42-750 SUPPORTIVE SERVICES

(a) The least costly form of public transportation, including CWD provided transportation, that would not preclude participation in welfare-to-work activities pursuant to Section 42-721.313.

(b) If there is no public transportation available which meets these requirements, participants may use their own vehicles. Participants shall be reimbursed at one of the following rates:

(1) The county shall select an existing reimbursement rate used in the county, or

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(2) The county shall develop a rate that covers necessary costs.

(3) The reimbursement rate may not include a "cap," or maximum monthly reimbursement amount, beyond which additional miles driven are not reimbursed.

(c) Parking for welfare-to-work participants shall be reimbursed at actual cost. Participants shall submit receipts for this purpose, except in cases where parking meters are used.

(d) Participants who choose to use their own vehicles when public transportation is available will be reimbursed at the least expensive reimbursement rate of available transportation pursuant to Sections 42-750.112(a) and (b).

.113 Ancillary expenses shall include the cost of books, tools, clothing specifically required for the job, fees, and other necessary costs.

(a) Tuition (and school fees in the nature of tuition) are not ancillary expenses. The county is not obligated to pay these costs when a person or entity, other than the county or county authorized entity, contracts for the training.

.114 Diaper supportive service of thirty dollars ($30) per month is provided to CalWORKs welfare-to-work or Cal-Learn participants to assist with diaper and associated diapering costs, including but not limited to, diaper wipes and diaper creams.

(a) Individuals who meet both of the following eligibility criteria are provided the diaper supportive service:

(1) Be required to participate, or participate voluntarily, in the welfare-to-work or Cal-Learn program, and be in good standing with program requirements or waiting to be engaged in program activities.

(A) Participants receiving post-aid and/or job retention services may be eligible for diaper supportive services.

(2) Have a qualifying child under 36 months of age at the beginning of the month over whom care and control is exercised by the participant.

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(b) Participants may opt out of or back into diaper supportive services at any time, provided eligibility criteria are met. Such participants must provide their caseworker with a signed, written statement that they have opted out of, or back into, receiving diaper supportive services. If documented in the welfare-to-work plan, this will suffice as the signed request from the participant. As with other supportive services, CWDs shall notify participants of any changes to their supportive services in accordance with MPP Division 22, via a Notice of Action.

(c) If participants do not receive their diaper supportive service payment in time to reasonably access diapers before the start of their activity, then the participants shall have good cause for nonparticipation.

.115 Participants who have personal or family problems that would affect the outcome of the welfare-to-work plan shall, to the extent available, receive necessary counseling or therapy to help them and their families adjust to their job or training assignment.

(a) "To the extent available" means these services are available at no cost to the recipient or the county develops a written policy authorizing payment for personal counseling.

.2 Supportive Services Payments

.21 Payments for supportive services, except child care as described in Chapter 47-100, shall be advanced to the participant when necessary and desired by the participant so that the participant need not use personal funds to pay for these services.

.211 Notwithstanding any other provision of Chapter 42-700, any participant in on-the-job training who becomes ineligible for CalWORKs due to earned income, hours worked, or loss of income disregards, shall remain a participant in the program under welfare-to-work activities for the duration of the on-the-job training assignment. The participant shall be eligible for supportive services for the duration of the on-the-job training, provided this duration does not exceed the time limits otherwise applicable to the recipient.

.212 Notwithstanding any other provision of Chapter 42-700, any participant in on-the-job training, grant-based on-the-job training, supported work, or transitional employment who remains eligible for aid shall be eligible for transportation, ancillary, and diaper expenses as specified in this section.

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.213 When a participant requests a hearing within the period of timely notification (see Section 22-072.5) to appeal a suspension, reduction, or termination of CalWORKs welfare-to-work supportive services or a change in the method of providing such services, the participant shall not be entitled to a continuation of CalWORKs welfare-to-work supportive services in the same amount or form pending the hearing decision. The participant shall be entitled to supportive services only at the level and in the form authorized by the county action under appeal.

.214 Diaper supportive service

(a) Diaper supportive service is a fixed payment to the welfare to-work or CalLearn participant of thirty dollars ($30) per child per month.

(b) CWDs, at their discretion, may provide diaper supportive services via electronic benefit transfer (EBT) or alternate method (e.g. warrant or direct deposit), as provided in Section 16-325.1.

(c) For each qualifying child, payments may continue through the month in which the child turns 36 months of age.

(d) Receipts are not required for diaper supportive services.

.3 Coordination of Supportive Services and Financial Aid

.31 The CWD shall encourage participants to apply for financial aid, including educational grants, scholarships, and awards.

.32 Reimbursement for SIPs (see Section 42-711.54) shall be provided if no other source of funding for those costs is available. Any offset to supportive services payments will be made in accordance with financial aid provisions as specified in Section 42-750.33.

.33 Treatment of Financial Aid

.331 The CWD shall consider the availability of financial aid received by the participant in the form of educational grants, scholarships and awards when determining the need for welfare-to-work supportive services payments.

.332 The CWD shall not deny or reduce welfare-to-work supportive services if the participant indicates that the financial aid is not available to meet supportive services needs.

.333 The CWD shall document all determinations regarding consideration of a participant's educational grants, scholarships and awards in the case file.

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.334 The CWD shall attempt to enter into written agreements with the financial aid office at appropriate educational institutions providing welfare-to-work services in order to avoid duplication of supportive services payments to welfare-to-work participants.

.335 Any agreement between the CWD and the institution shall include, but not be limited to the following:

(a) A description of the supportive services to be provided by each party.

(b) A provision for amendment and modification as necessary.

(c) A provision that supportive services needs will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

.34 Educational loans or work study program awards shall be excluded from consideration when determining supportive services needs.

.4 Notice Requirements for Transportation, Ancillary, and Diaper Support Services

.41 Participants shall be notified of specific arrangements for authorized transportation, ancillary, and diaper supportive services through an appropriate Notice of Action (NOA) which shall be issued pursuant to the procedures specified in MPP Division 22.

.411 NOAs shall be issued to CalWORKs participants for the following types of supportive services actions and changes:

(a) Approval of supportive services and the level and method of payment;

(1) The CWD shall inform participants who receive an advance payment that the unused portion of the advance will be collected as specified in Section 42-751.

(2) The CWD shall inform participants who receive advance payments that receipt of subsequent advance payments is contingent upon CWD receipt of proof of costs incurred no later than the 10th day of the month following the month for which the advance payment was made.

(b) Denial of requests by CalWORKs participants for CalWORKs supportive services arrangements or payments;

(c) Changes to existing supportive services payments and arrangements;

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(d) Collection of supportive services overpayments from CalWORKs participants pursuant to Section 42-751;

(e) Termination of supportive services arrangements or payments.

.412 NOAs are not required for the following types of supportive services actions:

(a) Approval of supportive services for one-time, short-term activities. Short-term activities include orientation/appraisal and school field trips. If the amount requested is not approved, a NOA is required.

(b) Approval of payments which are equal to the amount claimed by the CalWORKs participant or the service provider.

.42 The CWD shall inform participants of the requirement to provide prior notification to the CWD of changes in transportation and ancillary supportive services arrangements at least ten calendar days before an anticipated change, except in emergency or exceptional situations.

NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 10553, 10554, and 10604, Welfare and Institutions Code. Reference: Sections 11320, 11320.3(f)(1), 11320.31(c), 11323.2, 11323.4, and 11325.23(d), Welfare and Institutions Code.