DPSS ePolicy

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

Income received by General Relief (GR) participants is treated as follows:

1. After approval, all net income to the General Relief (GR) household is deducted from the GR grant.
2. All income of a legally married, non-aided spouse with whom the GR participant is living, in excess of the spouse’s needs per the GR Basic Budget table, is considered income to the GR household.
3. If any person in the home receives State or Federal public assistance, (e.g., SSI/SSP, CAPI, CalWORKs) none of the income of the public assistance recipient is considered available to meet the needs of the GR household. 
4. Applicants who begin receiving income in the application month that will equal or exceed the GR grant may be eligible for emergency aid pending actual receipt of the income. 
5. Applicants/participants are responsible for providing information necessary for income determination and for taking necessary action to obtain available income. 
6. Income is available if the applicant/participant only has to apply for, claim, or accept the income to obtain it. 
7. Examples of available income are:
   • Relative’s offer of a contribution;
   • Unemployment Insurance Benefits (UIB)/Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB); and
   • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)/State Supplemental Program (SSP) or Retirement Survivors Disability and Health Insurance (RSDHI) benefits, including benefits available by appealing SSI/SSP discontinuances and denials.
8. The entire GR household is ineligible if any member of that household refuses to accept or apply for available income.
9. The Eligibility Worker (EW) is responsible for following up with the person(s) and/or the agency where the applicant/participant applied for income benefits.
   
   Refer to 40-104 Reporting Responsibilities for General Relief Applicants and Participants policy for specific requirements for follow-up and verification.

Exempt Income

The following are exempt and not counted as income:

