40-101.7 Victims of Domestic Violence

GENERAL RELIEF

40-101.7 Victims of Domestic Violence - Battered Individuals

Release Date

06/20/2017

Section Heading

Purpose

Revision of existing policy and/or form(s)

The subject policy has been approved for release to staff via DPSS ePolicy.

What changed?

Domestic Violence (DV) applicants may now apply for General Relief (GR) benefits by phone through the Intake Call Center or via BenefitsCal.
Updated the GR eligibility requirements for DV/battered individuals.
Updated California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS) instructions for Eligibility staff.
Included reference to the new PUB 434, General Relief Domestic Violence (02/2025), brochure that provides information on GR DV resources designed to assist and protect DV victims.
References to the General Relief Opportunities for Work (GROW) Program have been replaced with the Skills and Training to Achieve Readiness for Tomorrow (START) Program.
- Note: The GROW name will be used only when referencing CalSAWS pages until the system is fully programmed with the new START Program name. All notices and forms that are currently available in CalSAWS will also display GROW pending change in CalSAWS.
References to GROW Case Manager have been replaced with START Case Manager (SCM).
References to the Electronic Document Management System have been replaced with CalSAWS Imaging Solution (CIS).

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

Policy

A battered individual or victim of DV is defined as a person who declares to be or to have been a victim of violence (i.e., physical, mental, sexual, and/or economic abuse, threats, tactics of power and control, and/or shaking) by an intimate partner or in the case of a minor, by the parent.

Note: GR policy relative to DV victims is applicable to all genders and sexes, unless otherwise specified.

Any GR applicant/participant who declares to be a victim of DV may receive specialized Domestic Violence Services (DVS) designed to assist and protect them. They may be referred to Domestic Violence Service Agencies (DVSA) that provide DV assistance at no cost to the applicant/participant.

Refer to 3.1 Domestic Violence policy for details on DVS provided by the START Program.

CalFresh Eligibility

CalFresh policy allows a DV victim to apply for CalFresh as a separate household (HH) from the abuser and receive an additional CalFresh benefit allotment in the same month, if otherwise eligible, under the following conditions:

The DV victim is residing in a DV shelter; and
The DV victim’s current CalFresh HH includes the abuser.

Refer to Processing Domestic Violence Cases in the CalFresh Program policy for additional details.

Confidentiality of DV Cases

For the safety of DV victims, no confidential case information will be released to anyone who is not directly involved in the case. This includes the DV victim’s spouse or intimate partner, unless the applicant/participant has signed the CSF 117, Authorized Representative Designation for Cash Benefits and designated an Authorized Representative (AR) on the GR case and/or ABCDM 228, Applicant’s Authorization for Release of Information form to release the case information or it is required by law.

Background

N/A

Definitions

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.

An assaultive or coercive behavior, including threats or attempts at abuse that occurs within a domestic relationship. Domestic abuse includes, but is not limited to, physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, economic control, DV, stalking, isolation, threats, neglect or deprivation of medical care or other types of coercive behaviors.

DVSA

Nonprofit organizations which provide case management and/or legal services to GR and START applicants/participants, who are victims of DV.

DV Shelter

A public or private nonprofit residential facility that serves battered individuals. If a facility serves other individuals, a portion of the facility must be set aside on a long-term basis to serve only battered individuals.

Sexual Abuse

A person knowingly causes another person to engage in a sexual act and may include non-physical contact of a sexual nature such as but not limited to, voyeurism; intentional exposure of an individual to exhibitionism; unwanted exposure to pornography; verbal or behavioral sexual harassment; threats of sexual violence; or taking nude photographs of a sexual nature of another person without their consent or knowledge, or of a person who is unable to consent or refuse.

Sexual Assault (also known as sexual battery)

When someone’s intimate parts are touched or attempted to be touched, or when someone is forced to touch another person’s intimate parts, without consent and/or against a person’s will.

Sexual Harassment

Unwelcomed sexual advances, or other visual, verbal, emotional actions, or physical conduct of a sexual nature and actions that create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment based on a person’s sex.

