44-311 COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS

Grant and benefit levels are adjusted annually on July 1 to reflect changes in the cost of living as provided by statute (see W&IC Sections 11453 and 13100). This section does not apply to foster care rates for AFDC children.

STANDARDS OF ASSISTANCE

44-313 BUDGETING METHODS FOR CalWORKs

(SAR) Budgeting is the activity used to compute the aid payments for a SAR Payment Period for which eligibility exists using net nonexempt income, (see Chapter 44-100) that is reasonably anticipated to be received in the SAR Payment Period. The budgeting method used is prospective budgeting.

(AR/CO) Budgeting is the activity used to compute the aid payments for an AR/CO Payment Period for which eligibility exists using net nonexempt income, (see Chapter 44-100) that is reasonably anticipated to be received in the AR/CO Payment Period. The budgeting method used is prospective budgeting.

Budgeting is an activity separate from the determination of eligibility. All eligibility factors, including income eligibility (see Section 44-207 and 44-316.324), are considered on a prospective basis.

.1 Prospective Budgeting

(SAR) .11 Prospective budgeting is the method of computing an aid payment for a SAR Payment Period using income that is reasonably anticipated to be received in that period (see Section 44-315.31(SAR)) except for those mid-period changes where actual income is used as specified in Section 44-316.311(SAR).

(AR/CO) Prospective budgeting is the method of computing an aid payment for an AR/CO Payment Period using income that is reasonably anticipated to be received in that period (see Section 44-315.31(AR/CO)) except for those mid-period changes where actual income is used as specified in Section 44-316.311(AR/CO).

(SAR) .111 Income from the SAR Data Month, anticipated changes in income from the SAR Data Month, and mid-period income changes as specified in Section 44-316(SAR) shall be considered when determining eligibility and cash aid for a SAR Payment Period. Documentation shall be entered in the case that explains how income was projected in determining cash aid calculations. Case narrative entries shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

(SAR) (a) Income the recipient reports that he/she received in the SAR Data Month.

(SAR) (b) Any changes in income from the Data Month that the recipient reasonably anticipates receiving in the SAR Payment Period as reported on the SAR 7 or annual redetermination.

STANDARDS OF ASSISTANCE

(SAR) (c) Documentation of the reasons for not accepting the recipient's reasonably anticipated income if the information is questionable.

(SAR) (d) Other information used to determine what income will be used in the cash aid calculations (verifications, employers' statements, case history, etc.) if the recipient's reasonably anticipated income is not used.

(AR/CO) Income from the AR/CO Data Month, anticipated changes in income from the AR/CO Data Month, and mid-period income changes as specified in Section 44-316(AR/CO) shall be considered when determining eligibility and cash aid for an AR/CO Payment Period. Documentation shall be entered in the case that explains how income was projected in determining cash aid calculations. Case narrative entries shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

(AR/CO) (a) Income the recipient reports that he/she received in the AR/CO Data Month.

(AR/CO) (b) Any changes in income from the Data Month that the recipient reasonably anticipates receiving in the AR/CO Payment Period as reported mid-period or at annual redetermination.

(AR/CO) (c) Documentation of the reasons for not accepting the recipient's reasonably anticipated income if the information is questionable.

(AR/CO) (d) Other information used to determine what income will be used in the cash aid calculations (verifications, employers' statements, case history, etc.) if the recipient's reasonably anticipated income is not used.

.12 Prospective budgeting shall be used to compute:

(SAR) .121 The CalWORKs grant for each month in a SAR Payment Period.

(AR/CO) The CalWORKs grant for each month in an AR/CO Payment Period.

.2 Budgeting the Income of Individuals Added to or Deleted from an Existing Assistance Unit

(SAR) .21 The income of a new person who is added to an existing AU shall be budgeted prospectively in accordance with Section 44-316.312(b)(SAR) for each month of the SAR Payment Period.

(AR/CO) The income of a new person who is added to an existing AU shall be budgeted prospectively in accordance with Section 44-316.325(a)(AR/CO) for each month of the AR/CO Payment Period.

STANDARDS OF ASSISTANCE

.22 The income of an individual deleted from an AU shall not be considered income to the AU for budgeting purposes in any month(s) following his or her discontinuance except in the following circumstance:

.221 When the person remains in the home following discontinuance and has income which is considered available to the AU under Section 44-133, prospective budgeting shall continue.

.3 Budgeting in Approved Alternate Payment Systems

.31 Apply the requirements of 44-313 to approved alternate payment systems (see Section 44-305.2). Substitute references to "month" with phrase "28- to 31-day period not limited to a calendar month."

.4 Budgeting for Refugee or Cuban/Haitian Entrant Cases Transferred from Refugee or Cuban/Haitian Entrant Cash Assistance to CalWORKs

.41 Prospective budgeting shall continue for recipients transferred from the Refugee Resettlement or Cuban/Haitian Entrant Programs to CalWORKs.

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 10553 and 10554, Welfare and Institutions Code. Reference: Sections 11265.2, 11265.3, 11265.46, and 11450.5, Welfare and Institutions Code; Federal Register, Vol. 75, No. 19, dated January 29, 2010, pages 4928 and 4929 [7 CFR 273.12(a)(1)(vii)].