The California Department of Social Services has announced a pilot project to provide laptops and cell phone for CalFresh Employment and Training participants. The pilot project will be from May, 2021 to July, 2021. The Pilot will be in San Francisco and Butte Counties, and the California Community College Fresh Success program. The pilot will establish administrative processes and determine participant needs. The Laptop Loaner program may be implemented in counties that have opted to provide CalFresh Employment and Training beginning October 1, 2021. (ACWDL, April 22, 2021.)
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
Reimbursement of TrustLine registration for Emergency Child Care Bridge Program
The Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children is designed to reduce child care barriers for children and parenting youth in the foster care system. TrustLine is California’s registry of licensed-exempt childcare providers who have completed a criminal background screening and clearance process.
Before a licensed exempt provider can care for a Bridge Program eligible child, the provider must be registered on TrustLine. Bridge Program caregiver families and county welfare departments can now reimburse license-exempt providers for TrustLine costs. A total of $15,000 is available in Fiscal Year 2020-21, and $16,000 is anticipated to be available for Fiscal Year 2021-22. (ACWDL, April 20, 2021.)
COVID-19 CAPI change to verification of SSI ineligibility
To be eligible for the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI), an individual must be ineligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) only because of their immigration status. Effective April 16, 2021, counties may accept verbal attestation from a claimant that they have applied for SSI and their application is pending a final determination by the Social Security Administration if the claimant has not received a final determination. This procedure remains in effect until the end of the California COVID-19 State of Emergency.
Counties should check the immigration status code in the MEDS database. Code N13 dated within six month of the CAPI application or redetermination also indicates the claimant has applied for SSI and been denied only because of immigration status. In those cases, the county should not ask the CAPI applicant to reapply for SSI. (ACL 21-41, April 22, 2021.)
Increase in CalWORKs vehicle value limit
The vehicle value limit for CalWORKs, Refugee Cash Assistance, Entrant Cash Assistance, Traffcking and Crime and Victims Assistance Program is increased by 1.93% to $25,483 effective July 1, 2021. The increase is because the vehicle value limit must be adjusted annually in accordance with the Transportation Consumer Price Index. (ACL 21-38, April 2, 2021.)
Franchise Tax Board and Treasury Offset Program collection updates
Franchise Tax Board intercepts will continue to be suspended through July 31, 2021 because of COVID-19. Counties can approve refund requests for individuals with circumstances related to COVID-19 for Franchise Tax Board collections that occurred starting March 1, 2020 through the end of the suspension of Franchise Tax Board intercepts.
Collection of CalFresh overissuances through the Treasury Offset Program are no longer suspended and collections began in early April, 2021. (ACWDL, April 8, 2021.)
Changes to federal Public Charge rule
The Department of Homeland Security will not enforce the 2019 public charge rule. As a result, the 1999 interim field guidance on the public charge inadmissibility provision will now apply. Under the 1999 Interim Guidance, the Department of Homeland Security and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services will not consider receipt of Medi-Cal (except for long-term care, public housing or CalFresh as part of determining public charge inadmissibility. Public cash assistance for income maintenance, including CalWORKs, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants and general assistance/general relief.
However, receipt of benefits alone will not automatically cause a public charge determination. Receipt of benefits is only one factor among several considered as part of the totality of circumstances determination for whether someone is likely to become a public charge. Receipt of benefits by family or household members is not considered for public charge purposes.
Medical testing, treatment, and preventative services for COVID-19, including vaccines, is not considered for public charge purposes. (ACL 21-32, March 15, 2021.)