Stalking

A pattern of persistent, unwanted, and intrusive behaviors carried out by one or more person(s) towards another person, causing the targeted person to feel fear, distress, or concern for their safety and well-being. These behaviors can take various forms, such as repeated and unwanted communication (including phone calls, texts, emails, or social media messages), following the individual, showing up at their home or workplace uninvited, spreading false information about them, monitoring their activities without consent, and engaging in other actions that invade their privacy and personal space. Stalking often results in the victim experiencing emotional and psychological distress, and in some cases, it can escalate to physical harm or violence.

START Program

A mandatory Welfare-to-Work Program for Employable GR participants that provides education and training opportunities, supportive services, and case management to help them better succeed in their career goals and future. While participating in the START Program, participants will be assigned to activities to help achieve their employment goals. The START Program helps with transportation costs and job-related expenses such as supplies and uniforms.

Requirements

To be eligible for GR, battered individuals must meet all the following requirements:

Identification (ID)

Battered/DV applicants/participants must provide a photo ID to verify their identity.

Refer to 40-111 Identification policy for details.

Social Security Number (SSN)

All GR applicants/participants are required to provide a SSN as a condition of GR eligibility.

Refer to 40-113 Social Security Number Requirement policy for details.

Battered noncitizens may not yet have or may not be able to obtain a SSN for work purposes. These individuals will be assisted in obtaining a non-work SSN by providing them with a PA 4013, Non-Work Social Security Number Referral Letter.

Refer to 42-405 Battered Noncitizens - Violence Against Women Act and 42-411 Noncitizen Victims of Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence, and Other Serious Crimes policies for details.

Citizenship Status

Battered/DV applicants/participants must provide acceptable verification confirming their United States (U.S.) citizenship or lawful presence in the U.S. for a permanent or indefinite period of time.

The individual’s statement on the application that they are a U.S. citizen is acceptable unless contradicted by other evidence (e.g., the individual was born in another country, conflicting information in the case record or information received from another source, which makes the individual’s claim of citizenship questionable).

It is not mandatory for the DV individual to apply with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services under the Violence Against Women Act if the qualifying legal immigrant status already exists. A victim of DV is potentially eligible for GR as long as acceptable verification of the qualifying legal immigrant status is provided.

Refer to 42-404 Immigrant Eligibility Chart and 42-405 Battered Noncitizens - Violence Against Women Act policies for details.

Noncitizen victims of human trafficking, DV, and other serious crimes may be potentially eligible for GR.

Refer to 42-411 Noncitizen Victims of Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence, and Other Serious Crimes policy for detailed information on requirements and acceptable verification(s).

Residence Address

Battered/DV applicants/participants are not required to have a residence address. The district office address may be used as the residence address. Post Office Box (P.O. Box), Commercial Mail Receiving Agent (CMRA), Community Agency or Mail Drops address cannot be used as a residence address.

Mailing Address

Battered/DV applicants/participants are required to have a mailing address. A local P.O. Box, CMRA, or Mail Drop address may be used as a mailing address.

The GR district office can be used as a mailing address for homeless applicants/participants. However, applicants/ participants with a residence address must provide a mailing address and may not use the district office as a mailing address.

Note: Applicants/participants with a mailing address are required to complete the PA 1815, Important Notice About a Mailing Address.

Applicants/participants who are using the district office as a mailing address are required to check their mail on a weekly basis.

Employability Status and Participation in the START Program

Battered/DV applicants/participants who are determined to be Employable based on a self-declaration and/or physical/mental health assessment result, will be referred to the START Program to receive DVS to overcome barriers to employment. DVS may include counseling, legal advice, and any other available services.

Refer to 3.1 Domestic Violence policy for details.

Battered/DV applicants/participants with an Unemployable status are not required to participate in the START Program. Applicants/participants who voluntarily choose to participate in the START Program will not be penalized for failing to comply with the START Program requirements and their GR benefits will not stop.

