DPSS ePolicy

 Administrative Release   Number: 5348   Date: June 9, 2025

Upon discovery that a payment discrepancy meets the Writ SPEC requirements, a CMIPS II case review must be completed. 

Social Worker (SW):

1. Review case information;
   
   
2. Ensure that the recipient(s)/provider(s) had IHSS eligibility for the pay period(s) in question;
   
   
3. Ensure that program policy was not violated;
   
   Note:  CDSS will reject the Writ SPEC request if there is a violation of program policy.
   


4. Ensure Medi-Cal eligibility for pay period(s) in question, as follows:
   
   
   • If CMIPS II Medi-Cal eligibility screen shows Medi-Cal eligibility, then move forward submitting an SR as indicated in step 5 below.
   • If the recipient does not have Medi-Cal eligibility for the pay period in question, then the recipient/provider is not eligible for payment for the pay period, and CDSS will not process the Writ SPEC request.
      
5. Submit an SR per existing procedures to the CMIPS II Help Desk to obtain an SR number (see System Screens);
   
   Note: The Writ SPEC process is not used to pay providers due to a State Hearing decision. If the county receives a State Hearing decision that states it must pay the provider, please notify your Deputy Regional Services Administrator (DRSA). The DRSA must then contact the Adult Programs Division, Policy & Operations Bureau at (916) 651-5350, for further assistance.
   
   
6. Receive assistance from the CMIPS II Help Desk to determine if the payment issue can be resolved at the county level:
   
   
   • If payment issue can be resolved at the county level, then a Writ SPEC request is not required. 
   • If payment issue cannot be resolved at the county level, then a Writ SPEC request is required and must be submitted.
      
7. Provide the recipient/provider with the IHSS Special Transaction Timesheet(s) for the pay period(s) in question in the recipient's/provider's preferred written language (see Forms); 
   
   
   • If the IHSS Special Transaction Timesheet is not available in the recipient's/provider's preferred language, then provide the GEN 1365, Notice of Language Services, and verbally translate the form in the recipient's/provider's preferred spoken language per existing civil rights policy. 
     
     
8. Ensure that the IHSS Special Transaction Timesheet(s) has been completed legibly and correctly;
   
   Note: The IHSS Special Transaction Timesheet(s) must be signed by the provider and recipient (or county SW if the recipient is unable to sign). 
   
   
9. Complete the Writ of Mandamus Request Form with detailed justification of request;  
   
   
10. Complete the Writ of Mandamus Worksheet by entering each month in which payment is being requested. Determine and specify overtime and regular time pay rates on the worksheet;  
    
    Note:  The hours on the timesheet(s) (HH:MM) must match total hours to be claimed on the worksheet.
    
    
11. Document Case Notes in CMIPS II with: 
    
    
    • Reason for Writ of Mandamus Special Transaction;
      
    • IHSS Special Transaction Timesheet provided to recipient/provider in their preferred written language, or verbally translated in the recipient's/provider's preferred spoken language;
      
    • Pay period(s) requested for payment; and
      
    • SR number assigned by CMIPS II Help Desk.
      
      
12. Forward copies of required documents within one workday to Social Services Supervisor (SSS) for review and approval; and 
    
    
13. Scan documents in the Crooze/Box per existing procedures.

SSS

1. Receive copies of required Writ SPEC request documents from SW; 
   
   
2. Review all documents for accuracy and completeness;
   
   
3. Ensure Program policy was not violated;
   
   
4. Forward Writ SPEC request documents to DRSA within three workdays of receipt from SW;
   
   
5. Receive Writ SPEC request documents from DRSA, upon their disposition of request;
   
   
   • If the request is denied, then review reason for denial; take appropriate action; and return corrected Writ SPEC request documents to the DRSA by due date specified. 
     
     
6. Submit approved Writ SPEC request documents to CDSS within three business days of receipt from DRSA via:
    
   • Email to CMIPSII-Requests@dss.ca.gov; and 
     
   • Enter "WRIT Request" on the subject line of the email.
     
     Note:  CDSS will email the county within two business days with a decision or request for additional information. 
     
     
7. Email the DRSA advising them of the Writ SPEC requests that have not been processed by CDSS within 14 business days from date sent to CDSS. Email must include:
   
   
   • The date request was submitted; and 
     
   • All documents submitted to CDSS.
     
     
8. Document all actions taken in CMIPS II Case Notes.

Staff must offer free interpretive services to Non-English and Limited English Proficient recipients/providers and document if the services were accepted or rejected, and the method of interpretation provided. The Language services documentation template is available via Eligibility Hub - Home (sharepoint.com) in the Eligibility Hub – Consistency Tools – Civil Rights folder.

Staff must offer a reasonable accommodation at every point of contact, either over the phone or in person. Additionally, at every point of contact, staff must review CMIPS II, for any reasonable accommodation identified in the Case Notes.

Staff must document that:

• An accommodation was offered, and the reasonable accommodation that was agreed to by the recipient/provider; or 
  
  
• Staff provided an accommodation based on existing reasonable accommodation information annotated in CMIPS II Case Notes.

The following forms addressed in this release can be found in the Comms Hub under References: Reference Library: Writ of Mandamus: 

• Writ of Mandamus Request Form (12/2024);
  
  
• Writ of Mandamus Worksheet (12/2024); and 
  
  
• IHSS Special Transaction Timesheet (12/2024).