CalFresh Water Pilot implementation

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has announced the implementation date and final ZIP code selection for the CalFresh Water Pilot. The pilot is a program to provide additional CalFresh nutrition benefits to purchase safe drinking water in areas where it is necessary. Pilot benefits will be available to CalFresh households living in selected ZIP codes in Kern County with out-of-compliance water systems under the California Safe Drinking Water Act. The first date of the pilot is March 1, 2022 and will last for 12 months, depending on the final number of pilot-eligible households and continued funding. 

The following Kern County zip codes will participate in the Pilot:

  • 93241 (Lamont)
  • 93220 (Edison)
  • 93243 (Gorman-Lebec)
  • 93311 (Bakersfield)
  • 93387 (Bakersfield)
  • 93386 (Bakersfield)

Notices about the program will be issued to eligible households on February 1, 2022 regarding the implementation date, eligibility criteria, benefit amount, and pilot duration. Notices will be given to households when they approved to participate in the CalFresh Water Pilot, discontinued from the pilot, or when the pilot ends. (ACL 21-50, April 28, 2021). 

The pilot is extended to October 31, 2021.  (ACL 22-101, November 30, 2022.)

COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave for IHSS providers

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has provided information about State Supplemental Paid Sick Leave for In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) providers.  Supplemental Paid Sick leave provides 80 hours of sick leave for IHSS providers in addition to the regular 16 hours of sick leave provided by the IHSS. State Supplemental Paid Sick Leave is available for IHSS providers when the provider is unable to work for a reason related to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Supplemental Paid Sick Leave is available retroactively to January 1, 2021.  For claims for sick leave prior to March 31, 2021, counties should verify whether a previous sick leave claim was submitted.  If a claim was not previously submitted, federal Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) funds must be used before State supplemental paid sick leave for leave prior to March 31, 2021. While EPSLA placed providers on a two week paid leave, State Supplemental Paid Sick Leave is claimed in hourly increments, as determined by the county. 

IHSS providers taking sick leave must not be listed on a timesheet for any hours the recipient claims for paid sick leave. 

Reasons to be qualified for State Supplemental Paid Sick Leave include:

  • The provider is subject to a quarantine or isolation period related to COVID-19 as defined by an order or guidelines of the State Department of Public Health, the CDC, or a local health officer.
  • The provider has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19.
  • The provider is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and is seeking a medical diagnosis.
  • The provider is attending an appointment to receive a vaccine for protection against contracting COVID-19 (Up to a maximum of 4 hours).
  • The provider is experiencing symptoms related to a COVID-19 vaccine that prevents the provider from being able to work.
  • The provider is caring for a family member who has been advised to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19.
  • The provider is caring for a child whose school or place of care has been closed or is determined otherwise unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19 on the premises. 

CDSS has revised the COVID-19 paid sick leave request form to allow requests based on federal or state requirements. CDSS has notices for both providers and recipients to inform them of the new State supplemental paid sick leave. Providers will be informed of their ability to submit claims for State supplemental paid sick leave and under what circumstances they may claim it. Recipients will be informed of their ability to request an emergency back-up provider, should their primary provider need to claim federal emergency or State supplemental paid sick leave related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supplemental Paid Sick Leave is available until September 30, 2021. (ACL 21-36, March 30, 2021.)

COVID-19 CalFresh emergency allotment for June, 2021

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California has been approved to issue an emergency allotment of CalFresh for June, 2021.  All households will receive at least the maximum CalFresh allotment.  Households eligible to receive the maximum allowable allotment based on household size are now eligible to receive an emergency allotment of $95 per month. Households who are not eligible to receive the maximum allowable allotment based on household size, but whose emergency allotment would be less than $95 per month to receive the maximum allotment, will receive additional CalFresh benefits to raise their emergency allotment to the new $95 minimum.

The emergency allotment will be issued on July 18, 2021.

