DPSS ePolicy

Revision of existing policy and/or form(s)

What changed?

1. The Automated Monthly Out-of-State/County Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Transaction Report will no longer be used to determine Los Angeles (L.A.) County residency and/or to discontinue General Relief (GR) benefits.
2. The PA 1615, Statement of Absence (02/15) form must be generated by Eligibility staff and mailed to the participant when L.A. County is made aware that the GR participant may no longer be a resident.
3. The fact-finding interview is no longer required to verify L.A. County residency.
4. The GR 238, EBT Residence Verification Letter is obsolete and is no longer available in the California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS).
5. References to the Los Angeles Eligibility, Automated Determination, Evaluation and Reporting System have been replaced with CalSAWS.
6. References to the Electronic Document Management System have been replaced with CalSAWS Imaging Solution (CIS).

Note:  Changes are highlighted in gray when the "Show Changes" button is selected.

To remain eligible for GR benefits, a participant must maintain residency in L.A. County for the duration of time they are receiving GR benefits. If the participant leaves L.A. County with the intention of establishing residency outside of L.A. County, they are no longer eligible for GR benefits.

If it becomes known that the participant has been living outside of L.A. County for 60 days or more, it is presumed that they no longer reside in L.A. County and will no longer be eligible to receive GR benefits.

Refer to 42-401 Residency policy for more information.

The Out-of-State/County EBT Transaction Report will no longer be used to determine L.A. County residency or to discontinue GR benefits.

CalSAWS will not auto-generate a PA 1615 nor automatically schedule a fact-finding interview for the participant based on an Out-of-State/County EBT Transaction Report. When L.A. County is aware that the GR participant may no longer be an L.A. County resident, the PA 1615 must be manually generated by Eligibility staff and mailed to the participant to be completed and returned within ten calendar days of issuance. A verbal attestation or a GEN 853, Sworn Statement, is acceptable in lieu of the PA 1615. Failure to provide the PA 1615 or otherwise provide a response will result in the discontinuance of GR benefits.

Note: The Out-of-State/County EBT Transaction Report will continue to be utilized by the CalFresh Program to determine residency outside of L.A. County or the state. Refer to 63-401 Residency for CalFresh policy on the Out-of-State/County EBT Transaction Report.

To determine L.A. County residency, CalSAWS would previously auto-generate the PA 1615 and the GR 238, and automatically schedule a fact-finding interview when an Out-of-State/County EBT Transaction Report reflected the participant transacted all their benefits outside of L.A. County or outside the State of California for a complete month. To streamline and enhance services to GR participants, this policy was revised to eliminate the usage of this report.

Resident

A person who has lived in L.A. County for at least 15 calendar days and intends to remain in L.A. County permanently or indefinitely.

Non-Resident

A person who has been physically present in L.A. County less than 15 calendar days or has been living in L.A. County on a temporary basis and has no intention of remaining in L.A. County permanently or indefinitely, and whose legal residence is outside of L.A. County.

Extended Suspend Period

A period that begins on the first day of the month after a GR case has been discontinued and ends on the last calendar day of that month. During this period, a GR participant may comply with all noncompliance issues that caused their GR case to discontinue.

GR participants are required to report a change in residency that may impact their GR eligibility within five calendar days of the change. Failure to report such a change may result in an overpayment.

Refer to 40-104 Reporting Responsibilities for General Relief Applicants and Participants and 44-309 General Relief Overpayments policies for more information.

Note: If GR has been discontinued for failing to respond to the PA 1615, the participant may reinstate their GR benefits when the PA 1615, a sworn statement, or a verbal attestation is provided within the extended suspend period.

When L.A. County is made aware that the GR participant may no longer be an L.A. County resident, the PA 1615 is generated and mailed to the participant. The participant may respond by:

1. Completing and returning the PA 1615 within ten calendar days of issuance;
2. Submitting a sworn statement; or
3. Providing a verbal attestation.

The participant may provide the PA 1615 through the following methods:

1. Upload via BenefitsCal;
2. Telephone;
3. United States mail;
4. eFax; or
5. In person at any district office.

When the participant initiates contact with L.A. County to self-declare that they are no longer an L.A. County resident, their verbal attestation or a sworn statement using the GEN 853 is acceptable in lieu of providing the PA 1615.