Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/398224
The People's Guide 2013-2014 6 CalWORKs 4. Foster Care (Someone Else's Children) If you are caring for someone else's chil- dren, the child or children may qualify for Foster Care payments even if you are related to the children. Foster Care payments are higher than CalWORKs cash aid. (see page 22 Foster Care.) If a relative's children live with you but do not get foster care, you should be able to get cash aid for them. 5. Domestic Violence If you are a victim of domestic violence, or suffering effects of past domestic violence tell the worker right away, because there are specially trained workers available to assist you with the problems you or your children may have. Also, you may be excused from GAIN or have other eligibility rules waived such as the Maximum Family Grant rule. Let DPSS know if you need emergency or homeless assistance, DPSS staff must act quickly to help you. 6. Special Help for the Disabled If you have a physical or mental disability that makes it hard for you to go through the regular application process, DPSS must give you special help. This might include: taking an application at your home, helping you fill out forms, reading all forms to you. Ask your worker for this help. If they won't give it to you, call Legal Services for help. 7. Fingerprints All adults (age 18 and over) and teen parents must be fingerprinted in order to apply for and get CalWORKs. If you refuse to be fingerprinted, your cash aid will be cut, but your children can get their cash aid. If you are scheduled for fingerprinting at a day that will not work for you, ask to reschedule. (There is no longer a fingerprint require- ment for CalFresh. If you have a joint application for CalWORKs and CalFresh, a refusal to comply with the CalWORKs fingerprint requirement cannot result in a denial of CalFresh benefits.) 8. Next Steps Keep in touch with your DPSS eligibility worker and write down his or her name, phone number, and phone hours. If you are asked to mail additional papers to the welfare office, ask the worker for a stamped envelope addressed to him or her. If you take in papers, get a receipt. Keep your own copy of all the paperwork. If you need help and your worker is not available, the duty worker or supervisor must help you. You can also call the Help Line for your DPSS office.(see page 70) Within 45 days of when you turn in your application, you must either receive your first check, or a notice that you have been denied aid. If the DPSS denies your aid, they must send you a letter explaining the reason. Do not sign a "withdrawal" of your application unless you understand and agree with the written reason you are given. 9. Electronic Benefits "EBT" Card DPSS will give you an EBT "electronic benefits card" (Golden State ADVANTAGE) to use at banks, ATM machines and stores. If you are also getting CalFresh (food stamps), those benefits are accessed using the same card. For CalWORKs, if the last digit of your case number is 1 to 3, the money goes on your card the first day of the month; 4 to 7, the second day of the month; and 8 to 0, the third day of the month. There is no charge for the first four "swipes" of the card each month, then an 85¢ charge for each use. Some ATM machines will charge a $1 or $2 fee to use the card. Ask your worker for a list of banks and ATMs near you that will not charge you a fee. You can also go to www.ebt.ca.gov for locations of ATMs. Call (877) 328-9677 right away if the card is stolen, lost, or destroyed. You will not be charged for stolen aid after reporting the loss. WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS? 1. Report on a "QR-7" Every quarter (every three months) you must report changes in income, property or the number of people in your household. DPSS will mail you a QR-7 report form for you to do this. The QR 7 will also ask you to report any changes, including changes you expect in the next three months. You must turn in the QR-7 even if there is no change to report. If you don't get the QR-7 in the mail go to DPSS to get another form and fill it out. The completed, signed form is due back to DPSS on the fifth day of the third (or last) month of the quarter. Some things need to be reported to the county before your next income report is due. This is called "mid-quarter reporting." You must report these things within 10 days: • Address changes, • fleeing felons, • drug convictions, • parole or probation violations, • and if your income goes over the "in- come reporting threshold ("IRT")." The IRT is the amount of income that would make your household ineligible for aid. DPSS will give you a form telling you your IRT limit. DPSS counts the family's earned and unearned income to see if you are at this limit. For example a family of three has an IRT of $1,861.00 per month. The family doesn't have to report any change in income until the next QR7 is due, un- less it adds up to more than $1,861.00 . It is safest to drop your QR-7 off at the DPSS, and get a dated receipt to prove that you turned it in on time. But you can mail it in the postage-paid envelope. Soon you will be able to safely submit your QR 7 online. More information on online QR 7 will be coming. Be sure to attach copies of pay stubs, bills and receipts to prove your information. It is wise to keep a copy of every piece of paper you give to DPSS. If the QR-7 you turn in is incomplete, DPSS treats it as if it was not turned in at all.