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August 16, 2024 ALL COUNTY LETTER NO. 24-59 TO: ALL COUNTY WELFARE DIRECTORS ALL CALWORKS PROGRAM SPECIALISTS ALL CALFRESH PROGRAM SPECIALISTS ALL CONSORTIA REPRESENTATIVES ALL QUALITY CONTROL PROGRAM COORDINATORS SUBJECT: CALFRESH STANDARD MEDICAL DEDUCTION DEMONSTRATION PROJECT – INCREASED STANDARD MEDICAL DEDUCTION AMOUNT REFERENCE: FOOD AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2008 SECTION 17(b)(1)(A); FOOD AND NUTRITION ACT OF 2008 SECTION 5(e)(5); 7 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) SECTION 271.2; 7 CFR SECTION 273.2(f)(1)(iv); ALL COUNTY LETTER (ACL) NO. 17-35; ACL NO. 21-117; ACL NO. 21-117E The purpose of this All County Letter (ACL) is to provide County Welfare Departments (CWDs) with guidance regarding the increased Standard Medical Deduction (SMD) amount for the CalFresh SMD Demonstration Project (the Project). BACKGROUND The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) was originally authorized by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to operate the Project for the period beginning October 1, 2017, and ending September 30, 2021. Under the Project, CDSS established a standard deduction of $120.00 for households containing an elderly and/or disabled member, with verified medical expenses between $35.01 and $155.00 per month, instead of requiring those households with an elderly or disabled member to verify actual medical expenses in excess of $35.00 per month. The SMD was originally implemented via ACL No. 17-35 released on April 25, 2017, and was extended through September 30, 2025, via ACL No. 21-117 released on September 30, 2021.