The long-awaited for, yet not quite what we hoped, DV Q & A. Highlights include specifically mentioning that the MFG rule can be waived, that counties must have written standards for their waivers, and that the waivers must be based on individual need, and that the counties must issue a Notice of Action approving or denying a waiver. (The 90 days doesn’t run for a hearing until such a notice issues.)  (Download)

Just in time for the end of the year, here’s the 2005 IRT chart. Of more interest, the letter discusses the CWD’s obligation to inform Assistance Unit (AU) of their individualized IRT level. The CWD must issue an informing notice with the AU’s IRT limits (1) at least once a quarter; (2) at redetermination/recertification; (3) anytime there are changes in the CalWORKs AU or Family MAP size; (4) when there is a change of persons who are required to report income; and (5) upon recipient request. Additionally, the AU must be informed of the new IRT levels any time the IRT chart is updated. CWDs (1) the QR 7, (2) the Notice of Action used to add or remove AU members, or (3) on a separate informing notice to notify the AU. And for those of you into overpayment and fraud defenses: the IRT level the recipient was last notified of will be used for reporting purposes until the CWD updates the recipient of any applicable IRT change.

As a refesher course: The IRT is the greater of 130 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for the number of persons whose needs are included in the determination of the cash aid amount, or the level at which an Assistance Unit (AU) becomes financially ineligible. Receipients must report going over the IRT mid-quarter (and not wait for the QR 7 due date). [Download]

This letter suggests that counties explore Diversion payments for evacuees, so they don’t use up their 60 months of TANF time; reminds counties that emergency and disaster assistance payments are exempt, so FEMA and American Red Cross relief will not impact Katrina evacuees’ CalWORKs eligibility. The ACIN also has some Q and A’s, including: evacuees are subject to work requirements and time limits, but Counties should make a WTW good cause or exemption determination as appropriate if the family is in crisis; drug felon and finger imaging rules still apply (but applicants are not to be made to come in to an office JUST to get imaged); though homeless evacuee families are change reporters for Food Stamps, they are quarterly for CalWORKs (though it is “anticipated that the majority of homeless AUs will obtain permanent housing via the Homeless Assistance program.”)
[Download]

The latest list of which Tribal Reservations and Rancherias are off the 60-month clock because of high unemployment. Affected counties include: Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Humboldt, Madera, Mendocino, Riverside, San Diego, Siskiyou. [Download]