in the regs.) Learn about how going on TFS, then getting reinstated for CalWORKs in the same month, becoming approved in another household or otherwise losing eligibility (fleeing felon, IPV, etc.) affects TFS (not a pleasant answer: they reduce the HH size, but keep counting the income …), the interaction between a new FS application and the TFS benefits, adjusting TFS for worker error during the 5 months “protected” rate period, and more … [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
ACL 05-37 – Changes to Requirements Regarding Child Support Referrals (November 22, 2005)
CDSS issued regulations regarding whether it is in the best interests of a foster child to make a child support (collection) referrals. This All County Letter transmits a newly modified form for the documentation and transmission of a social worker’s determination of best interest to not make the referral. [Download]
ACIN I-72-05 – December 2005 Social Security (COLA) (November 4, 2005)
A heads up for counties (and recipients) that Social Security will be passing on a 4.1% COLA increase. The main purpose of this letter is to explain how this works in the world of quarterly reporting. Basically, for new applicants, it’s anticipated for December and will be budgeted for that month. For recipients, it’s a “known to county” change that they will use to budget the quarter including January 2006. In other words, no matter what, it counts for 01/06. [Download]
ACL 05-35 – Interim Share of Cost Process For In-Home Supportive Services (October 28, 2005)
How the interim share of cost process for the In-Home Supportive Services Residual/Personal Care Services Program/In-Home Supportive Services Plus Waiver (IHSS-R/PCSP/IHSS+) will operate until automation of the Case Management, Information, and Payrolling System (CMIPS) is completed. Recipients will be receiving two notices, one from IHSS and one from Medi-Cal re: their share of cost. The letter has technical details about the new processes for “buy out” and “Spendown” as it relates to the new system and share of cost. If you do Medi-Cal or IHSS, just read this! It is anticipated that automation of CMIPS will be completed in late Spring 2006. [Download]
ACL 05-27 – CalWORKs Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) For Quarterly Reporting (November 1, 2005)
Just in time for the end of the year, here’s the 2005 IRT chart. Of more interest, the letter discusses the CWD’s obligation to inform Assistance Unit (AU) of their individualized IRT level. The CWD must issue an informing notice with the AU’s IRT limits (1) at least once a quarter; (2) at redetermination/recertification; (3) anytime there are changes in the CalWORKs AU or Family MAP size; (4) when there is a change of persons who are required to report income; and (5) upon recipient request. Additionally, the AU must be informed of the new IRT levels any time the IRT chart is updated. CWDs (1) the QR 7, (2) the Notice of Action used to add or remove AU members, or (3) on a separate informing notice to notify the AU. And for those of you into overpayment and fraud defenses: the IRT level the recipient was last notified of will be used for reporting purposes until the CWD updates the recipient of any applicable IRT change.
As a refesher course: The IRT is the greater of 130 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for the number of persons whose needs are included in the determination of the cash aid amount, or the level at which an Assistance Unit (AU) becomes financially ineligible. Receipients must report going over the IRT mid-quarter (and not wait for the QR 7 due date). [Download]
ACIN I-69-05 – More Information on CalWORKs for Katrina Evacuees (October 19, 2005)
This letter suggests that counties explore Diversion payments for evacuees, so they don’t use up their 60 months of TANF time; reminds counties that emergency and disaster assistance payments are exempt, so FEMA and American Red Cross relief will not impact Katrina evacuees’ CalWORKs eligibility. The ACIN also has some Q and A’s, including: evacuees are subject to work requirements and time limits, but Counties should make a WTW good cause or exemption determination as appropriate if the family is in crisis; drug felon and finger imaging rules still apply (but applicants are not to be made to come in to an office JUST to get imaged); though homeless evacuee families are change reporters for Food Stamps, they are quarterly for CalWORKs (though it is “anticipated that the majority of homeless AUs will obtain permanent housing via the Homeless Assistance program.”)
[Download]