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” How to Cure a WtW Sanction During the Coronavirus Pandemic To date CDSS has not informed CalWORKs families with over 111,000 thousand children enduring the ravages of deep poverty, many for more than a year, that they can stop the sanction with these new flexibilities to cure the sanctions. The recent All County Welfare Directors Letter dated March 13, 2020 and several other ACWDLs set forth be- low advised counties that existing statutory and regulatory provisions al- low counties to cure sanctions without requiring the performance of the curing activities in existing regulations for CalWORKs beneficiaries cur- rently being sanctioned if the beneficiary requests that the sanction be cured. The rational is that most counties are closed and there are no WtW activities to participate in. This sounds great, but it is worthless in that the CalWORKs beneficiaries who are living in deep-deep poverty have no idea that they can request to cure their sanctions based on the new rules that counties can use during the coronavirus pandemic. Contacting the county is a major barrier given the coronavirus pandemic. We have reports beneficiaries waiting on the phone for hours and then the person who they talk to does not deal with WtW thus cannot process the sanction cure request. CCWRO has developed a new form entitled Request to Meet WtW Rules to Get my Cash Aid Back Per ACWDL 3-13-20, 3-30-20 and 6-29-20. Kevin M. Aslanian Executive Director Grace A. Galligher Directing Attorney Erin Simonitch, Staff Attorney Andrew Chen, Staff Attorney Daphne Macklin, Researcher 1111 Howe Avenue Suite 635 Sacramento, CA 95825-8551 Tel. (916) 736-0616 Fax (916) 736-2645 Kevin Aslanian Cell (916) 712-0071 ccwro.org Coalition of California Welfare Rights Organizations, Inc. CCWRO https:\/\/www.cdss.ca.gov\/inforesources\/letters-regulations\/letters-and-notices\/county-letters\/2020 https:\/\/www.cdss.ca.gov\/inforesources\/letters-regulations\/letters-and-notices\/county-letters\/2020 https:\/\/www.cdss.ca.gov\/inforesources\/letters-regulations\/letters-and-notices\/county-letters\/2020 This form should be emailed to the county welfare director, the benefi- ciary’s worker, the county program specialist. If you need help with get- ting email addresses, please contact Kevin Aslanian @ 916-712-0071 for assistance. If the county does not act and restore benefits within 10 days, the advo- cate should request a state hearing. CCWRO would be glad to assist with the state hearing. See proposed steps for advocates assisting CalWORKs beneficiaries who are being sanctioned and want to cure the sanction to get more money during the coronavirus pandemic. Ask the beneficiary if they want more money? If yes go to STEP #2. CalWORKs beneficiary completes the CCWRO form to cure the sanction. Mail or email the form to the welfare worker, county program specialist and others. STEP # 1 STEP # 4 STEP # 2 STEP # 3 If the sanction is not cured within 10 days, file for a state hearing. NOTE: CCWRO would be happy to assist with a state hearing. If you have any questions and need assistance, please contact CCWRO at 916-736-0616 or email [email protected] mailto:[email protected] 1 REQUEST TO MEET WELFARE-TO-WORK RULES TO GET MY CASH AID BACK PER ACWDL 3-13-20, 3-30-20 & 6-29-20 HOW TO GET MORE Cash Aid during the coronavirus pandemic: Your family gets less cash aid because you did not meet Welfare-to-Work rules. If you want your cash aid back, you can fill out this form and return it to your Welfare-to-Work worker right away. REQUEST TO MEET WELFARE-TO-WORK RULES TO GET MY CASH AID BACK I agree to participate in the WtW program when the county asks me to do so. I understand that during the coronavirus pandemic I will not be asked to participate. After the pandemic, if asked to participate, I will need help with: __ Child Care __ Transportation __ Other NAME (PLEASE PRINT): SIGNATURE: CASE # OR SOCIAL SECURITY #: PHONE #: ( ) DATE: WELFARE-TO-WORK WORKER’S NAME (PLEASE PRINT): BIRTHDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS DO YOU NEED FREE LEGAL HELP? Coalition of California Welfare Rights Organizations (CCWRO) 1111 Howe Ave., Suite 635, Sacramento, CA 95825 Telephone (916) 712-0061 ccwro.org HOW TO USE THIS FORM? You can give this to your worker. You can mail us this form and we will give it to your worker if you authorize us to do so. If you want us to help you, you have to sign below authorizing us to help you. I, the undersigned authorize CCWRO and any person working with them to be my authorized representative for all purposes, including filing for a state hearing: Date___________ Your Signature______________________________________________________ https:\/\/www.cdss.ca.gov\/inforesources\/letters-regulations\/letters-and-notices\/county-letters\/2020 https:\/\/www.cdss.ca.gov\/inforesources\/letters-regulations\/letters-and-notices\/county-letters\/2020 https:\/\/www.cdss.ca.gov\/inforesources\/letters-regulations\/letters-and-notices\/county-letters\/2020 2020 WtW Sanction Cure Practice Guide CCWRO Sanction-Cure-Form NAME PLEASE PRINT: CASE OR SOCIAL SECURITY: PHONE: DATE: BIRTHDATE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS: Date: Check Box1: Off Check Box2io0: Off Check Box3: Off birthdate: WTW WORKER: ”

