DPSS ePolicy

To convert existing policy to new writing style only – No concept changes.

Employable participants can only receive General Relief (GR) benefits for a specific period of time. They are time limited for six months plus an additional three months, if they are participating in General Relief Opportunities for Work (GROW). An employable participant is eligible to receive GR benefits for a maximum of 277 days, out of any 365-day period.

The 365-day time limit period begins the day of the GROW Orientation/appraisal appointment or the day of approval, whichever comes first. Participants who are on and off benefits frequently could reach the end of the 365-day period without having used all of the 277 days of eligibility. When this occurs, the next 365-day period automatically begins and the 277-day time clock will reset.

Participants’ employability status is tracked by CalSAWS. When a participant’s status changes from employable to another status and then back to employable again, the tracking of employable time is automatically resumed effective the date of the change. CalSAWS is programmed to discontinue benefits when a participants’ time limit is reached.

CalSAWS tracks the number of days an employable participant is eligible and will discontinue aid when the time limit is reached. When a participant’s status changes from unemployable, Needs Special Assistance (NSA) or Administratively unemployable (AU) to employable (after the grant is issued for the month) and eligibility as an employable expires during that same month, the participant is not entitled to the entire month’s benefits.. CalSAWS is programmed to automatically calculate an overpayment.

Prior to the 277th day, benefits are automatically discontinued by CalSAWS, effective the last day of eligibility and an automated Notice of Action is sent. CalSAWS calculates the future date the participant will be eligible to reapply.

The effective date of discontinuance due to time limits is reached when the 277 days of eligibility are used. The effective date can be any day of the month; in other words, the effective day is not automatically at the last day of the month. When the effective date is not the end of the month, the grant is prorated from the 1st of the month until the effective number of days is reached.

Employable participants who are in the process of being evaluated for a mental or physical disability may be granted a temporary exemption period. The duration of a temporary exemption period can last up to 30 days and does not count towards the 277-day time limit.

A participant discontinued for time limits has the right to a pre-discontinuance hearing, but there is no extended suspend period. The purpose of the extended suspend period is to allow participants additional time and the opportunity to resolve non-compliance issues. Under time limits, there is no non-compliance issue to be resolved.

1. CalSAWS is automatically programmed to schedule hearings.
2. The ABP 1198, GR Time Limit Action Required, is used by the Hearing Officer to advise the Worker of any action required as the result of the hearing.

All General Relief (GR) applicants/participants must have time limits explained to them as part of the application process, annual agreement, or any time an explanation is requested.

Welfare & Institutions Code (W&IC) 17000.6 permits counties to implement a time limit for receiving GR. The County of Los Angeles requires a time limit for employable GR participants. The time limit is initially six months, but it is extended an additional three months for participation in General Relief Opportunities for Work (GROW).

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Time Limits

Time limits only apply to employable participants. unemployable participants are not subject to time limits unless their employability status changes to employable.

One participant in a couple case reaches time limit

Once the first participant reaches the maximum number of eligible days, they are automatically removed from the case. Once the second participant reaches time limit, the case is discontinued.

Applicant/ participant is in a Board and Care (B&C) facility.

Time limits must apply to applicants/participants residing in a B&C facility. If determined employable, GR is time-limited whether or not the applicant/participant resides in a B&C facility.

Participants who have timed-out of CalWORKs

Any parent (biological or adoptive) previously receiving CalWORKs who was timed-out because of the CalWORKs time limits is not eligible to receive GR until their youngest child who receives CalWORKs reaches 18 years of age. There is no GR eligibility regardless of whether the child is now living in the home with the participant.

Exception: Caretaker relatives, such as: grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc., who are timed-out of CalWORKs are eligible for GR, if all other requirements are met.

If a GR pregnant applicant/participant is time-limited under the CalWORKs Program, the pregnant participant may be aided on GR during her third trimester of pregnancy until the baby is born.

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