DPSS ePolicy

Revision of existing policy and/or form(s)

What changed?

The TAYportunity Guaranteed Income (GI) Program policy has been revised as follows:

1. The GI Demonstration Project has been renamed to TAYportunity GI Program.
2. The TAYportunity GI Program has been relaunched to provide GI benefits to 300 randomly selected Skills and Training to Achieve Readiness for Tomorrow (START) Transitional-Age Youth (TAY) participants.
3. The TAYportunity GI eligibility criteria have changed.
4. Provides revised instructions for the TAYportunity Liaisons on how to outreach to the TAYs randomly selected to receive GI.
5. Removes reference to the PA 6255, TAYportunity Assessment form.
6. Introduces the PA 6268, TAYportunity GI Program Agreement form for GI enrollment.
7. TAYportunity Liaisons will no longer need to create manual tasks to remind themselves to issue the next six-month auxiliary issuance on the California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS). These tasks will be automated in CalSAWS and assigned to the TAYportunity Liaison.
8. Removes the option for TAYs to receive two $500 payments in one month.
9. Introduces Domestic Violence (DV) TAYportunity Liaisons.
10. General Relief (GR) Liaisons will no longer receive requests from the TAYportunity Liaison to review cases to determine whether potential GI participants are receiving CalFresh (CF) in a separate household (HH).
11. GR Liaisons will receive requests from the TAYportunity Liaison to outreach to the GI TAY to confirm shelter expense when a change of physical address was reported on the TAYportunity GI application.
12. Provides instructions on the criteria for GI rescission and processing instructions. 
13. Provides revised instruction for GR Liaisons to determine the Supplemental Food Assistance amount that will be issued to the TAY.
14. Provides revised instruction for Eligibility staff on processing tasks for GI issuances.
15. Provides instruction for benefit replacement for GR, CF, GI, and Supplemental Food Assistance benefits due to Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) theft.
16. Provides Customer Service Center (CSC) staff with a script and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for TAYportunity GI inquiries.

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

The TAYportunity GI Program provides 300 randomly selected START TAYs with a basic monthly income payment for 36 months. TAYportunity GI participants will receive:

1. A monthly GI payment of $1,000;
2. Supplemental Food Assistance, should their CF benefits be adversely affected;
3. Access to Benefits Counseling services, financial literacy, and money management support;
4. Exemptions from having to meet GR income, resource, and time limits; and
5. Access to employment, entrepreneurship, and apprenticeship opportunities through the TAYportunity Program.

Note: GI payments received through the TAYportunity GI Program are exempt for Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI).

GI payments will be provided to 300 TAY and are issued without interruption for the duration of 36 months, unless the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) receives notification that the TAY requests to discontinue receiving GI or GR has discontinued for any of the following:

1. Incarcerated;
2. Residing out of County/State;
3. Approved for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI);
4. Becomes potentially eligible to CalWORKs; or
5. Is deceased.

Note: If GR discontinues for any reason other than above valid discontinuance reasons, GR must be rescinded.

Additionally, TAY receiving GI will be encouraged to participate in a research study group to identify how GI and its services have impacted them.

In July 2021, the Los Angeles (L.A.) County Board of Supervisors approved a motion to launch a basic income project to provide $1,000 monthly payments to 150 TAY in START for a period of 36 months. The motion also allowed for these TAYs to have their income, resources, time limits for GR, and other Program requirements waived while they are participating in the GI Project.

In March 2022, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors approved a motion to amend Title 2 - Administration of the Los Angeles County Code by adding section 2.102.290 (General Relief - Guaranteed Income Pilot Programs) to exclude GI payments for the purpose of determining GR eligibility when an individual legally resides in the County of L.A., and while participating in a L.A. County GI pilot program, or a city GI pilot program within the county.

In May 2022, DPSS relaunched the TAYportunity GI Program to provide GI benefits to 300 randomly selected TAY.

Administratively Unemployable

A designation given to an individual who is unable to work for reasons other than a physical/mental incapacity. This designation is also known as Admin-U.

Auxiliary Payments

A functionality in the California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS) that can be used to issue payments without an eligibility determination.

Benefits Counseling Services

Services offered to TAY to provide information on how the GI will impact their welfare benefits. In addition, it will also assist in developing financial literacy and money management skills to ensure the TAY utilize their GI in responsible ways that will benefit their life.

Benefits Counseling services include:

1. A one-on-one Intake session;
2. Monthly/quarterly Financial Literacy Awareness Workshop sessions;
3. Quarterly check-in sessions; and
4. One-on-one student assessment sessions.

Note: Services are subject to change.

START Volunteer Status

A designation given to an individual who willingly participates in the START Program.

GI

An unconditional monthly payment intended to support the recipient’s basic needs.

GI Engagement

Monthly scheduled Case Manager Appointments (CMA) with TAY to determine their progress in TAYportunity activities, provide assistance in overcoming any barriers, and discuss their GI usage.

GI Issuance

A monthly issuance of $1,000 to randomly selected TAY for a 36-month period.

GR Liaison

A designated GR Hearing Officer tasked with determining and assigning Admin-U designations and START Volunteer Statuses to all GI TAYs, in addition to processing other eligibility requests based on GI issuance activities and ensuring the GR case remains active unless the case meets one of the valid discontinuance reasons.

TAYportunity Liaison

Designated START Case Manager (SCM) tasked with processing the TAYportunity and GI activities and providing guidance and encouragement to the TAYportunity TAY while on their career pathway.

Supplemental Food Assistance

A supplemental assistance payment issued to TAY should their CF benefits be adversely impacted due to GI.

Note: Supplemental Food Assistance is issued as cash, not as CF benefits.

Research Study Group

GI participants who agree to participate in the voluntary research conducted while receiving GI. TAY who will be periodically contacted by a third-party research firm hired by the County to conduct surveys as to how GI payments are being used and their impact on TAY.

TAY

START participants between the ages of 18-24 years.

Verified Upon Receipt (VUR)

The provider is the primary source of the information, the information provided is not questionable, and no further information is needed to act. Since DPSS is the provider of the GI payment, the payment can be updated, upon receipt, mid-period to CF case.

Income, Resources, and Time Limit Exemptions

Exemptions given to TAY receiving GI.

TAY interested in receiving GI were able to apply online for the TAYportunity GI Program between May 23, 2022, and June 6, 2022. The TAY had to meet the below criteria to be eligible for selection:

1. Be receiving GR;
2. Be within the ages of 18 to 24;
3. Be participating in the START Program;
4. Not currently enrolled in another GI program offered by the County, a city, or other public or private entity; and
5. Receiving CF as a household (HH) of one or does not receive CF.
    

Identification Card

Valid California identification card or driver’s license

Social Security Number

Physical Social Security card

N/A