Mental Health Services

Battered/DV applicants/participants determined to be Unemployable will be referred to co-located/remote Department of Mental Health (DMH) Clinicians for a Mental Health Assessment (MHA). DMH Clinicians will also be available to assist the victims of DV if they experience a mental health crisis.

Refer to 41-100 Needs Special Assistance for details.

Income

Current income received by the spouse of a battered/DV applicant/participant is exempt.

Money received by victims of violent crimes through the Victim Assistance Program administered by the State Board of Control pursuant to the California Government Code Section 13959 through 13696 is exempt.

Refer to 44-101 Income policy for details.

Responsible Relative Contributions

Battered/DV applicants/participants are exempt from providing information about the responsible relative spouse (abuser). If all other GR requirements are met, GR will be approved even though it has been determined the responsible relative spouse is able and willing to contribute a sufficient amount to cover the applicant’s/participant’s needs. The responsible relative spouse is not exempt from liability and must pay all support money to Los Angeles County.

Refer to 43-100 Responsible Relatives for General Relief policy for details.

Property

Community Property

The value of the property is excluded when determining GR eligibility of the battered/DV applicant/participant.

Shared Property

The value of the shared property is exempt when determining GR eligibility of the battered/DV applicant/participant, if the title is shared with the spouse/other and:

The spouse/other title holder is in the home the DV applicant/ participant left; or
The spouse/other title holder remains in the home.

Burial trusts and/or interment plots are considered the separate property of the spouse who is to be the beneficiary or user.

Refer to 42-200 Property policy for details.

Battered/DV applicants/participants are to decide how they will communicate with and receive correspondence from the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS). They can choose to receive correspondence by mail, in person, or electronically via texts, calls, and emails.

Battered/DV applicants/participants should be aware that confidentiality restrictions will be added to their case for security or other safety reasons, which will restrict them accessing the case information via BenefitsCal. They will be given an opportunity to opt-in or out Self-Service Portal Customer Privacy (SSPCP) record functionality at Intake, during GR Renewal, or at any point of contact. When there is an active SSPCP record on a case, the applicant/participant cannot:

Access their case information through BenefitsCal;
Link their existing case to their BenefitsCal account; and
Upload documents online.

Battered/DV applicants/participants who choose to access their case through BenefitsCal can request the SSPCP record be end dated at any time by calling the Customer Service Center (CSC) at (866) 613-3777 or in-person at any District Office.

When there is no active SSPCP record on a case or when the record is end dated, the battered/DV applicant/participant can link their case to their BenefitsCal account and use all available features, including all correspondence that will be available in their BenefitsCal account for 90 days under the "Messages" tab.

Screen shot of the BenefitsCal's Message Center page with red boxes highlighting the Messages tab and Notices hyperlink.

Verification Docs

An applicant’s/participant’s statement on the application, written statement, or information from any reliable source will be considered acceptable verification. The GEN 853, Sworn Statement, indicating they are a past or present DV victim is considered sufficient verification for DV self-disclosure.

Battered noncitizens who are working with third-party officials (e.g., advocate, law enforcement, legal aid, etc.), who are assisting the victims to obtain necessary verification must complete and sign the ABCDM 228 before any information can be released by DPSS.

Refer to 42-411 Noncitizen Victims of Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence, and Other Serious Crimes and 42-405 Battered Noncitizens - Violence Against Women Act policies for detailed information on requirements and acceptable verification(s).

Battered/DV applicants/participants, who want to designate an AR on a GR case, must complete the CSF 117 (10/2020) form and specify the scope of the AR’s role. If the applicant/participant designates the AR to pick up, receive, and use their GR benefits, the applicant/participant must also complete the TEMP 2201, EBT – Request for AR/Designated Alternate Cardholder (07/2002) form, in addition to the CSF 117.

Battered/DV applicants can submit their GR application and/or verifications:

By U.S mail or eFax;
In person at any district office;
By phone through the CSC; or
Via BenefitsCal.

DPSS ePolicy

NAVIGATION