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.1 Household Cooperation
.11 To determine eligibility the household or its authorized representative must:
.111 Complete and sign the application form:
.112 Be interviewed;
.113 Verify certain information on the application; and
.114 Obtain a photo ID card in counties where photo ID cards are mandated as a condition of participation, unless exempt under Section 63-504.87.
(a) If a designated authorized representative does not comply, the household may designate a household member or another authorized representative to be photographed.
.12 Refusal to Cooperate with the CWD
.121 If the household, including excluded household members identified in Section 63-402.22, refuses to cooperate with the CWD in completing this process, the application shall be denied at the time of refusal.
(a) For a determination that household refusal has occurred, the household must have been able to cooperate, and clearly demonstrated that it chose not to take such actions as are required to complete the application process.
(b) If there is any question as to whether the household has merely failed to cooperate, as opposed to refused to cooperate, the household shall not be denied.
.122 Refusal to disclose a Social Security Number (SSN) is an exception to the denial of the entire household. When an individual is required to give his/her SSN and has refused to comply, the eligibility of the other household members will not be affected (see Section 63-404).
.123 The household shall also be determined ineligible if it refuses to cooperate in any subsequent review of its eligibility, including reviews generated by reported changes, recertifications, or as part of a quality control review.
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MANUAL LETTER NO. FS-96-05 Effective 12/1/96
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FOOD STAMP REGULATIONS
Regulations ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATIONS 63-505 (Cont.)
63-505 HOUSEHOLD RESPONSIBILITIES (Continued) 63-505
.124 Once denied or terminated for refusal to cooperate, the household may reapply but shall not be determined eligible until the household cooperates.
.13 Refusal to Cooperate with a Quality Control (QC) Reviewer
.131 Once denied or terminated for refusal to cooperate, the household may reapply but shall not be determined eligible until:
(a) The household cooperates; or
(b) The household reapplies at least 95 days after the end of the annual review period in which the refusal to cooperate with a nonfederal QC reviewer occurred; or
(c) The household reapplies after seven months from the end of the annual review period in which the refusal to cooperate with a federal QC reviewer occurred.
.132 These households shall provide verification of all eligibility requirements, including items that would normally only be verified if questionable, as specified in Section 63-300.53.
.14 Refusal to Cooperate with the Statewide Fingerprint Imaging System (SFIS) Requirement
Eligible household members who are not exempt per Sections 63-601.12 through .123 and Section 63-601.14 shall be required to fulfill SFIS requirements prior to the issuance of food stamp benefits to that household, even if the household is eligible for benefits. The SFIS requirements, exemptions, and postponements are explained in Sections 63-601.12 through .123, Section 63-601.13, and Section 63-601.14.
.141 If a household member is under the age of 18 and is applying for Food Stamp benefits as a separate household, he/she must comply with the SFIS requirements in order to receive Food Stamp benefits, unless otherwise exempt.
.2 Section 63-505.2(MR) shall become inoperative and Section 63-505.2(QR) shall become operative in a county on the date QR/PB becomes effective in that county, pursuant to the Director's QR/PB Declaration.
(MR) Monthly Reporting/Retrospective Budgeting Households
All households participating in the Food Stamp Program except as provided in Section 63-505.21, shall report household circumstances monthly on the CA 7 as a condition of eligibility. Households shall not be required to submit any reports of changes other than the CA 7.
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MANUAL LETTER NO. FS-08-02 Effective 7/15/08
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63-505 (Cont.) ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATIONS Regulations
63-505 HOUSEHOLD RESPONSIBILITIES (Continued) 63-505
(QR) Quarterly Reporting/Prospective Budgeting Households
All households participating in the Food Stamp Program except as provided in Section 63-505.21, shall report household circumstances quarterly on the QR 7 as a condition of eligibility. QR households will also be required to report changes as specified in Sections 63-508 and 63-509.
.21 Section 63-505.21(MR) shall become inoperative and Section 63-505.21(QR) shall become operative in a county on the date QR/PB becomes effective in that county, pursuant to the Director's QR/PB Declaration.
(MR) The following households shall be excluded from monthly reporting and retrospective budgeting. See Section 63-504.43 for those households receiving PA.