Moving forward, emergency allotments may be approved by FNS on a month-to-month basis until the Secretary of Health and Human Services rescinds the public health emergency.  There will be a one-month phase out of emergency allotments after the public health emergency is rescinded.  (ACWDL, June 2, 2021.)

Change to unemployment insurance reapplication requirement

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The California Employment Development Department (EDD) will now automatically process benefits from claimants who have not earned wages in the last 18 months, regardless of the type of claim, without needing to reapply for benefits. These claimants will need to continue certifying for benefits, and EDD will notify them when the additional benefit weeks are processed.

Claimants who have earned wages in the last 18 months must still reapply for benefits, even if they currently have are on either a PEUC or FED-ED benefits extension. EDD will then establish a new regular claim or deliver extended federal benefits on their behalf. All claimants will be notified if they need to reapply. Claimants can go to UI online and attempt to “File New Claim” to find out if they need to reapply. The application will proceed if a new application is necessary. Claimants can also use the Unemployment Insurance Benefit Calculator to see if they must reapply.

EDD also stated that, while there currently is no job search requirement, the requirement will return soon. EDD has a job search toolbox that can assist with employment searches. (EDD News Release No. 21-33, May 27, 2021.)

Express Interviews for evidence and Social Security cards

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Effective May 28, 2021, Field Offices and Social Security Card Centers nationwide will begin offering the new Express Interview option. Express interviews are brief interviews, lasting approximately 5-7 minutes, which allow eligible individuals to apply for an original or replacement Social Security card and submit necessary evidence in person.

Although this process is intended for Social Security card customers, Express Interviews are also available for gathering evidence for processing claims and workloads.

To qualify for an Express Interview, individuals must be unable to use automated or online services AND meet current critical appointment criteria such as:

  • original cards for individuals age 12 or older;
  • replacement cards for individuals who need to update or correct their information to obtain income, resources, medical care or coverage, or other services or benefits (e.g., filing a tax return, applying for housing, or seeking an Economic Impact Payment)

Individuals unable or unwilling to send original evidence documents by mail are also qualified for an Express Interview.

Individuals must call the Field Office to pre-screen for an Express Interview. If they meet the criteria above, the employee must consider all other virtual or drop-off options available before approving an Express Interview. Non-citizens should not mail or drop off immigration documents, as non-citizens are required to have their immigration documents in their possession at all times.

Instructions on conducting the in-person interviews are listed in the Emergency Message. (EM-21041, May 27, 2021)

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Verification of CalFresh student eligibility rule exemptions

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Effective immediately, exemptions from the CalFresh student eligibility rule are now no longer mandatory verifications. Counties must only require verification that a student meets an exemption when information provided by the household is questionable or when a student’s claim of physical or mental unfitness is not evident to the county.

A student is defined as any person who is enrolled at least half-time, as defined by the institution, at an institution of higher education. A student must be determined ineligible to participate in CalFresh unless they meet at least one exemption. Students who are enrolled less than half-time in courses are not considered a student for CalFresh purposes and do not need to meet an exemption. Exemptions include but are not limited to:

  • Working 20 hours a week or 80 hours a month
  • Attending school as part of an employment and training program
  • Attending school as part of a program to increase employability
  • Being a TANF-funded benefit recipient
  • The student is physically or mentally unfit

Previously, the county verified all exemptions, but now must only verify exemptions from the student eligibility rule in questionable cases or when a student’s physical or mental unfitness is not evident to the county. When verifying exemptions, the county must follow existing guidelines.

Information is considered questionable when the application differs from the applicant’s statements or other information received by the county. The county must document why the information is questionable, or where in the case file the inconsistency exists and what documentation was used to resolve the inconsistency.

Verification for physical or mental unfitness is required when the unfitness or disability is not evident to the county. Verification can be provided by any medical health professional or the applicant’s case manager.

Counties must review relevant information during the application and reapplication process to mitigate the occurrence of errors and variances. (ACL 21-58, May 21, 2021.)