New summer look to those tired old WTW notices. Budgets on a separate page, no reference to durational sanctions (that wicked witch is dead!), changes after a review by the grammar police, including making the NOAs more “translation friendly.”  [Download]
Summaries of select CalWORKs, CalFresh, Health and Housing Regulations
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ACL 08-28: CalWORKs 60-Month Time Limit Exemption: Living In Indian Country Where Unemployment Rate Is 50% Higher (6/10/08)
The latest list of areas which qualify for the time limit exemption. [Download]
ACIN I-38-08: Child Care Fraud Indicators Tool (6/12/08)
This Notice provides counties with a “child care fraud indicators tool” that can be used when reviewing documentation for child care services (Stage 1). Comes with the caveat that: “The indicators are not proof that fraud exists; they merely identify situations that may warrant further attention.” Comes in in-depth and condensed flavors. [Download]
ACL 08-27: CalWORKs: COLA Increase To The MBSAC (5/28/08)
That time of year: new Minimum Basic Standard of Adequate Care (MBSAC) are out, effective July 1st (5.26% increase). The Maximum Aid Payment COLA is delayed until 10/08. The new MBSAC chart is attached, and includes the new income in-kind (AIK) charts, which also get a COLA. These MBSAC and AIK increases also apply to Refugee Cash Assistance and Trafficking/Crime Victims benefits. [Download]
ACL 08-11: CalWORKs And Food Stamp Program: Changes In Asset Exclusion Rules And New EITC Outreach Activities (4/23/08)
Assembly Bills 2466 and 1078 changed the asset exclusion rules in the CalWORKs and Food Stamp programs and provide for EITC outreach activities in the CalWORKs program. Until the implementing regulations are released (“soon”), the counties must follow the rules in this ACL. 1) Effective January 1, 2008, there is no maximum amount that current CalWORKs recipients may save in a restricted account. (This changes the existing regulation at MPP Section 89-130.) The ACL tells counties to “ensure” that no one has been discontinued since 1/1/08 for excess resources in restricted accounts, and if they have, to restore aid retroactively. Already a rule in the Food Stamps program, and CalWORKs through Food Stamp simplification (MPP Sect. 42-213.2) the letter also instructs counties that both the principal and interest in 401(k), 403(b) and 457 retirement plan accounts are exempt from consideration as property for both CalWORKs applicants and recipients. Additionally, effective January 1, 2007 (yes, over a year ago), AB 2466 exempted IRAs, 529 college savings plans and Coverdell Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs) from consideration as property for CalWORKs recipients only. Counties must immediately exempt these three accounts for either applicants or recipients, and correct any cases denied or terminated for these accounts on or after January 1, 2007. Food Stamps does not exclude IRAs, 529 college savings plans and Coverdell ESA accounts for non-assistance households, per Food and Nutrition Service’s Administrative Notice (AN) 02-26. Since there is no separate food stamp resource test for CalWORKs families who are categorically eligible for food stamps, accounts excluded for CalWORKs eligibility purposes shall also be excluded for categorically eligible food stamp households. There’s a handy chart of what counts/doesn’t in these two programs, attached to the letter. Finally, the letter reminds counties that they are required to provide applicants/recipients the federal EITC form and encourage and assist the recipient to take advantage of it. [Download]
ACIN I-27-08: CalWORKs And Food Stamps: Treatment Of Tax Rebates Provided By The Economic Stimulus Act Of 2008 (4/9/08)
Squeaked out just before tax day, the perhaps tardy letter on Tax Rebates: they don’t count as a resource in the month of receipt or the following two months. They’re also exempt income for CalWORKs and Food Stamps. [Download]