COVID-19 Extension of CalWORKs time on aid exemption

Posted on by

The California Department of Social Services has issued guidance regarding extension of the COVID-19 time on aid exemption from the CalWORKs maximum time on aid.  Months will not count toward the CalWORKs time on aid limit until the 60-month time on aid limit is implemented.  People will remain eligible for CalWORKs as long as they have received less than 48 countable months of CalWORKs.

Note that until June 30, 2021, the COVID-19 time on aid exemption did not apply if the recipient was over either 48 months of CalWORKs or over 60 federal countable months.  Going forward, the COVID-19 time on aid exemption applies if the recipient has received less than 48 CalWORKs countable months, regardless of the number of federally countable months the recipient has received.  (ACL 21-82, July 8, 2021.)

Federal Chafee cash payment for current and former foster youth age 18-26

Posted on by

Current and former foster youth who are or were nonminor dependents (NMD) eligible for Extended Foster Care (EFC) and are between the ages of 18 and 26 are eligible for a supplemental prepaid card, not contingent on opting into EFC. This federal flexibility extends to September 30, 2021. As such, eligibility verifications must be submitted by Friday, September 3, 2021. Those who are eligible but live out of state may receive the supplemental prepaid card if their NMD jurisdiction originated in California. Young adults whose foster care jurisdiction originates in another state but are currently residing in California are eligible if adequate post-18 jurisdiction verification is provided from the originating state. Verification examples include a documented phone call, written statement, or verifiable electronic data match.

CDSS will work with counties on the verification of eligibility and distribution of cash cards for all eligible current and former foster youth. Counties must verify all adults ages 18-20, while the CDSS must reach out to local youth who may not be in contact with their case managers, verify all adults 21 and older, and distribute prepaid cards for all eligible young adults.

These funds are not considered income for purposes of the CalWORKs, CalFresh, Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI), CalWORKs Stage 1, and Emergency Child Care Bridge voucher programs, and will not count against the resource limits for 12 months from receipt of the payment.  (ACL 21-73, June 22, 2021).

COVID-19 CalFresh waiver of interview requirements

Posted on by

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is extending waivers of the initial application and recertification interview and face-to-face interview.  These waivers were previously in effect, and are not being reimplemented because of the Continuing Appropriations Act.  These waivers are now in effective until December 31, 2021.

Per previous guidance, counties must waive the requirement for an interview at initial certification and recertification of eligibility for benefits if the county has verified the identity of the applicant and has completed all mandatory verifications.  If an interview cannot be waived, the county may require a telephone interview even if the household requests an in-person interview.  However, counties can only deny a request for a face-to-face interview once the county has confirmed that the household has access to a telephone or the county provides access to a telephone.  Counties must also conduct a face-to-face interview as a reasonable accommodation for a disability.

Federal Quality Control reviews will resume for July, 2021.  Counties can conduct quality control interviews by telephone through December 31, 2021.  (All County Welfare Directors Letter, July 1, 2021.)

Treatment of Golden State Grant payments received by foster care benefits recipients

Posted on by

The Golden State Grant Payment (GSGP) provides a $600 payment to individuals who received an SSI or SSP payment in March 2021. Payments are being issued via paper checks and were sent weekly from May 24, 2021 through the end of June 2021, based on zip code. For foster care recipients, the GSGP is not counted as income, or against the resource limit for 12 months, and shall not be used to offset the foster care maintenance payment.

When a GSGP for a foster youth is issued to a representative payee, funds should be given directly to the nonminor dependents (NMD) without restriction, unless the NMD has a conservator. For foster youth, funds will be given directly, depending on the age and development of the minor. They do not need to keep a receipt for their purchases, but if the funds go to the resource family, the family must keep an itemized receipt of what was spent.

When the county is the representative payee, funds should be deposited in a no cost, interest bearing account for the use and benefit of the child. The resource family will be informed of the funds. The county must keep an itemized record for the use of funds, and establish a method to disburse the funds upon release from foster care. The county may use these funds for the use and benefit of the child, as determined by the county. The funds may not be used for ordinary care and supervision or other foster-care related costs. (ACL 21-74, June 22, 2021.)

COVID-19 end of foster care flexibilities

Posted on by

The California Department of Social Services has issued guidance regarding the end of flexibilities in the foster care program because of COVID-19.

Rate flexibility for continued funding of an emergency caregiver pending approval as a Resource Family or Tribally Approved home beyond 365 days expired on July 1, 2021.  The approval to use COVID-19 as a static criteria to issue the Static Rate or Family Only Rate expired on July 1, 2021.  Alternative funding models and individualized rates for children to remain in the least restrictive, most family-like setting possible remain available.

Waiver of the 50 percent investigation fee and the 180 day time frame for court report submission for independent adoptions expired effective July 1, 2021.

Extension of the timeframe for required medical and dental examinations beyond 30 days for children placed out of home expired effective July 1, 2021.  Children placed out of home on or before June 30, 2021 must receive their examinations on or before July 31, 2021.

The option for counties to waive the age limit and length of stay for Transitional Housing Plus expired on July 1, 2021.  The ability for counties to temporarily approve a Supervised Independent Living Placement pending forms submission by the nonminor dependent also expired effective July 1, 2021.  The ability for counties to virtually inspect Supervised Independent Living Placements has not expired.

For Extended Foster Care, the following provisions continue to apply until September 30, 2021: 1) nonminor dependents should continue to get Extended Foster Care placement, services and supports even if they reach age 21, 2) Youth who aged out of case on or after January 27, 2021 may reenter Extended Foster Care even if they have reached age 21, and 3) participation requirements are waived for Extended Foster Care, including nonminor dependents, young people age 21 or older, and yound people who re-enter Extended Foster Care.  (ACL 21-77, June 28, 2021.)

CalFresh state-wide ABAWD waiver

Posted on by

The federal Food and Nutrition Service has granted California’s request for a state-wide waiver of the CalFresh Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) time limit requirements. The ABAWD waiver is effective from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022.

Despite the ABAWD waiver, counties must 1) identify ABAWDs, screen for exemptions, and inform clients of ABAWD rules; 2) track and report work registrant, ABAWD and Employment and Training data; and 3) apply sanction requirements for work registrants who voluntarily quit a job of 30 hours or more per week, which provides weekly earnings equal to or greater than federal minimum wage times 30, or who, without good cause, reduce the number of hours worked to less than 30.  Counties cannot impose a sanction if a CalFresh recipient voluntarily quits a job of less than 30 hours per week.

Individuals who were previously discontinued from CalFresh for failure to meet ABAWD requirements and reapply to CalFresh may be approved for benefits if otherwise eligible. CalFresh Employment and Training and voluntary quit sanctions do not stop when the individual moves to a county with an ABAWD time limit waiver.  (ACL 21-67, June 15, 2021.)