This Notice transmits the final report on AB 1078 regarding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). AB 1078 required the CalWORKs program to maximize the ability of recipients to benefit from the federal EITC, by enacting changes in CalWORKs asset regulations, re-structuring WTW activities to increase eligibility for the EITC, and increasing informing activities. [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
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Homeless Assistance Regulations: Public Comment
Comments are due by September 16, 2009 for the proposed AB 1808 Homelessness Eligibility Requirements regulations. This packet implements the homeless prevention changes. [Download]
ACL 09-05: CalWORKs Information Regarding California Registered Domestic partners (RDPs) And Same-Sex Spouses (2/27/09)
Policy direction regarding eligibility of same-sex married spouses to the CalWORKs, Food Stamp, and Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) programs, and instructions regarding eligibility for Medi-Cal. (DHCS has issued ACWDL 09-03 and ACWDL 09-04 regarding this.) The California RDP is an individual who has a declaration of domestic partnership registered with the California Secretary of State. AB 205 extended these rights and responsibilities to a member of a legal union validly formed in another jurisdiction that is equivalent to a California RDP.
For CalWORKs , RDPs have the same rights and responsibilities as stepparents. Pending judicial resolution, all same-sex marriage licenses issued between June 16, 2008 (when the In re Marriage Cases finding the bar on same-sex marriages unconstitutional became final) and November 4, 2008 (Prop 8) are deemed to be valid on the basis of marriage for the purposes of CalWORKs eligibility. Massachusetts and Connecticut also permit same-sex marriages.
CalWORKs Stage One child care services does not change – RDPs and same sex spouses are treated as stepparents. The CalWORKs parent will have the option include or exclude the RDP/same-sex spouse in the AU, which could impact the availability of child care in the home. If a RDP/same-sex spouse adopts the eligible child(ren), the RDP/same-sex spouse will be considered a parent and a member of the AU, so the same eligibility requirements for two-parent families will be applied
No change to the Food Stamp Program, which never cared about this, looking only at the group that purchases/prepares food together.
RCA is the same as CalWORKs.
RDPs/same-sex spouses are not eligible for federal Medi-Cal benefits unless they are a natural or adoptive parent of a child in the AU, the name of both RDPs/same-sex spouse appear on the child’s birth certificate, or they can establish eligibility on their own behalf (e.g. by being aged, blind, disabled, pregnant, etc.) The RDP/same-sex spouse may be eligible for specific state funded Medi-Cal programs because he/she is treated as a spouse under state law. When the RDP/same-sex spouse is not the natural or adoptive parent of a child in the AU, but he/she is eligible for CalWORKs, a separate Medi-Cal determination must be made for that RDP/same-sex spouse and in some instances for the rest of the family.
[Download]
ACL 09-29: CalWORKs 60-Month Time Limit Exemption For CalWORKs Recipients Living In Indian Country Where The Unemployment Rate Is 50%+ (6/18/09)
The annual list of California Tribal Reservations and Rancherias with unemployment rates of fifty percent or higher. Individuals living in these areas have a 60-month exemption. More notably, this notice reminds counties that CalWORKs applicants and recipients must be informed of all time limit requirements, including the process to claim exemptions , and must be provided information on their time on aid at specific intervals. [Download]
ACIN I-49-09: Welfare To Work Best Practices Website (7/8/09)
The CalWORKs WTW Best Practices website is up and running. Also includes “promising practices” (the difference being whether there is data to support the success.) [Download]
ACL 09-05E: Correction to ACL 09-05 Re: Registered Domestic Partners And Same-Sex Spouses (6/4/09)
The revisions were made to clarify that the date of the marriage, not the date a marriage license was issued, will determine whether the marriage is deemed valid for the purpose of CalWORKs eligibility determinations. This errata also clarifies that same-sex spouses are to be treated as stepparents unless they are the natural or adoptive parent of their partner’s children. In addition, the language was changed to reflect the California Supreme Court’s Proposition 8 decision. [Download]