On March 11, 2004, HUD issued a guidance letter clarifying its policies regarding “mixed” families (families with one or more members who are not citizens) for purposes of calculating rent in public and federally-assisted housing. The letter emphasizes that under 24 C.F.R. § 5.520, a family is considered to be eligible for prorated assistance if at least one of its members (adult or child and not necessarily the head of household) is determined to be a citizen or to have eligible immigration status. The guidance letter includes a list of related frequently asked questions. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
ACIN I-10-04 – Quarterly Reporting Q’s and A’s(February 25, 2004)
One more set of Q’s and A’s. This one’s really for the QR wonks. Helpful and reviewing “County-Initiated Actions” (a mid-quarter change) and multiple-change situations (when more than one factor affecting eligibility occurs during the quarter). For the full set, go to the Quarterly Reporting Q and A website. [Download]
ACIN I-17-04 – CalWORKs Eligibility Analyst staff listing
Budget cuts shrink the CDSS size, but at least they keep up with informing the public of who does what. At least the Eligibility Bureau! Here’s the latest list. [Download]
ACL 04-04 – Q’s and A’s re: CalWORKs Ancillary Support Services (corrected letter, January 26, 2004)
At long last, another Q and A on support services, squeezed out just before CDSS terminated all advocate workgroups due to the budget. Carry this one around with you, as it goes over a lot of ground. Of note: Counties are reminded that they must explain what ancillary support services means, how to get ‘em, and the availability of advance payment. Capping, school supplies and financial aid, high cost items, disability accommodations, support services post 18-24 months, you name it, it’s here! [Download]
ACL 04-07 – Retroactive Child Care Final Regulations (March 5, 2004)
Remember that lovely bill that eliminated retroactive child care support services Stage One payments for CalWORKs subsidized child care? Well, the final regs are out, with some changes from the emergency regs that went into effect February 2nd. Counties are now “encouraged” to inform families orally of the availability of child care subsidies and required to provide the county’s child care request form upon request. (Bad news is the counties have 10 days, up from five, to process the child care requests.) [Download]
ACIN I-07-04 – CAPI for Refugees Discontinued from SSI (January 28, 2004)
Remember that odd provision of Welfare Reform that limited Refugee (and asylee, and Cuban/Haitians, etc.) eligibility to federal benefits to seven years, on the theory that people would just naturally flow into citizenship (at $300 bucks a pop!)? Well, the time’s up and people are getting bumped off. This ACIN tells counties how to process these unlucky elderly and disabled immigrants. Basically, if the person is discontinued for immigration status, and 65 or over, they’re in. If under 65, CAPI will accept the SSI disability determination. (If a medical reevaluation is due, the person will get on CAPI, but then be re-evaluated). If the discontinuance is for disability cessation, the immigrant must apply and qualify based on a regular CAPI application/disability determination. [Download]