Refugee Cash Assistance
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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…
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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…
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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…
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COVID-19 third extension of time eligibility for RCA, ECA and TCVAP
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions for an additional extension of time eligibility for Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), Entrant Cash Assistance (ECA) and Trafficking and Crime Victim Assistance Program (TCVAP). Effective February 1, 2020,…
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Homelessness prevention programs
The California Department of Social Services has issued information about various homelessness prevention programs. CalWORKs diversion is a payment to help the family meet a short term need instead of receiving CalWORKs. A diversion payment can be used…
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COVID-19 not counting new stimulus payments as income for benefits programs
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance regarding treatment of the new individual stimulus payments as income for various benefits programs. The payments authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 are individual tax rebates. …
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COVID-19 extension of time eligibility for RCA, ECA and TCVAP
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions for an additional extension of time eligibility for Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), Entrant Cash Assistance (ECA) and Trafficking and Crime Victim Assistance Program (TCVAP). Effective October 1, 2020,…
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Counting homework time for Cell-Ed
In ACIN I-55-20, summarized here, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) described its partnership with Cell-Ed to provide distance learning for Welfare-to-Work, CalFresh Education and Training, and Refugee Support Services. People assigned to Welfare-to-Work, CalFresh Education and…
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COVID-19 treatment of Lost Wages Assistance and Disaster Unemployment Assistance
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance regarding treatment of Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) and Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). LWA is $300 per week issued to persons who are unemployed or partially unemployed because of…
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CalWORKs, CalFresh, RCA/ECA and TCVAP guidance regarding California wildfires
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance flexibility for counties serving communities affected by wildfires. If a county office closes during regular business hours, they must make it possible for people to apply for and…