COVID-19 requesting individual stimulus payment for dependents of benefits receipients and for other non-filers

Posted on by

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has reopened the non-filer tool for SSI, Social Security, VA benefits and Railroad Retirement recipients to request the $500 per dependent stimulus payment.  People on  SSI, Social Security, VA benefits and Railroad Retirement can now request the $500 child stimulus payment using the portal until September 30.  After September 30, 2020, SSI, Social Security, VA benefits and Railroad Retirement recipients must file a 2020 tax return in 2021 to get the $500 per dependent payment.

In addition, IRS set a deadline of October 15 for people who do not need to a tax return to apply for the stimulus using the portal.  People who do need to file a tax return but do not apply using the portal by October 15 will need to file a 2020 tax return in 2021 to get the stimulus. In addition, SSI, Social Security, VA benefits and Railroad Retirement recipients who did not automatically receive their stimulus payment need to complete the non-filer tool by October 15 or they will need to file a 2020 tax return in 2021 to get the stimulus.

IRS states it is working to resolve cases where a stimulus payment was taken and applied to their spouse’s past-due child support.  IRS states it will automatically issue the portion of the stimulus payment that was applied to the other spouse’s debt.

IRS has cancelled all checks that were issued to people who died before the receiving the stimulus payment.  Some stimulus payments to spouses of deceased  persons were cancelled.  IRS is working on reissuing payments to surviving spouses of deceased taxpayers who were unable to deposit the initial stimulus payment to the deceased and surviving spouse.  (IR 2020-180, August 14, 2020.)

New revision of CAPI Indigence Exception form

Posted on by

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has revised the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) indigence exception form SOC 813.  These changes reflect that, as explained in ACL 20-79, summarized here, CalFresh and housing subsidies will no longer be counted as income for purposes of determining eligibility for the CAPI indigence exception to sponsor deeming.  ACIN I-34-19, summarized here, which transmitted the prior version of the SOC 813 form and included the prior policy, is superceeded.  (ACIN I-61-20, August 13, 2020.)

CAPI acceptance of expired LPR cards

Posted on by

Effective immediately, counties must accept expired Lawful Permanent Residence (LPR) cards when determining eligibility for the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI).  If a claimant presents an expired LPR card, the county must verify immigration status using the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system.  The county must accept an expired LPR card and grant benefits as otherwise eligible if the LPR card can be verified through SAVE.

This policy applies to any administrative hearing or rehearing that is currently pending.  (ACL 20-88, August 5, 2020.)

COVID-19 independent adoptions reinstatement of in person requirements

Posted on by

Effective immediately, all in person requirements related to adoption specialist visits in the Independent Adoption that were waived in ACL 20-56, summarized here, are reinstated.  Remote visits can only occur if the state, county, or city public health department in the geographical area in which the petitioner(s) resides provides direction to halt in person contact and/or shifts back to Stage 1, the petitioner(s) refuses entry due to their own health and safety concerns related to the risk of COVID-19 infection or the petitioner(s), child, or someone else in the household has been exposed to, is experiencing symptoms of, or has tested positive for, COVID-19.

Other flexibilities in ACL 20-56 can continue for the duration of the Governor’s Declared State of Emergency due to COVID-19, unless a future EO or CDSS guidance ends or modifies it sooner.  (ACL 20-92, August 10, 2020.)

COVID-19 resuming in-person requirements for RFA complaint investigations

Posted on by

In ACL 20-43, summarized here, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) provided guidance regarding waiver of in-person various requirements for Resource Family Approval (RFA).  In ACL 20-71, summarized here, extended this waiver for investigation of complaints that do not allege serious health and safety risk. In addition, ACL 20-71 authorized other investigation to continue remotely on a case-by-case basis, if the state, county, or local public health department provides direction and/or shifts back to Stage 1, the resource family refuses entry because of their COVID-19 related concerns, or the resource family, child, or someone else in the household is experiencing symptoms of or has tested positive for COVID-19.

CDSS has now extended the waiver in ACL 20-43, as modified in ACL 20-71, for the duration of the Governor’s Declared State of Emergency due to COVID-19, unless further guidance is issued from the Department.  (ACL 20-91, August 7, 2020.)

Puente Projects no longer automatically cause exemption from CalFresh student eligibility rule

Posted on by

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has notified counties that enrollment in a Puente Project program no longer automatically causes students to be exempt from the CalFresh student eligibility rule.

In general, college students are ineligible for CalFresh.  One exception to that rule is if a student is participating in a program to increase student employability.  This includes programs for students with low-income that are operated by state or local government where at least one component of the program is equivalent to a CalFresh Education and Training Component, such as job retention, job search, work experience, vocational training or on-the-job training.

Puente Project programs are designed to improve the college going rate for educationally underrepresented students. There are Puente Project programs at 65 California Community Colleges.  In 2017, in ACL 17-05, CDSS decided that all Puente Project programs were considered programs to increase employability, and as a result, participating students were exempt from the CalFresh student rule.

CDSS has now decided that not all Puente Project programs meet the definition of a program to increase employability.  As a result, students in Puente Project programs are no longer automatically exempt from the CalFresh student rule.  However, individual Puente Project programs can be approved by CDSS on a case-by-case basis if they provide one or more components that is equivalent to a CalFresh Education and Training program.  If the program is approved, then students in the program will be exempt from the CalFresh student rule. Individual Puente Project programs can request approval using a CDSS request form.

Ongoing CalFresh households that include a student who was exempt from the CalFresh student rule because of participation in a Puente Project program must be reassessed for an exemption from the CalFresh student eligibility rule as soon as possible, but no later than the household’s next semi-annual report or recetification. (ACL 20-34, July 26, 2020.)

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has notified counties that enrollment in a Puente Project program no longer automatically causes students to be exempt from the CalFresh student eligibility rule.

In general, college students are ineligible for CalFresh.  One exception to that rule is if a student is participating in a program to increase student employability.  This includes programs for students with low-income that are operated by state or local government where at least one component of the program is equivalent to a CalFresh Education and Training Component, such as job retention, job search, work experience, vocational training or on-the-job training.

Puente Project programs are designed to improve the college going rate for educationally underrepresented students. There are Puente Project programs at 65 California Community Colleges.  In 2017, in ACL 17-05, CDSS decided that all Puente Project programs were considered programs to increase employability, and as a result, participating students were exempt from the CalFresh student rule.

CDSS has now decided that not all Puente Project programs meet the definition of a program to increase employability.  As a result, students in Puente Project programs are no longer automatically exempt from the CalFresh student rule.  However, individual Puente Project programs can be approved by CDSS on a case-by-case basis if they provide one or more components that is equivalent to a CalFresh Education and Training program.  If the program is approved, then students in the program will be exempt from the CalFresh student rule. Individual Puente Project programs can request approval using a CDSS request form.

Ongoing CalFresh households that include a student who was exempt from the CalFresh student rule because of participation in a Puente Project program must be reassessed for an exemption from the CalFresh student eligibility rule as soon as possible, but no later than the household’s next semi-annual report or recetification. (ACL 20-34, July 26, 2020.)