Other Procedural and Reporting Requirements
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A family eligible for CalWORKs must still jump through a number of procedural hoops to receive benefits.
Verification of Eligibility
On applying, the family must be given an intake appointment within seven days and told which documents they must bring in to support their application. WIC §§ 11052.5, 11275. If an applicant fails to obtain documents due to a third party's unwillingness or failure to provide documents, the county must assist in obtaining documents or other information needed from third parties. WIC § 11275.10. Applicants will also be required to state the Social Security numbers of all family members (WIC § 11268), and the caretaker relative will have to apply for and be denied Unemployment Insurance Benefits. WIC § 11270. Finally, the family will have a continuing obligation to report, generally on a quarterly basis, on all changes in family composition, in income, and in resources. WIC § 11004(b), 11265.1 et seq.
The Quarterly Reporting System
The quarterly reporting system is discussed in How Much a Recipient Will Receive. In brief, recipients are ordinarily required to report income/eligibility information once per quarter via the "QR 7" form (by the 11th day of the 3rd month of the quarter). WIC §§ 11265.1 - 11265.3; ACL 03-18, ACL 05-19. Nevertheless, recipients are required to report any income that exceeds a specific amount, drug felony convictions, fleeing felon status, parole/probation violations, and address changes during the quarter. WIC § 11265.3; MPP 44-316.32; ACL 05-19 (containing a summary of the quarterly reporting regulations), ACL 05-27 (Income Reporting Threshhold as of November 2005).
Confidentiality
The county is not permitted to release any information or records concerning a public assistance recipient to anyone without the person's permission, unless for a purpose directly connected with the administration of the public assistance program. ACL 99-20; WIC § 10850. Law enforcement agencies are denied access unless a written request for information or records on a particular individual has been made, and an arrest warrant for the person is outstanding. WIC § 10850.3. Information will not be released to an advocate unless a written release signed by the client has been presented.
Caveat: Notwithstanding the confidentiality statutes, however, states receiving a TANF block grant are required to report anyone the state knows to be "not lawfully present in the United States" (42 U.S.C. § 611a), and, upon request, to furnish a current recipient's address to law enforcement officers if the recipient is a "fleeing felon" or "has information that is necessary for the officer to conduct [his/her] official duties." 42 U.S.C. § 608(a)(9)(B).
