Complete with the new regs, this letter sets forth the changes to the Expedited Services (ES) Food Stamps program. Oops. CDSS regs conflicted with the federal requirements, when stating that there would be no 2nd month ES issuance if the household applied after the 15th and had verification postponed. Feds require that the household get the 2nd month if otherwise entitled, regardless of postponed verification. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
calfresh | food stamps
ACIN I-61-08: Information On COLAs (8/21/08)
Transmits a chart showing the maximum allotments for FFY 2009 (starting 10/1/08). Thrifty food plan, standard deduction, shelter deduction, SUA (and Limited Utility Allowance), income eligibility standards are up. Homeless shelter and telephone allowances are unchanged. [Download]
ACL 08-35: Eligibility For Iraqis/Afghans With Special Immigrant Visas And Information On Newly Arriving Iraqi Refugees (8/1/08)
Information on benefits for Iraqi and Afghans who worked as translators or interpreters and given Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs), or admitted as refugees. A 2007 law allows Iraqis/Afghans with SIVs to get federally-funded refugee benefits and services, for a maximum of six months from the date of entry to the U.S. (2007 and 2008, only, 500 visas/yr.) A 2008 law provides that Iraqis (not Afghanis) can get 8 months of aid (5 years of visas, at 5,000/yr.) Benefits and employment services are the same as other refugee programs. Spouses and children also get the refugee benefits/services, as otherwise eligible. So, RCA for singles, and CalWORKs for families, Food Stamps for both. The letter includes a list of acceptable documentation.
California state law provides state-funded CalWORKs and CFAP/food stamps to PRUCOL immigrants. Iraqi/Afghan special immigrants are considered PRUCOL, and are eligible for state-only benefits after their respective federal eligibility periods (six or eight months) elapse.
Counties that “discover or become aware” that they denied CalWORKs or Food Stamps to any Iraqi and/or Afghan with a SIVs after December 26, 2007 and prior to the date of this letter must reconsider those denials, and issue retros, if otherwise eligible. And just to spin your head, information on SIV immigrants who adjust their status (before or after getting the SIV) and how it impacts benefits – but don’t worry, there’s a handy chart to boot!
SIV immigrants are in addition to an estimated 1400-1500 refugees/asylees from these countries expected to resettle in California. They are eligible for benefits for the regular period of time. [Download]
ACL 08-22E: Correction – Transitional Food Stamp/Household Member Is Approved For Benefits In Another Food Stamp Household (8/6/08)
Some wrong cites, and clarification regarding the treatment of any deductions allowed in the Transitional Food Stamp (TFS) when an individual leaves the TFS household because he/she has been approved in a different household. CWDs must also disallow any deductions attributable to the person who left (as well as income), when the individual is aided in another household. [Download]
ACIN I-58-08: (8/13/08)
Several questions about fleeing and drug felons, counting Adoption Assistance and lottery income, sponsored immigrant deeming, overissuance collection timeframes for multiple claims; Transitional Food Stamps (and Aid Paid Pending) and more. [Download]
ACL 08-32: Food Stamp Waiver Of Face-To-Face Interview And Non-Assistance Food Stamp Household Recertification (7/14/08)
The letter transmits state regulations and provides implementation instructions on waiving the face-to-face interview for Quarterly Reporting (QR) households at county option, and for households with elderly or disabled household members. Based on a 2 year FNS waiver (also attached).  . No change in the info needed at recert.
Counties 1) MUST do face-to-face at application (unless hardship); 2) MAY conduct a telephone interview at recertification process without documenting a hardship (but counties waiving in person interviews for QR households must do it county-wide); 3) A face-to-face interview MUST still be conducted at recertification if: requested by the household or AR; when the county determines it is necessary to verify conditions of eligibility; or if the household has not complied with Statewide Fingerprint Imaging System (SFIS) requirements.
For Public Assistance Food Stamp (PAFS) households and mixed households, a face-to-face interview may still be required by another program. Therefore, the FSP recertification interview will be conducted in conjunction with the other program’s interview.
For households in which elderly/disabled all members are elderly/disabled, counties may conduct a telephone interview in place of a face-to-face interview at application, as well as at recertification, without documenting hardship. [Download]