(QR) The following households shall be excluded from QR. See Section 63-504.43.
.211 Migrant farmworker households, as defined in Section 63-102(m).
.212 Seasonal farmworker households, as defined in Section 63-102s.
.213 Households in which all adult members are elderly or disabled, as defined in Section 63-102(e), and have no earned income.
.214 Households in which all members are homeless individuals, as defined in Section 63-102(h)(1).
.215 Households residing on Indian reservations.
HANDBOOK BEGINS HERE
Public Law 103-11 enacted April 1, 1993 has delayed the implementation date for Section 63-505.215 to January 31, 1994.
HANDBOOK ENDS HERE
.22 Repealed by SDSS Manual Letter No. FS-89-07, effective 11/1/89.
.3 Sections 63-505.3 through .34(MR) shall become inoperative and Sections 63-505.3 through .34(QR) shall become operative in a county on the date QR/PB becomes effective in that county, pursuant to the Director's QR/PB Declaration.
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MANUAL LETTER NO. FS-04-07 Effective 7/1/04
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FOOD STAMP REGULATIONS
Regulations ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATIONS 63-505 (Cont.)
63-505 HOUSEHOLD RESPONSIBILITIES (Continued) 63-505
(MR) Reported Information for Monthly Reporting Households
Households shall report on a monthly basis, the following information about the household:
.31 Budget month income, except as specified in Section 63-505.311, shelter and utility costs when there is a move, child care costs, the amount of child support payments made to a nonhousehold member as specified in Section 63-502.37, household composition, and other circumstances relevant to the amount of the food stamp allotment. This information shall be reported on the CA 7.
.311 Households need not report the receipt or amount of any PA, FC, GA, RCA, ECA payments paid by the CWD from which the household is receiving food stamp benefits.
.32 Any changes in income, shelter and utility costs when there is a move, child care costs, a change in the legal obligation to pay child support payments to a nonhousehold member, resources or other relevant circumstances affecting eligibility which the household expects to occur in the current month or in future months, or which occurred in the budget month.
.33 For food stamp purposes, households need not provide PA only information requested on the CA 7.
.34 A reduction of work effort to less than 20 hours per week, or averaged monthly 80 hours a month, for purposes of determining whether an ABAWD has satisfied the work requirement defined in Section 63-410.2.
(QR) Reported Information for QR Households
Households shall report on a quarterly basis, the following information about the household.
.31 Data Month income, except as specified in Section 63-505.311, shelter and utility costs when there is a change of address, dependent care costs, the amount of child support payments made to a nonhousehold member as specified in Section 63-502.37, household composition, anticipated income and expense changes for the upcoming QR Payment Quarter and other relevant information required for a complete QR 7.
.311 Households need not report the receipt or amount of any PA, FC, GA, RCA, or ECA payments paid by the CWD from which the household is receiving food stamp benefits.
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MANUAL LETTER NO. FS-06-04 Effective 11/1/06
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63-505 HOUSEHOLD RESPONSIBILITIES (Continued) 63-505
.32 Any changes as asked for on the QR 7 since the last Data Month and any expected over the next three months.
.33 For food stamp purposes, households need not provide PA only information requested on the Quarterly Report (QR 7).
.34 A reduction in hours worked to less than 20 hours per week, or 80 hours averaged monthly, for purposes of determining whether an ABAWD has satisfied the work requirement defined in Section 63-410.
.4 Section 63-505.4(MR) shall become inoperative and Section 63-505.4(QR) shall become operative in a county on the date QR/PB becomes effective in that county, pursuant to the Director's QR/PB Declaration.
(MR) Verification Responsibilities for Monthly Reporting Households
(QR) Verification Responsibilities for Quarterly Reporting Households
.41 Section 63-505.41(MR) shall become inoperative and Section 63-505.41(QR) shall become operative in a county on the date QR/PB becomes effective in that county, pursuant to the Director's QR/PB Declaration.
(MR) The CWD may request verification be submitted for any item that has changed or appears questionable. Monthly reporting households shall provide verification of the following information reported on the CA 7:
(QR) The CWD may request verification be submitted for any item that has changed or appears questionable. QR households shall provide verification of the following information reported on the QR 7:
(a) Gross nonexcluded earned income each month; nonexcluded unearned income and the source of excluded income when first reported and when there is a change, except as specified in Sections 63-505.311 and 63-504.325(a).
