DPSS ePolicy

To revise an existing policy and/or form(s).

 What changed?

1. PUB 13, Your Rights Under California Public Benefits Programs (Revised May 2022), has updated contact information for California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Civil Rights Unit.
2. Revised PUB 13 provides clarification on the authority judges have during a hearing.
3. This release includes a PUB 13 documentation template.

The PUB 13 is an informational pamphlet that explains to DPSS customers the responsibility of public contact staff to comply with Federal and State law and provides options for filing a complaint or requesting a  State Hearing and the corresponding contact information.

According to CDSS Division 21, all DPSS customers are protected to ensure that the administration of public assistance and social services programs are nondiscriminatory, and that no person shall, because of national origin, color, race, ancestry, ethnic group identification, age, sex, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, domestic partnership, medical condition, genetic information,  religion, political affiliation, disability, citizenship, immigration status, and any other applicable basis, including retaliation, be excluded from participation in, be denied, the benefits of, or be subjected to  discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal or state financial assistance.  The PUB 13 explains the rights of DPSS customers, specifies that multilingual services are available, lists California Relay Service as the communication accommodation for the deaf/hearing impaired, explains the steps to take if a customer does not agree with the action of an application or service, explains the State Hearing  process, outlines actions customers can take for discrimination complaints, and identifies State and Federal contacts.

CDSS requires the counties to provide the PUB 13 to all DPSS customers in their preferred language at intake and renewal. 

PUB 13, Your Rights Under California Public Benefits Programs