DPSS ePolicy

CalFresh benefits convert to TCF for up to five months, and the TCF period begins on the first of the month following the discontinuance of CalWORKs/CalFresh cases or implementation of a state administrative hearing decision discontinuing CalWORKs. TCF benefits are issued for five months of the TCF period based on the last month of CalWORKs eligibility minus the CalWORKs grant. TCF benefits must not be issued beyond the five-month period.

Other states have their own TANF and SNAP programs. To qualify for TCF, both TANF/CalWORKs and SNAP/CalFresh benefits must have been received in California at the time CalWORKs was discontinued. If an individual CalWORKs AU member has been sanctioned, but the remainder of the AU continues to receive CalWORKs, then the remaining non-sanctioned members may receive TCF upon CalWORKs discontinuance.

CalWORKs AU refers to both federally and state funded AUs. CalWORKs AUs include HHs with a caretaker relative, Tribal TANF, or child-only cases.

To qualify for TCF, at least one CalWORKs AU member must have received CalFresh and CalWORKs in the month of the CalWORKs discontinuance.

CalWORKs cases are eligible for TCF when CalWORKs cases are discontinued in “Good Standing” that include but are not limited to any of the following:

• HH exceeded income or resource limits for CalWORKs eligibility. 
  
• HH requested to close their CalWORKs or CalFresh case. 
  
• A parent timing out or child aging out or otherwise leaving the HH when that individual was the last eligible person in the AU. 
  
• Disqualified due to CalWORKs policy change.

CalWORKs cases that are ineligible for TCF include AUs discontinued from CalWORKs due to any of the following reasons:

• All CalWORKs AU members applied and were approved for SNAP and/or TANF benefits in another state. An HH already receiving TCF that moved out of state but has not yet applied and been approved for SNAP and/or TANF benefits in another state may continue to receive their TCF benefits until the end of the transitional period.
  
• CalWORKs sanction and/or CalFresh disqualification, which was the primary cause of the case discontinuance.
  
• "Failure to provide” verification necessary to determine continued eligibility. 
  
• Failure to submit a complete Semi-Annual Report 7 (SAR 7) for both CalWORKs and CalFresh. 
  
• Failure to comply with the Renewal (RE) requirements for both CalWORKs and CalFresh. 
  
• Duplicate aid. 
  
• Death of all HH members.

Note: CalWORKs cases with a Zero Basic Grant are not eligible for TCF, as the CalWORKs case has not been terminated.

CalWORKs AU members are ineligible for CalFresh or TCF due to any of the following reasons:

• Disqualified for an Intentional Program Violation (IPV). 
• Fleeing Felon.
• Probation/Parole Violator.
• Ineligible due to CalFresh student eligibility rules (not meeting any student exemption). 
• Ineligible noncitizen.
• Disqualified for transferring resources to qualify for or attempt to qualify for CalFresh benefits. Currently, HHs whose resources that are not considered for CalFresh are conferred Modified Categorical Eligibility. 
• Failure to comply with ABAWD requirements. The ABAWD work requirements are currently waived until October 31, 2024.

If the CalWORKs AU member is ineligible for any of the reasons above, the remaining members who are in “Good Standing” may receive TCF upon the discontinuance of CalWORKs. In this situation, only the ineligible member(s) must be excluded from the TCF HH.

If the entire CalWORKs AU is denied TCF, Eligibility Staff must assess whether the HH as a whole or individual members of that HH continue to be eligible for regular CalFresh. If the HH or individual members continue to be eligible for regular CalFresh, it must retain its CalFresh benefits.

TCF benefits will be calculated by considering the HH’s composition and income during the month of the CalWORKs discontinuance minus the CalWORKs grant. Income that led to the CalWORKs discontinuance is not used for the TCF calculation. The TCF benefit allotment is determined based on information already known in the case. If the initial TCF benefit allotment is determined incorrectly due to Eligibility Staff error, the TCF benefit allotment must be adjusted. The TCF HH size must be based on the size of the CalWORKs AU, excluding ineligible members, at the time of the CalWORKs discontinuance. The Eligibility Staff must not contact the HH to establish TCF eligibility or the TCF benefit allotment.

Once the TCF benefit is established, the HH’s TCF benefit allotment is frozen for the duration of the five-month period unless:

• The HH requests a TCF discontinuance; 
• The HH reapplies and is approved for CalWORKs; 
• An HH member becomes eligible for CalWORKs or CalFresh in a different HH; or 
• There is a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (HHs receiving TCF benefits are entitled to the adjustment).

Note: The TCF will discontinue if an AU reapplies and is approved for CalWORKs. However, TCF will not be discontinued if the General Relief (GR) or Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) is approved.

The HH is not required to report any changes that occur during the TCF period, and Eligibility Staff are not required to act on third-party information.

The TCF HH may apply for regular CalFresh benefits by submitting an application at any time during the first four months of the TCF period. If the HH is determined eligible for CalFresh but is entitled to a benefit amount lower than its transitional benefit, the HH has the option to continue receiving TCF benefits until the RE Due Month. If the HH wishes to proceed with the CalFresh application, TCF will be discontinued, and the HH will receive the lower benefit amount.

If the HH elects to continue receiving TCF or is ineligible for CalFresh, the CalFresh application will be denied, and the HH will continue receiving TCF benefits for the remainder of the five-month TCF period. TCF HHs that do not comply with the CalFresh RE must have their cases closed at the end of the transitional period.

AUs/HHs restoring CalWORKs and CalFresh benefits within 30 days of the CalWORKs discontinuance do not need to submit a new CalFresh application. When the CalWORKs discontinuance is rescinded, there is no overissuance since the TCF benefits are calculated based on available information at the time of the discontinuance.

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