1. Payments for Use of Third Party - Payments made to a GR household exclusively on behalf of another person are exempt (e.g., foster care payments made to a GR participant for the care of a foster child). 
2. Payments to meet GR Special Need - Payments up to the GR ceiling made by a third party to meet a GR recognized special need items are exempt. In such cases, the special need is not allowed/budgeted (see example 1). 
3. In-Kind Transportation - Family Emergencies - In-Kind transportation provided for an applicant/participant for attending family emergencies involving critical illness or death is exempt. 
4. Rehabilitation Program - Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Funds - Any part of a payment to an applicant/participant from the Department of Rehabilitation or WIA which is used to meet one or more of the following needs is exempt:
   • Tuition;
   • Books;
   • Transportation to/from school/training in the amount claimed by the participant or the cost, as determined by GR 44-237, whichever is less;
   • Tools/equipment required by the study or training program; and
   • Other educational fees. 
5. Vocational Rehabilitation Program administered by the County Department of Health Services (DHS) - Any part of a payment to an applicant/participant from the Vocational Rehabilitation Program administered by the County DHS, which is used to meet one or more of the following needs is exempt: 
   • Tuition; 
   • Books;
   • Transportation to/from school/training in the amount claimed by the participant or the cost, as determined by GR 44-237, whichever is less; 
   • Car insurance and motor vehicle registration (Exemption based on applicant/participant’s use of own car because public transportation is not available); 
   • Tools/equipment required by the study or training program;
   • License or certification fees; 
   • Special clothing (uniforms), cleaning and laundry services; 
   • Meals purchased at training site; 
   • Free in-kind meals provided to the applicant/participant at the training site; 
   • Grooming items (not to exceed $5.00 per month) such as haircuts, makeup (including lipstick, mascara, eye shadow, etc.), other essential cosmetics; and
   • Other educational fees. 
6. Educational Grants/Loans - Any part of the Federal/State student grants/loans designated below which is used to meet one or more of the items in “Exempt School Need Items” below are exempt. For grants/loans not listed, district administrative staff may call the GR and CAPI Policy Section for guidance. 
   • Federal/State Student Grants/Loans
     • Pell Grant 
     • Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
     • College Work Study (CWS)
     • National Direct Student Loan (NDSL)
     • Guaranteed Student loan (GSL)
     • Cal Grants A, B and C
     • Graduate Fellowship
     • Bilingual Teacher Grant
     • California Loans to Assist Students (CLAS) which are also known as Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students (PLUS)
   • Exempt School Need Items 
     • Tuition;
     • Books;
     • Educational Fees to include transportation to/from school/training and tools/equipment required by the school/training program;
     • License or certification fees; and
     • Special clothing if uniforms are required for the school/training program.
7. Personal Loans - The portion of any loan which is used solely to meet the food, housing, or personal care needs of an applicant/participant, subject to the following conditions, is exempt.
   • The amount of exemption is only up to the GR grant amount for the need item for which it is used.
   • Intake – the loan must be received either during the 30-day period immediately preceding the date of application or during the period when the application is pending to meet basic needs that are unmet due to an erroneous denial.
   • Approved – the loan must be obtained to meet basic needs that are unmet due to an erroneous discontinuance or a delay in the receipt of the grant.
8. Income to Victims of Battery or other Violent Crimes - Current income received by the spouse of a battered person/victim of domestic violence 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. Note: This determination must be made manually.
9. Rent Subsidies - Rent subsidies, received either from government or non-profit agencies are exempt. To be exempt, the rent subsidy must not be payable in the applicant/participant’s name. The rent subsidy must be made payable to the landlord/manager/owner/facility in the name of the GR participant.
   After inputting the information, CalSAWS exempts the income.
10. Relocation Benefits - Relocation benefits received from a public agency for relocating from one home to another are exempt. This determination is not a function of CalSAWS and must be manually determined.
11. HUD Mortgage Loans - Mortgage loans received from HUD are exempt. After inputting the information, CalSAWS exempts the income.
12. Disaster Relief Funds - Funds received from government relief programs, including disaster relief funds (e.g., those received as a result of an earthquake) are exempt. This determination is not a function of CalSAWS and must be manually determined.
13. Homeowner/Renter Assistance - Funds received from the State Franchise Tax Board are exempt only if the applicant/participant:
    • Is 62 years of age or older, blind or disabled; and 
    • Owned and lived in their own home during the past year or paid $50 or more for rent per month; 
    • Has a total household yearly income of $33,132 or less; and 
    • Is a U.S. citizen or legal non-citizen.
14. Utility Assistance Programs - Assistance from utility assistance programs for any member of the GR household is exempt.
    • Note: This determination is not a function of CalSAWS and must be manually determined.
15. Alaska Native Claims Settlement - Cash, stocks, a partnership interest, land or an interest in a settlement trust (including cash dividends on stocks and bonds received from a Native Corporation) to the extent that it does not exceed $2,000 per year is exempt.

Income in Month of Application-Less Than Grant

When income received in the month of application is less than the monthly grant amount, the needs allotments for the period of the month prior to application are prorated. If the income received in the application month is less than or equal to the prorated needs allotment for the period of the month prior to the application date, then no income is deducted from the prorated grant for the remaining portion of the month (see example 3).

Methods of Apportioning Income to Future Months

When determining eligibility for an employee under an annual contract who works fewer than 12 months, the income from such a contract is apportioned (divided) equally over the period of the contract. Apportionment begins with the first month of the contract and extends through the 12th month. This applies even though the applicant/participant works fewer than 12 months.

School Employees

School employees may be classified as either “certificated” or “classified.” The “certificated” school employee classification includes teachers, principals, vice principals, and teacher’s assistants. Under this classification, most employees have an individual employment contract. Also, most employees return to their employment when a new school session begins.

The “classified” school employee includes positions such as clerical; employees, cafeteria workers, and education aides. The “classified” school employee is employed only during the school session and does not have an individual employment contract. The “classified” school employee is not given a guarantee of reemployment at the start of the new year. Return to work is determined by the school district’s needs.

Note: Some “classified” school employees may work 12 months a year in schools with year-round sessions.