(b) Dependent care costs when there is a change in the source or amount and when there is questionable information which is inaccurate, incomplete, outdated or inconsistent.
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MANUAL LETTER NO. FS-05-03 Effective 8/5/05
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Regulations ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATIONS 63-505 (Cont.)
63-505 HOUSEHOLD RESPONSIBILITIES (Continued) 63-505
(c) If the household voluntary reports a change in its medical expenses, the CWD shall verify the change as specified in Section 63-504.421 before acting on it if the change increases the household's allotment. In the case of a reported change that decreases the household's allotment, or makes the household ineligible, the CWD shall act on the change without requiring verification, although verification which is required as specified in Section 63-504.421 shall be obtained prior to the household's recertification.
(d) Utility costs which entitle the household to the standard utility allowance (SUA), when first allowed and when the household moves.
(e) Residency as defined in Section 63-401 when there is a change, except for categorically eligible households.
(f) Social Security Number, except for PA categorically eligible households;
(g) Section 63-505.41(h)(MR) shall become inoperative and Section 63-505.41(h)(QR) shall become operative in a county on the date QR/PB becomes effective in that county, pursuant to the Director's QR/PB Declaration.
(MR) Actual cost of doing business expenses, if self-employed, with each CA 7.
(QR) Actual cost of doing business expenses, if self employed, with each QR 7.
(h) Changes in the legal obligation to pay child support and/or an increase in the amount of the child support payments.
.5 Section 63-505.5(MR) shall become inoperative and 63-505.5(QR) shall become operative in a county on the date QR/PB becomes effective in that county, pursuant to the Director's QR/PB Declaration.
(MR) Reporting Changes for Households Excluded from Monthly Reporting Requirements
(QR) Reporting Changes for Households Excluded from Quarterly Reporting Requirements
.51 Household Responsibility to Report
The CWD shall not impose any food stamp reporting requirements on nonmonthly reporting households except as provided in Sections 63-505.511 through .518. Certified households shall report the following changes in circumstances:
CALIFORNIA-DSS-MANUAL-FS
MANUAL LETTER NO. FS-06-04 Effective 11/1/06
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63-505 (Cont.) ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATIONS Regulations
63-505 HOUSEHOLD RESPONSIBILITIES (Continued) 63-505
.511 Changes in the sources of income, including starting or stopping a job or changing jobs, if the change is accompanied by a change in income. In addition, changes in the amount of earned income of more than $100 per month since the last time the household’s allotment was calculated. Such earned income households can be certified for no more than six months.
.512 Changes in the amount of unearned income of more than $50.
(a) Changes in the public assistance or the general assistance grant are not required to be reported. Since the CWD has prior knowledge of all changes in these grants, action shall be taken on the CWD information. However, if general assistance and food stamp cases are not jointly processed, the household is responsible for reporting changes of more than $50.
(b) Households are not required to report changes in income that result from Social Security COLAs.
.513 All changes in household composition, such as the addition of loss of a household member;
.514 Changes in residence and the resulting change in shelter expenses;
.515 The acquisition of a licensed vehicle not fully excludable under Section 63-501.
.516 When cash on hand, stocks, bonds and money in a checking or savings account reach or exceed the maximum resource eligibility standard as specified in Section 63-409.12.
.517 A change in the amount of child support payments made to a nonhousehold member as specified in Section 63-502.2(p), and/or a change in the legal obligation to pay child support.
CALIFORNIA-DSS-MANUAL-FS
MANUAL LETTER NO. FS-06-04 Effective 11/1/06
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FOOD STAMP REGULATIONS
Regulations ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATIONS 63-505 (Cont.)
63-505 HOUSEHOLD RESPONSIBILITIES (Continued) 63-505
.518 A reduction of work effort to less than 20 hours per week, or averaged monthly 80 hours a month, for purposes of determining whether an ABAWD has satisfied the work requirement specified in Section 63-410.2.
.52 Section 63-505.52(MR) shall become inoperative and Section 63-505.52(QR) shall become operative in a county on the date QR/PB becomes effective in that county, pursuant to the Director's QR/PB Declaration.