” Coalition of California Welfare Rights Organizations, Inc. 1111 Howe Ave., Suite 150 Sacramento, CA 95825-8551 Telephone (916) 736-0616 Cell (916) 712-0071 Fax (916) 736-2645 Getting Food Stamps to College Students CCWRO is an IOLTA funded support center serving IOLTA legal services programs in California. Types of Services Offered: Litigation, Co-Counseling, Fair Hearing, Representation, Consultation, Informational Services, Research Services, In-Depth Consultation and Welfare Training. Programs Covered: CalWORKs, Welfare to Work (WtW), Food Stamps, Media Cal, General Assistance & Refugee\/Immigrant Eligibility. Refugee\/Immigrant Eligibility. All Rights Reserved. Contributors:Kevin Aslanian, Grace Galligher and Diane Aslanian http:\/\/www.ccwro.org September 14, 2016 Summary of this Update Thousands of students in California, who have been approved for work, are today, eligible for Food Stamps in California. The Food Stamp program is also known as SNAP nationally and CalFresh in California. In this update we will cover the major program that would make students eligible for CalFresh to combat college student food insecurity in California – Work Study. Work – Study Can a Student Approved for Work Study Get CalFresh? Yes. MPP 63-406.212 states that a student who is approved for state or federally financed work study for the current school term, as defined by the institu- tion of higher education, and can anticipate working during the term is exempt from the student work requirement. How Long Can the Student Approved for Work Study Get CalFresh? The exemption begins the month the school term starts or the month work study is approved, whichev- er is later. The exemption continues until the end of the month the school term ends, or it becomes known that the student refused a work assignment. The exemption shall not continue between terms when there is a break of a full month or longer unless the student is participating in work study during the break. Does the Student Have a to be Working at a Work Study Slot? No. An exemption may be granted on this basis if a student has been approved for federal or state work-study, as defined by the institution of higher education, even if the student’s work has not actu- ally begun, so long as the student anticipates being assigned to a work study job during the term. Does the Student Have to Anticipate Working at a Slot During the Semester? Yes. The work study rule is clarified further in ACIN I-89-15 which states that if a student is approved for state or federally financed work study during a specific school term, anticipates working during that term, and has not refused a work assignment, that student remains eligible for this exemption. Additionally, the fact that no jobs are available does not disqualify the student from receiving the exemption. Many students have to wait for a job opening and sometimes no job becomes available. If the student is approved for work study and a job does not materialize, a student is not penalized. Combating California Student Food Insecurity Getting Food Stamps to College Students- page 2 Is your housing costs (rent\/mortgage and utilities) are more than your monthly income and cash on hand? Yes__No_ The county has to issue benefits as long as the ap- plicant verified her or his identity. Identity can also be verified through the social security number of the applicant. Can The County Deny CF-ES? No. The applicant has 30 days to provide any veri- fication that the county may request with a DSS form known as CW 2200. That is, of course, if the household meets the expedited services criteria – is your monthly income is less than $150 and you have $100 or less in cash OR housing costs (rent\/ mortgage and utilities) are more than your monthly income and cash? This rule is put in place to make sure folks do not endure food insecurity while the county is verify- ing eligibility. What to do if the County Does Not Give me CalFresh in Working Three Days? The applicant has a right to an expedited hearing. The Expedited Hearing Request form can be found at www.ccwro.org. This is a fillable form. The form should be downloaded, completed and faxed to DSS at 916-651-2789. The form also has space to designate a representa- tive. CCWRO would be glad to represent anybody who filed an expedited hearing. Kevin Aslanian CCWRO 1111 Howe Ave., Suite 150 Sacramento, CA 95825 916-712-0071 [email protected] Also fax a copy of the request to: 916-736-2645 http:\/\/ccwro.org\/advocateresources\/welfare-advo- cate-forms NOTE: The two key conditions for this exemption are approved and anticipate . Per state regulations, the definition of approved is defined by the local institution of higher education. The definition of anticipate is a student who can expect or foresee being assigned a work study job. Until explicitly denied the student can fairly anticipate that they may still be offered a work study job. Can the Student Anticipate Working at a Work Study Slot Even if a Slot is Not Available? Yes. If the local institution of higher education has ap- proved a student for work study even when work study jobs may not be available (e.g. due to funding constraints), the student is approved and can anticipate that the work study job may become available because the institution of higher education has not denied them. In this case, if they do not plan to turn down a job that may become available, the exemption is applicable to the student. What Proof Does the Student Need to Show Approval of Work-Study and that the Student Anticipates Working? 1. The FALSA application approval, that includes work- study is proof that work study has been approved. 2. A statement from the student that I anticipate working at a work-study slot during this semester. How to Apply and Get CalFresh Right Away? You can apply for CalFresh on-line by going to www. ccwro.org and scrolling down to: On-Line Application for Welfare CalFresh\/CalFresh; CalWORKs and Medi-Cal If a student is eligible for CalFresh Expedited Service (CF-ES), then they must get CalFresh within three days. A student is eligible for expedited services if they answer yes to either of these two (2)questions: Is your monthly income is less than $150 and you have $100 or less in cash? Yes__No__ ”

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