DPSS ePolicy

Revision of existing policy and/or form(s)

What changed?

General Relief (GR) applicants who intend to reside in Los Angeles (L.A.) County will no longer be denied for failure to meet the 15-day residency requirement. Instead, GR benefits will be prorated to the day the GR 15-day residency requirement is met.

Applicants who reside in a mobile home, motor home, camper, bus, houseboat, or homeless individuals residing in their motor vehicle in L.A. County may be eligible to GR regardless of whether or not the vehicle is parked/docked at a residential address.

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

Intent to Reside and 15-day Residency

To meet the residency requirement, the applicant must be a resident of L.A. County for at least 15 calendar days and intend to remain permanently or indefinitely.

Effective with this release, applicants who intend to reside in L.A. County, but have not been a resident of L.A. County for at least 15 calendar days at the time they submit their application will have their benefits prorated to the day the 15-day residency requirement is met.

A homeless applicant’s statement on the application regarding residence and intent to reside is sufficient unless other objective evidence substantiates that the applicant is not an L.A. County resident.

Time spent in an institution is not counted in establishing residency. Refer to 44-203 Household Composition and Living Arrangement for more information on institutionalization.

If the participant is absent from the County for 60 days or more, it is presumed that they no longer resides in the County and will no longer be eligible to receive GR benefits.

Physical and Mailing Address

Applicants are not required to have a physical address. The district office of application may be used as the physical address. A Post Office Box (P.O. Box), Commercial Mail Receiving Agency (CMRA), Community Agency or Mail Drop cannot be used as a physical address but may be used as a mailing address.

Applicants are required to have a mailing address. The GR district office can be used as a mailing address for homeless individuals. However, individuals with a physical address must provide a mailing address and may not use the district office as a mailing address.

Return to Residence

If all GR requirements are met, other than intent to reside, aid may be granted to cover all necessary expenses for returning a nonresident indigent to another County, State or country, if it is determined that such County, State or country is the applicant’s legal residence.

If a nonresident has a physical and/or mental health disability and is incapable of traveling alone, the nonresident may choose to travel with an attendant. The applicant may request for travel expenses to be paid for their attendant.

A food allowance is provided if the total travel time exceeds four hours.

L.A. County GR residency policy is based on Welfare and Institutions Code section 17001.5(a)(1)(A). This section states that notwithstanding any other provision of law, including but not limited to, section 17000.5, the Board of Supervisors of each county, or the agency authorized by the county charter, may adopt residency requirements for purposes of determining a person’s eligibility for general assistance. Any residency requirement under this paragraph shall not exceed 15 days.

Resident

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

Nonresident

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

15 Calendar Days

To meet the residency requirement, the applicant must be a resident of L.A. County for at least 15 calendar days before they are eligible to receive aid.

Intent to Reside

To meet the residency requirement, the applicant must declare intent to reside in L.A. County permanently or indefinitely.

Return to Residence

The legal residence to which the applicant is to be returned must be determined by evaluating the following:

1. The amount of time spent in the County/State/country to which they wishes to return, versus the amount of time spent outside of that County/State/country;
2. The place where the applicant and/or family have established their fixed residence;
   
3. Location where their Driver’s License or Identification Card was issued; or
4. Location of the applicant’s doctors and dentists.
   
   Note: Aid for Return to Residence cannot have been issued within one year of the request.

Food Allowance

When a request has been approved for Return to Residence, one meal is allowed for every four hours traveled.

Intent to Reside in County

The applicant’s statement on the application is acceptable evidence of intent to reside in L.A. County, unless contradicted by their actions or other evidence.

Return to Residence

Legal residence must be verified by a telephone call to an agency, relative or other person living in the County/State/country to which the applicant wishes to return.

Request for Attendant

Doctor’s statement verifying that the applicant has a physical or mental health disability which makes them incapable of traveling alone.