DPSS ePolicy

Revision of existing policy and/or form(s)

What changed?

This release was modified to provide CalSAWS procedures for rescinding or restoring aid following a discontinuance due to a late/incomplete SAR 7, Eligibility Status Report.

Note: Changes are shown highlighted in grey throughout the document.

When a participant’s CalWORKs case has been discontinued due to non-receipt of a SAR 7, Eligibility Status Report, or receipt of an incomplete SAR 7, benefits can be restored or rescinded without requiring a new application. The Rescission or Restoration can only be done as long as the participant submits a complete SAR 7 during the Restoration Month which is the calendar month following the case discontinuance.

As a result of Assembly Bill (AB) 959, effective July 1, 2012, a CalWORKs case can be restored when the participant’s CalWORKs case is discontinued for non-receipt/incomplete SAR 7 as long as the participant submits a complete SAR 7 in the Restoration Month. In addition, the participant can have their benefits rescinded without requiring a new application, if the participant meets the Good Cause eligibility criteria.

AB 959 does not change Restoration provisions for Non-Assistance CalFresh (NACF).

Filing period

A Good Cause or Restoration evaluation is not needed as long as a complete report is received by the County no later than the first business day of the month following the Submit Month.

Example:

The participant could submit the October 2019 Report (Data Month) starting November 1, 2019 (Submit Month) up until December 2, 2019 (Monday), which is the first business day following the Submit Month.

Restoration Month

The month after a case discontinues for non-receipt or incomplete SAR 7.

If a participant submits a report during the month after the Restoration Month, the participant must reapply for CalWORKs.

Rescission

When a participant’s CalWORKs case is discontinued for non-receipt/incomplete SAR 7 and the participant submits a complete SAR 7 in the Restoration Month, the case can be rescinded only if the participant meets the Good Cause criteria. 

When the case is rescinded, the Assistance Unit (AU) does not experience a break-in-aid and the participant: 

• Retains participant status;
• Maintains the same previous Semi-Annual Reporting (SAR) cycle;
• Is not required to reapply for CalWORKs; 
• andBenefits are not prorated.

Good Cause

Good Cause is applied when the participant cannot reasonably be expected to fulfill their responsibilities due to factors beyond their control, such as:

• The participant is suffering from a mental/physical condition that prevents timely/complete reporting;
• The participant’s failure to submit a timely and complete report is directly attributed to a County error; and
• The County finds other extenuating circumstances, such as domestic violence.

The participant is required to request a Good Cause evaluation in writing or verbally as the burden of proof for not submitting a complete SAR 7 timely lies on the participant.

Exception: Good Cause can be granted without the participant’s request if it is apparent to the County that the participant meets the Good Cause criteria.

Restoration

When a participant’s CalWORKs case is discontinued for non-receipt/incomplete SAR 7 and the participant submits a complete SAR 7 in the Restoration Month, but does not meet the Good Cause criteria as stated in the Rescission Section above, then the case is restored.  

When the case is restored, the AU experiences a break-in-aid from the first of the month until the day the complete SAR 7 is submitted; however, the participant: 

• Retains participant status;
• Maintains the same previous SAR cycle; and
• Benefits are prorated based on the date that the complete SAR 7 is received.

Note: The participant has until the end of the Restoration Month to submit a complete SAR 7. There is no limit to the number of Restoration requests during the Restoration Month. In addition, any discrepancies with respect to an incomplete SAR 7 may be resolved by contacting the participant by phone and thoroughly documenting the discussion and outcome in the case Journal.

Each time the participant submits an incomplete SAR 7 within the same Restoration Month, a new Notice of Action (NOA) must be generated to inform the participant why the report is not complete.

SAR 7, Eligibility Status Report 

Semi-Annual Reporting rules require a CalWORKs participant to submit a complete SAR 7 in the sixth month of the first semi-annual period followed by a Renewal (RE) in the sixth month of the second semi-annual period.

If a complete SAR 7 is not submitted in the filing month, the CalWORKs case will discontinue; however, the participant may submit a complete SAR 7 and request to have the case restored or rescinded (if Good Cause exists) without completing a new application.

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