DPSS ePolicy

Revision of existing policy and/or form(s)

A fixed portion of the monthly General Relief (GR) aid payment is designated for specific needs. These values are given in the Basic Budget Table.

Aid is issued through:

1. Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT);
   
2. Direct Deposit;
   
3. Vendor payment; or
   
4. In rare situations, through the mail.

EBT

EBT is an electronic payment delivery system that uses debit card technology. This system is used to deliver benefits to participants receiving cash and CalFresh benefits (primary cardholders) and designated alternate cardholders.

Direct Deposit

With Direct Deposit, participants can choose to have their cash benefits directly deposited into their accounts each month at a financial institution of their choice.

Refer to GR 44-303 Direct Deposit for more information about Direct Deposit

Vendor Payments

1. Aid is paid by vendor payment directly to the provider for some Emergency Aid/Special Needs
   
2. Rent is paid as a vendor payment when all members of the household are aided on the same GR case and one of the following applies:
   
   • The participant indicates the landlord requires direct rent payment;
   • The participant/vendor is requesting direct rent vendor payment to prevent eviction; or
   • It is determined a money management problem exists.
3. Direct rent vendor payments are available to the participant upon request to prevent eviction due to non-payment of rent. Requests may be made by the participant or by the vendor on behalf of the participant, if authorized to do so by the participant.
   
4. The actual amount of rent is paid to the vendor and deducted from the participant’s grant.
   
5. The balance of the grant amount is paid separately to the participant.
   
6. The vendor is the entity providing the housing, such as the Los Angeles City Housing Authority, landlord, hotels and other housing providers. A direct rent payment agreement is voluntary and the direct rent payment amount is deducted from the participant’s GR grant.

Room and Board (R&B)

1. R&B is paid by vendor payment when:
   
   • The participant requests direct rent payment;
   • It is determined a money management problem exists; or
   • A Board & Care (B&C) facility’s license renewal is pending. (Vendor payments are limited to three months).
2. The R&B rate is the actual amount of the R&B, not to exceed the amount specified in the Basic Budget Table. 
   • Note: R&B is not paid for any period prior to the date of application.
     
3. When R&B is paid via vendor payment, only the personal and incidental needs and clothing allowance are issued to the participant.
   
4. If a participant dies before receiving benefits and vendor payments have been requested for rent only or rent and food, the payment is made to the facility for rent/food for the month the death occurred.

Mailed Benefits

In rare situations, benefits are mailed to participants.

1. GR benefits must be mailed to the participant’s residence address inside Los Angeles County, including Catalina Island and the Northwest area. A Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA) or Mail Drop address may not be used for mail issuances.
2. Participants cannot use a mailing address outside of Los Angeles County.
3. Homeless participants using the district office mailing address cannot have benefits mailed.
   

Money Management

A money management problem exists when there is evidence a participant does not use the GR grant to pay rent/R&B. Evidence of a money management problem may be either of the following:

1. A written notice of eviction (e.g., Notice to Quit) for a second time within a six-month period, not necessarily by the same landlord/provider, for non-payment; or
   
2. Court enforced eviction for a second time within a six-month period, not necessarily by the same landlord/provider, for non-payment.

The determination that a case is a money management problem is made at the level of Deputy District Director (DDD) or District Director.

Effective Date of Aid

The effective date of aid is either of the following, whichever is later:

1. The date the applicant first applies for GR; or
   
2. Eligibility for GR is established (which can be prior to the date of verification (see example 1).

Changes in Aid

1. Household Size
   
   • Any change in household size and/or number aided that increases the amount of aid is made effective the day the household change occurs.
     
   • Any change in household size and/or number aided that decreases the amount of aid is made effective the first of the following month.
     
2. Special Needs
   
   • When a special need item will increase the amount of aid, the change is effective the day the participant requests the item.
     
   • When a change in a special need item will decrease the amount of aid, the change is effective the first of the following month.
3. In-kind and vendor payments are reduced effective the day of the change.
    

The Welfare and Institutions Code (W&IC) 17001.5 allows for the County of Los Angeles to utilize a variety of methods for making cash benefit issuances to GR participants. The method that is used may vary based upon the circumstances of the case or the preference of the participant.

Direct Deposit

With Direct Deposit, participants can choose to have their cash benefits directly deposited into their accounts each month at a financial institution of their choice.

Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)

An electronic payment delivery system that uses debit card technology. This system is used to deliver benefits to participants receiving cash and CalFresh benefits (primary cardholders) and designated alternate cardholders.

Money Management

Cases in which housing is paid by vendor payment, directly to the landlord or provider due to evidence that a participant has had difficulty using GR benefits to pay for housing.

Room & Board (R&B) Facility

A living arrangement in which the provider pays all household upkeep expenses and provides a participant with a bed in a separate room or dormitory-style sleeping area, meals, household cleaning, and linen service.

Vendor

The entity providing for a need. In the case of housing, the vendor would be the landlord, hotels, Los Angeles City Housing Authority, and other housing providers.

Vendor Payments

Payments made directly to a vendor-provider in exchange for products or services rendered to the participant.

Deputy District Director’s (DDD) Approval for Benefits

The DDD’s approval is required to issue aid payments in the following instances:

• When aid is approved prior to the date of application;
• When aid is approved more than 90 days after the beginning date of aid; or
• When aid is rescinded following an erroneous discontinuation.

Establish Money Management

• The worker must identify a money management problem exists based upon one of the following:
  
  1. written notice of eviction (e.g., Notice to Quit) for a second time within a six-month period, not necessarily by the same landlord/provider, for non-payment; or
  2. Court enforced eviction for a second time within a six-month period, not necessarily by the same landlord/provider, for non-payment.
• The PA 473 must be completed and a copy of the eviction notice from the landlord/provider must be attached.
• The DDD or District Director must approve the Money Management case on the PA 473.

Establish Direct Rent Vendor Payments

• The participant/vendor must make a verbal or written request for direct rent vendor payments.
• The participant and vendor must be advised that direct rent payment agreements are voluntary and the direct rent payment amount will be deducted from the GR grant.
• The participant must complete, sign, and date the PA 473.
• The PA 100, Notice Regarding Rent/Room & Board/Board & Care/Dormitory Rate, is to notify the vendor of approval or changes, the amounts, and effective dates. This process is automated in the system.
• Vendor payments for B&C, R&B, and direct rent are issued through the Vendor Payments Section.
• Payments are made after the month the participant resided in the facility.
• Invoices are mailed to the vendors for completion.
• After the completed invoice is returned to the Vendor Payment Section, payment is mailed to the vendor.
   

Money Management

The PA 473, Request to Pay Room & Board/Rent/Dormitory by Vendor Payment - General Relief Money Management Case, is used to request vendor payment for Money Management cases. It is required to document the participant’s request and agreement for direct rent vendor payments. The vendor/vendor representative may assist the participant in completing the agreement form.

Deputy’s Authorization for Money Management

The decision made by the DDD or District Director is recorded on the PA 473. A copy of the eviction notice from the landlord/provider is attached to the PA 473.