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All County Letter No. 14-100 Page Three

Adding Individuals to the CalWORKs Assistance Unit

CWDs shall review current case file information, specifically the most recent eligibility report (SAWS 2 PLUS or SAR 7, as applicable) and the Statewide Automated Welfare System (SAWS) to determine if the required eligibility documentation for the currently excluded individual is on file.

If the CWD determines that additional eligibility documentation is required, the CWD shall notify the AU of the documentation needed as soon as possible, but no later than February 28, 2015. CWDs are reminded of their responsibility to assist applicants and recipients in collecting required eligibility documentation as well as the requirement to use the CW 2200 form to request all verification. Refer to ACL No. 14-26 for additional information regarding CalWORKs verification requirements and CWDs responsibilities.

CWDs are reminded that they shall not request additional eligibility verification or documentation that is not already possessed by or known by the CWD or required and shall follow existing rules regarding county initiated mid-period actions and mandatory and voluntary mid-period reports according to the AU’s applicable reporting system pursuant to MPP section 44-316. It is anticipated that the CWD will have everything on file necessary to determine eligibility for CalWORKs.

Once the CWD confirms all required eligibility documentation is on file, clients shall be provided the attached Notice of Action (NOA) TM82-832. This NOA informs the AU that the person with a prior felony drug conviction has been added to the AU due to a change in state law effective April 1, 2015. The NOA also includes the new grant amount based on the increase in the number of persons aided in the AU. The NOA also indicates that the newly aided adult may be required to participate in Welfare-to- Work. Subsequently, CWDs shall inform CalFresh households of the potential decrease to their CalFresh benefits as a result of the increase to their income. This action shall be completed no later than March 20, 2015.

Adding Optional Persons or New Members to the Assistance Unit

If the county has knowledge that an optional adult is not included in the AU due to the person's prior felony drug conviction, the county shall send the AU the TEMP 3005, as specified above. Optional adults will not automatically be added to the AU effective April 1, 2015. If an AU contacts the CWD to request the inclusion of an optional person, as defined in MPP section 82-828, or if a new person joins the AU mid-period, CWDs shall follow existing rules regarding adding a person mid-period, pursuant to MPP sections 44-316.312 (SAR) for Semi-Annual Reporting (SAR) cases and 44-316.325 (AR/CO) for Annual Reporting/Child Only (AR/CO) cases.