What Other Benefits Are Available?
From CalWORKs | Welfare Resources
Contents |
Medi-Cal
CalWORKs recipients are entitled to receive Medi-Cal, which has traditionally been a "fee for service" system in which recipients choose individual health care providers. WIC §§ 14005.1, 14050.2. In some counties, a CalWORKs recipient will have to enroll with a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and will be given two plans from which to choose. If s/he fails to choose, the county will assign the family to a particular plan. WIC §§ 14016.5, 14087.3, 14087.305.
Immediate Need
If an applicant has less than $100 and needs money for food, rent, utilities or other basic needs and appears eligible for CalWORKs, the county must provide up to $200 of "immediate need" money within two working days from the time the money is requested. If an immediate need check is issued, the county must process the CalWORKs application within 15 working days. WIC § 11266.
If the client is threatened with an eviction, including a three-day notice to quit, the county should process the whole application within three working days and give the client the full benefits to which s/he is entitled to for that month. The client will be eligible for immediate need in this case, despite the $100 resource test, if the client does not have the resources to cover the rent owed. WIC § 11266(c).
Clients can also get "expedited Food Stamps" within three days if they have a gross income of under $150 or less than $100 in assets. 7 CFR § 273.2(i)(1); MPP 63-301.531.
Pregnancy Benefits
Beginning with her seventh month of pregnancy, a pregnant woman with no other children is eligible to receive CalWORKs benefits for one person. She may also get an additional $47 per month "pregnancy supplement" beginning in the same month. Proof of pregnancy is required. WIC §§ 11450(b) and (c); MPP 44-211.63, 44-211.64; ACL 00-45. A father who is the spouse of a pregnant woman without any other aided children cannot receive CalWORKs until the child is born, but may be eligible to receive General Assistance prior to the birth of the child.
$50 Child Support Pass-Through
If the child support enforcement agency (formerly the District Attorney Family Support Bureau) is collecting child support for a recipient's child(ren), the recipient can also receive the first $50 of child support collected each month if the child support payment is made on time. This sum is exempt income. WIC § 11457.3.
The child support payment is considered paid when the employer withholds it from the paycheck, even if the employer sends it to the child enforcement agency in quarterly payments. Advocates should contact the agency if their client is not receiving the $50 pass through and they know that the absent parent is having his/her pay checks garnished. The remainder of the child support payment goes to the state to reimburse the state for CalWORKs. The recipient can receive only one $50 pass through even if there is more than one absent parent paying child support.
Recurring Special Needs Payment
If one of the family members needs a special diet or special transportation services due to a disability, the client may be eligible for up to $10 extra each month. WIC § 11450(e). These monthly supplemental payments are called "recurring special needs."
Non-Recurring Special Needs Payment
There are also payments for "non-recurring special needs." This money is available for household emergencies, and may be used to replace clothing and other items, pay for shelter or moving costs, or as homeless assistance if the family is not eligible for regular homeless assistance. The family must have less than $100 to qualify. The maximum payment is up to $600 for each emergency. WIC § 11450(f)(1).
Homeless Assistance
A homeless family may also receive "homeless assistance" payments. A family is considered homeless if it lacks a fixed and regular nighttime residence, is in a shelter, or is residing in a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, regular sleeping accommodations. WIC § 11450(f)(2). A family staying temporarily with friends or family or in a hotel is considered homeless.
Homeless Assistance includes temporary benefits ($40 per day for 16 days) (Note 22) and permanent benefits (the first month's rent and deposits, each month not to exceed 80% of the recipient's CalWORKs grant amount unless a shared rental is involved). These payments are in addition to the regular CalWORKs grant and are not counted as income. A request for Homeless Assistance must be processed within one working day. WIC § 11450(f)(2).
:: Temporary Homeless Assistance
Temporary Homeless Assistance is available to a CalWORKs eligible family (whether or not it is already on aid) that is homeless, or has been staying with friends or family for fewer than 60 days, or that is being evicted. The family is not eligible until it has actually left its last home, and can only get this money if it is paying, or will be paying, for shelter and the person providing shelter is in the rental business. WIC § 11450(f)(2)(I). If the family is apparently eligible for CalWORKs, or is already receiving CalWORKs, and has less than $100 liquid resources, it will receive:
- $40 per day for up to 16 consecutive days, plus
- an additional $10 per person per day (to a maximum of $80), for families of five persons or more. WIC § 11450(f)(2); MPP 44-211.525(b); ACL 99-69.
The family must document that it used the benefits or housing. Otherwise, additional temporary Homeless Assistance will be paid as a voucher to the housing provider. WIC § 11450(f)(2)(A)(iii); MPP 44-211.524(f)(3)(B).
The county must either provide Temporary Homeless Assistance on the day requested or find shelter for the family for the first night. If it shelters the family, it must issue benefits no later than the end of the next working day. WIC § 11450(f)(2)(A); MPP 44-211.523. To continue receiving Temporary Assistance, clients must provide documentation of its search for permanent housing. The client is required to make one contact with a prospective landlord per day. MPP 44-211.524(f)(3). For example, if the Temporary Assistance money was issued for three days, the client needs to make three contacts with prospective landlords. The client does not literally have to make one contact per day; three in day one and none in day two is acceptable.
:: Permanent Housing Assistance
This assistance is available for homeless families who have actually established eligibility for CalWORKs. MPP 44-211.53 and 534(b). Payments may be used for:
- last month's rent
- security deposits
- utility hook up costs
To qualify, the family's share of rent at the new apartment or home must be less than 80% of the CalWORKs grant. Permanent Homeless Assistance must be paid within one working day after the family provides a written agreement stating the landlord intends to rent to the family, and information necessary for the welfare department to establish eligibility for CalWORKs. The family must rent from an "official" landlord and not from a friend or relative unless that person regularly rents out property. The family may apply for utility hook up costs after it has moved in. If a member of the family is receiving SSI, the available grant is prorated according to a specific formula. WIC § 11450(f)(2)(B); MPP 44-211.531, et seq.; ACL 01-43.
:: Homeless Assistance is Usually Available Only Once in a Lifetime
Both temporary and permanent Homeless Assistance benefits are generally only available on a once in-a-lifetime basis (with the 16-day time limit for temporary benefits considered exhausted regardless of whether benefits were collected for the full 16 days). However, both temporary and permanent Homeless Assistance are available once every 24 months where the homelessness is the result of:
- a state or federally declared natural disaster;
- domestic violence by a spouse, partner or roommate;
- a medically verified physical or mental illness not involving alcoholism, drug addiction or psychological stress; or
- uninhabitability of the home resulting from sudden and unusual circumstances such as fire, condemnation, or natural catastrophe. WIC § 11450(f)(2)(E).
Replacing Lost Checks
A request for a replacement check must be accepted by the county after the passage of five working days after the lost check was originally issued. A replacement check must be released within five working days after the request has been made, and whether or not the original check has been cashed. Government Code § 29853.5(b); ACL 00-24. (Note 23)
Notes
22. Counties can opt to use local funds to increase the maximum amount of temporary Homeless Assistance payments.
23. In Beverly v. Anderson, 76 Cal. App. 4th 480 (3d Dist. 1999), the court reiterated that the statute creates a mandatory duty to issue a replacement warrant within five working days after a recipient files a proper affidavit attesting that the warrant has been lost, stolen or destroyed regardless of any investigation a county might initiate.