(MR) Timeliness Requirement for Reporting Changes of Nonmonthly Reporting Households
(QR) Timeliness Requirement for Reporting Changes of Change Reporting Households
All households shall report changes within 10 days of the date the change becomes known to the household except nonmonthly reporting households who file PA monthly reports. The ten-day reporting period will begin the day the change becomes known. The change may be reported by telephone, by personal contact, or by mail, and may be reported by a household member, the household's authorized representative, or any person having knowledge of the household's circumstances. When the report is made by mail, it may not reach the CWD within the ten-day period. Households will have met the reporting requirement provided the letter is postmarked within the ten-day period. Nonmonthly reporting households which report changes on the PA monthly reporting form shall be considered to have met their food stamp reporting requirements.
This reporting requirement does not apply to households incurring an increase in monthly medical expenses of $25 or more. To be permitted a deduction for an increase in medical expenses, the household must report the expense in the month of billing or when the bill otherwise becomes due, in accordance with Section 63-503.251 (medical expenses billing).
It is likely that households will not become aware of the exact amount of the decrease in monthly medical costs until the end of the month, when all expenses can be totaled. The CWD shall take the following action on properly reported decreases in medical expenses;
.521 If the change in monthly medical costs is a one-time only decrease and will not continue in the remaining months of the certification period, no action is required.
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MANUAL LETTER NO. FS-04-07 Effective 7/1/04
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63-505 (Cont.) ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATIONS Regulations
63-505 HOUSEHOLD RESPONSIBILITIES (Continued) 63-505
.522 If the decrease in monthly medical costs is expected to continue past the month of report, the CWD shall act on the change, in accordance with Section 63-504.42.
.6 Other Changes
Although not required, households are to be encouraged to report the following changes since such changes may entitle the household to an increased food stamp allotment.
.61 A household member reaches age 60, or becomes disabled, as defined in Section 63-102(i).
.62 The household incurs a dependent care cost, or an increased dependent care cost (within the maximum).
.63 A change in status of citizenship or work registration.
.64 The household incurs a new medical expense, or an increased medical expense of more than $25.
NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 10553, 10554, 10604, 11265.1, .2 and .3, 11369, 18904, and 18910, Welfare and Institutions Code. Reference: Sections 10554, 10830, 11265.1, .2, and .3, 18904, and 18910, Welfare and Institutions Code; 7 CFR 272.4(f); 7 CFR 273.2(j)(3) and (4); 7 CFR 273.10(d)(4); 7 CFR 273.11(a)(2)(iii); 7 CFR 273.12, (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(i)(A), (a)(1)(i)(B), (a)(1)(i)(C)(2), and proposed .12(a)(1)(vi) as published in the Federal Register, Vol. 59, No. 235 on December 8, 1994; 7 CFR 273.2(d); proposed 7 CFR 273.2(f)(1)(xii) as published in the Federal Register, Vol. 59, No. 235 on December 8, 1994; 7 CFR 273.21(b), (b)(4), (f)(2)(v), (h)(2)(iv), proposed (h)(2)(ix) as published in the Federal Register, Vol. 59, No. 235 on December 8, 1994, (h)(3), and (i); 7 CFR 273.12(a)(1)(vii); 7 CFR 273.24(a)(1)(i) and (b)(7); P.L. 100-435, Section 351; P.L. 101-624, Section 1717 [7 U.S.C. 2014(e)] and Section 1723 [7 U.S.C. 2015(c)(1)(A)]; P.L. 102-237, Section 908 [7 U.S.C. 2016(h)(1)]; 7 U.S.C. 2014(d)(6) and (e)(6)(C)(iii); Food and Consumer Services Administrative Notice 96-13, dated December 7, 1995; United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service Administrative Notice 03-23, dated May 1, 2003; Letter from Food and Consumer Services to Fred Schack, dated March 25, 1996; Food Stamp Act of 1977; Federal Nutrition Service Quarterly Reporting/Prospective Budgeting waiver approval dated April 1, 2003; and the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-171).
CALIFORNIA-DSS-MANUAL-FS
MANUAL LETTER NO. FS-06-04 Effective 11/1/06
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Regulations ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATIONS 63-506 (Cont.)