To convert existing policy to new writing style only - No concept changes
To be eligible for CAPI, a person must meet all CAPI criteria (refer to 49-010: Eligibility for CAPI). One of the CAPI conditions is to be a legal noncitizen of the United States (U.S.) and meet the immigration status requirements in effect for Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) on August 21, 1996, or a victim of human trafficking, domestic violence or other serious crimes as defined in Welfare and Institutions Code §18945.
To meet the immigration requirements, a CAPI applicant/participant must be one of the following:
Assembly Bill 2779 (Chapter 329, Statutes of 1998), requires the establishment of a program that will provide cash assistance to aged, blind, and disabled legal noncitizens who meet the immigration status requirements of SSI/SSP in effect on August 21, 1996, but are ineligible for that program solely due to their immigration status. Welfare and Institutions Code Section 18940 requires that federal and state laws governing the SSI/SSP program must also govern the CAPI Program.
Abuse
Assaultive or coercive behavior that includes, but is not limited to, physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, economic control, isolation, stalking, threats or other types of coercive behavior.
Basic CAPI
Refers to the original eligibility component of CAPI, for which the earliest possible payment date was December 1, 1998. A noncitizen is potentially eligible for basic CAPI if they:
Date of Entry (DOE)
The effective date of the CAPI applicant’s/participant’s current immigration status as determined by the United States of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), except in any of the following situations:
Extended CAPI
A noncitizen is potentially eligible for extended CAPI if they entered the U.S. on or after August 22, 1996, and meets one of the following criteria:
Note: The sponsor deeming rule is applicable for ten years from the date the sponsor signed the Affidavit of Support.
Indigence Exception
Suspension of the income and resources of the sponsor(s) (and the sponsor’s spouse if living in the same household) from being deemed to the applicant/participant for purposes of determining CAPI eligibility.
Indigence exception applies when all of the following are met:
Refer to 49-037 Sponsor Deeming for more information.
Prima Facie
Denotes that, upon initial examination, a legal claim has sufficient evidence to proceed to trial or judgment.
The SSA has special rules that apply to the eligibility of a Qualified Alien for SSI/SSP. Since a Qualified Alien may be eligible for SSI/SSP, any CAPI applicant/participant who is a Qualified Alien must apply for SSI/SSP. A CAPI applicant/participant who is eligible for SSI/SSP will not be eligible for CAPI.
A CAPI applicant/participant claiming their sponsor is:
CAPI Aid Codes on the Medi-Cal Eligibility Data System (MEDS)
There are four CAPI aid codes being used for caseload tracking, which reflect broad noncitizen categories:
The CAPI aid codes are automatically inputted into MEDS through CalSAWS for existing and all new CAPI cases to:
The CAPI aid codes will be displayed in the same manner and in the same general location as the aid codes for General Relief (GR). The CAPI aid code information will be displayed on the INQ1, Q2, or Q3 screens on MEDS.
A list of documentation to prove immigration status can be found on the Alien/Immigrant Eligibility Chart.
Evidence for Death of a Sponsor
The following can be provided to prove death of an applicant’s/participant’s sponsor:
Administrative Release
Number: 5798 Date: November 29, 2023
Immigrants Status Requirements
There are two sets of immigrant status requirements depending on when the applicant/participant entered the U.S. that affects sponsor deeming periods (refer to 49-037: Sponsor Deeming). An applicant/participant, who meets all CAPI requirements (refer to 49-010: Eligibility for CAPI) and qualify for one of the following:
Refer to 49-037 Sponsor Deeming for more information.
Note: The EW must ensure that CAPI aid codes are entered into MEDS for all existing and new cases, and that future changes in CAPI eligibility are reflected in MEDS. These aid codes are not Medi-Cal aid codes and do not reflect Medi-Cal eligibility. Thus, Medi-Cal eligibility and Medi-Cal aid codes should not be changed.
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA):
The USCIS self-petitioned, battered VAWA noncitizen includes abused children, children whose parents are abused, and parents of abused children. The noncitizen must not reside in the same household with the abuser.
Sponsor Deeming Factor (refer to 49-037: Sponsor Deeming):
If the CAPI applicant/participant is a victim of abuse, they are exempted from all sponsor deeming for one year from the date the initial CAPI payment was received. The CAPI applicant/participant must not reside in the same household with the abusive sponsor. If it was determined that the abused CAPI applicant/participant is ineligible for CAPI solely because they are living with the abuser, the case shall remain pending for 30 calendar days. Once 30 calendar days have passed and the applicant/participant is still residing in the same household with the abusive sponsor, the EW will withdraw, deny, or suspend the case, as applicable.
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All County Information Notice (ACIN) No. I-07-04, Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) Eligibility for Refugees Discontinued From the Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment Program, dated January 28, 2004
ACIN No. I-36-05, Cash Assistance Program For Immigrants (CAPI) Eligibility, dated June 28, 2005
ACIN No. I-98-08, The Impact of H.R. 2608, Known as the “Extension For Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act” on CAPI, dated December 23, 2008
ACIN No. I-48-16, Eligibility of Individuals Paroled as Refugees for Benefits and Services, dated June 29, 2016
ACIN No. I-79-16, Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) PRUCOL Clarification, dated November 30, 2016
ACIN No. I-14-23, Eligibility of Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan Parolees for Federal and State Benefits, dated April 20, 2023
All County Letter (ACL) No. 98-82, Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI), dated October 16, 1998
ACL No. 02-08, Aid Codes for the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) on the Medi-Cal Eligibility Data System (MEDS), dated January 18, 2002
ACL No. 17-33, Transmission of Updated Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) SOC 860 and Clarification of Policy (Sponsor’s Statement of Facts: Income and Resources), dated April 17, 2017
Call-Out No. 16-28, Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants Eligibilty – Citizens of Mashall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Republic of Palua, dated May 18, 2016
Manual Policy and Procedure (MPP) §49-005 and §49-020
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Administrative staff may contact the GR Special Projects & SSI Advocacy at (562) 908-6732.
November 29, 2023
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