DPSS ePolicy

Revision of existing policy and/or form(s)

What changed? 

1. General Relief (GR) applicants/participants are not required to provide a photo Identification (ID) in person, except for special circumstances. 
2. Included reference to BenefitsCal, which is the new statewide self-service portal that replaced Your Benefits Now. 
3. GR applicants/participants will be able to upload the photo ID via BenefitsCal.
4. References to the Leader Replacement System (LRS) have been replaced with the California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS). 
5. References to the Electronic Document Management System (EDMS) have been replaced with the CalSAWS Imaging Solution (CIS).
6. Updated staff instructions.

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

1. GR applicant/participant was identified as a victim of an identity theft by the Welfare Fraud Prevention & Investigations (WFP&I) Section, and their case was previously denied/discontinued per WFP&I request; or
2. There is a reasonable suspicion that the provided photo ID is altered.

Applicants/participants without an acceptable photo ID will be assisted by eligibility staff in obtaining a photo ID and may be aided on an interim basis for 60 calendar days, pending receipt of a photo ID.

Any photo ID on file that was previously provided by an applicant/participant and is saved in CIS can be used to verify an applicant’s/participant’s identity. An expired California Driver’s License (DL) or ID can be accepted as verification.

As a result of Senate Bill 89 (Chapter 24, Statutes of 2017), effective July 1, 2018, the State Fingerprint Imaging System (SFIS) requirement was eliminated for all cash programs. SFIS was used to establish or verify an applicant’s/participant’s identity, as a condition of receiving aid.
 

BenefitsCal

A website for applicants/participants to apply for, view, and renew benefits for health coverage, food, and cash assistance. The BenefitsCal portal also allows applicants/participants to upload supporting verifications/ documents online.

Condition of Eligibility 

A program requirement that must be met to be eligible for aid.

I-94 or I-94A Arrival/Departure Form 

An arrival/departure record that can be in either paper or electronic format. It is issued by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer to foreign visitors entering the U.S. After April 20, 2013, most arrival/departure records are created electronically upon arrival and instead of a paper form, the visitor is given an annotated stamp in the foreign passport.

I-551 Permanent Resident Card

The Permanent Resident Card is a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) document that identifies a person as a permanent resident. The I-551 is also known as “Green Card” and replaced the old I-151, Alien Registration Card.

Foreign Passport With Temporary I-551

A foreign passport with Temporary I-551Alien Documentation Identification and Telecommunication (ADIT) stamp or Machine-Readable Immigrant Visa (MRIV) that usually includes the following text: “UPON ENDORSEMENT SERVES AS A TEMPORARY I-551 EVIDENCING PERMANENT RESIDENCE FOR 1 YEAR.” When a new immigrant first enters the U.S., CBP will stamp the passport with an admission stamp that shows permanent resident status and the date the new immigrant entered the U.S.

USCIS

A federal department that is responsible for processing immigration and naturalization applications and establishing policies regarding immigration services, formerly known as Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Proof of Identity for Pending Applications

All applicants applying for GR must provide a photo ID at the time of application unless there is a copy of their photo ID saved in CIS.

1. Applicants without acceptable photo ID may be aided on an interim basis (60 calendar days) pending receipt of a photo ID.
2. Applicants/participants without a photo ID who were previously aided on GR or another aid program (CalWORKs, CalFresh, etc.) may be aided when the photo ID can be obtained from the previous case record. Photo ID (expired or not) that was saved in CIS is acceptable verification and can be used to verify identity.

Refer to CalFresh Policy 63-300 Application Process for detailed instructions on ID requirements and verifications for CalFresh Program.

Note: Applicants who submit a GR application via the BenefitsCal self-service portal must comply with the photo ID requirement.

Applicants/participants with the Needs Special Assistance (NSA) designation are not exempt from the photo ID requirement; however, they might be temporarily deferred from providing a photo ID. Refer to 41-100 Needs Special Assistance policy for details.

In person ID is required only if the following special circumstances exist:

1. The WFP&I Section determined that there has been identity theft on a GR case and requested to discontinue the GR case previously; or
2. There is a suspicion that the provided photo ID is altered.

Failure to provide a photo ID within 60 calendar days of the requested date will cause a discontinuance of GR benefits due to a noncompliance with the ID requirement. 

Proof of Identity for Approved Cases

All participants who currently have an approved case must provide a photo ID at the next point of contact if there is no photo ID saved in CIS.

Assisting Applicants/Participants in Obtaining a Photo ID

Applicants/participants who do not provide a photo ID and there is no photo ID captured in CIS will be assisted with obtaining a photo ID.

Applicants/participants applying for or receiving GR will be required to complete the ABCDM 228, Applicant’s Authorization for the Release of Information which authorizes the agency to release the requested identification information to the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS).

Eligibility staff will submit the PA 230, Request for Verification/Certification of Evidence form, with the ABCDM 228 to the appropriate agency, requesting verification/certification of the applicant’s/participant’s birth. The applicant/participant can be aided on an interim basis, for 60 calendar days, if all other eligibility criteria have been met.

Applicants/participants who meet eligibility requirements, or are determined to be potentially eligible for GR, are eligible for a reduced fee Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) ID. Homeless applicants/participants are eligible to receive an ID at no cost from the DMV. For an applicant/participant to obtain the reduced fee ID or fee waiver, staff must complete the DL 937, Reduced Fee Identification Card Eligibility Verification, or DL 933, No Fee Identification Card Eligibility Verification forms, as applicable.

Note: DMV accepts original numbered DL 937 and DL 933 forms only. Copies/reproductions will not be accepted; the original completed forms are valid if presented to DMV within 90 days from the issuance day.  

Photo ID Types

1. DL or ID (current or expired, from any State); 
2. Cards issued by the USCIS with a photograph such as the I-94, I-155, I-151 or I-551; 
3. Photo ID issued by DMV, an employer, or any recognized agency, with the applicant’s/participant’s signature and a number, such as license number, employee number, or Social Security Number; or
   U.S. Passport. 

Refer to 42-404 Immigrant Eligibility Chart policy for detailed information about the immigration documents.

ID Submission Methods

GR applicants/participants have the following options to submit the photo ID:

1. Upload via BenefisCal;
2. In person at the district office; or
3. By U.S. mail or fax.