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26 ARC payments are equal to the basic amount paid for a federally eligible foster child. Funding Historically, because a non-federally eligible foster child/NMD living with an approved relative could not receive foster care payments, the relative could apply to receive CalWORKs assistance for the child. Unlike foster care payments, typical CalWORKs grants are not a per-child payment but are based on the size of the family as a whole and are less than the foster care rate. The purpose of the ARC program is to increase the CalWORKs grant to be on par with the foster care rate. Funding for ARC depends on whether the children are eligible for state CalWORKs (state funded only) or federal TANF (state/federally funded). Children or NMDs who are not eligible for federal foster care while placed with the approved relative caregiver are eligible for ARC. ARC-eligible foster children/NMDs who are not eligible for federally funded TANF, are funded with state-only CalWORKs or SGF. When designing and implementing the ARC program, attention was focused on ensuring there were no duplicate aid issues. The determination of how an ARC case is funded is based on the status of the child at the time of removal. If a child was receiving CalWORKs (either state only funded or federal/TANF funded) at the time of removal, or; is eligible for CalWORKs (determined by information provided on the ARC 1 application form), the ARC payment for that child is met by a combination of the CalWORKs grant for an Assistance Unit of one (either state only funded or federal/TANF funded, depending on how the CalWORKs case was being funded at the time of removal) plus a State General Fund amount that would make the payment equal to what the child would receive if eligible for the foster care rate. If the child was not receiving CalWORKs or is no longer CalWORKs eligible, the ARC payment would consist solely of State General Funds. Application Process for ARC The ARC and CalWORKs Programs established a simplified CalWORKs application for relative foster children/NMDs placed with non-needy caretaker relatives. The shortened application includes questions specific to the child/NMD only, and clearly identifies the family as a non-needy caretaker relative. The simplified process improves access to CalWORKs and increases placement stability for this vulnerable population while they wait for approval or denial of foster care or ARC funding. Additional Eligibility Criteria Other than being a foster child/NMD placed with an approved relative and who are not eligible for Federal or state foster care payments, additional eligibility conditions are based on the combined income and resources of the child. The child may have up to $10,000 in combined income and resources to be eligible for ARC. Additionally, the traditional Minimum Basic Standards of Adequate Care (MBSAC) rules are not used to determine initial eligibility and, the approved relative’s income and assets are not used.