CalFresh / SNAP
-
CalFresh extension of allotment increase and treatment of unemployment insurance and child tax credit
The 15% increase in CalFresh benefits because of COVID-19 has been extended by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to September 30, 2021. The minimum benefit is increased to $19. Income deductions are unchanged. The $300 per…
-
Information from third-party payroll sources
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued new instructions regarding how counties should act on information received from a third-party payroll source. Counties must verify all discrepant information received from Income Eligibility and Verification System (IEVS). …
-
Treatment of the Golden State Stimulus and Golden State Grant for CalWORKs
Households receiving the California Earned Income Tax Credit for 2020 will receive a $600 one-time relief payment through the Golden State Stimulus program. In addition, the Golden State Stimulus program will provide a one-time $600 payment to households…
-
CalWORKs, CalFresh, and other programs treatment of rebates, refunds and credits under American Rescue Plan Act
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 contains several tax credits and rebates, including Earned Income Tax Credit, additional child tax credits, and child and dependent tax credits. These individual rebates are excluded from consideration as income, and…
-
Treatment of Pandemic Unemployment Compensation and other Unemployment Insurance for CalWORKs
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance regarding how Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (PUC) and other Unemployment Insurance programs are treated for purposes of CalWORKs. PUC is the additional $300 per week in Unemployment Insurance benefits…
-
End of 2019 Public Charge rule
The Department of Homeland Security has decided not to defend the 2019 public charge rule in court and has dismissed all pending appeals regarding the 2019 public charge rule. As a result, the 1999 interim field guidance on…
-
COVID-19 CalFresh emergency allotment for March 2021
California has been approved to issue an emergency allotment of CalFresh for March, 2021, so long as the COVID-19 public health emergency remains in place at some point in the month of March. The emergency allotment will be…
-
Extension of CalFresh telephonic signature waiver
The Food and Nutrition Service has extended its waiver of the requirement for recording of telephonic signatures until March 31, 2021 because of COVID-19 for both initial application and recertification interviews. (ACWDL, February 11, 2021.)
-
CalFresh benefit replacement
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued a reminder regarding CalFresh benefit replacement policies. Requests for replacement of food bought with CalFresh benefits that are lost because of household misfortune are made using the Replacement Affidavit/Authorization…
-
CalFresh medical expense deduction
Elderly or disabled persons can deduct qualifying medical expenses from their income to determine CalFresh eligibility. Under a federal waiver, until September 30, 2021, households with one elderly or disabled member that have qualifying medical expenses over $35…