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Establishing Certification Periods
Definition [63-504.1]
A certification period is the number of months a CalFresh household is certified to receive benefits before an RC of eligibility is required.
Beginning Month [63-504.111]
For a new application, begin the certification period in the first eligible month, starting with the month of application. If an applicant is ineligible in the month of application, the first month in which they are eligible will be the first month of the certification period.
A family of three applies for CalWORKs and CalFresh on July 25. Mom has just been laid off and received her last paycheck on July 20. Her total earnings for July are $2,500. The current income puts the family over the applicant income test for CalWORKs and CalFresh, but it appears they would be eligible beginning in August. The BDA for the AU/household is August 1 and a SAR cycle will be established for August through January based on the BDA of August 1. The AU/household first SAR 7 will be due in January and their first annual RD/RC will be due in July.
For a timely reapplication or recertification, begin the certification period with the month after the last certification period ends.
A 12-month certification period ends in October. The household completes the SAWS 1 and SAWS 2 on October 12. Begin the new certification period in November.
Length
Households shall be assigned the longest possible certification period. The reason must be documented on the Journal Detail window if a household is certified for less than the maximum certification period.
However, a Public Assistance (PA) semi-annual reporting household's certification period shall:
- Be aligned with the CalWORKs RD, and
- Not exceed the maximum certification period of 12 months.
Certification Period Chart
This chart is a quick reference guide for use in determining certification periods. Whenever possible, a household should be certified for the maximum number of months. When a household is certified for a shorter time period, the reason must be documented on the Journal Detail window. Refer to the following pages for more detailed information.
| HH TYPE | CERTIFICATION PERIOD | |
| MINIMUM # OF MOS. | MAXIMUM # OF MOS. | |
| Public Assistance | 1 |
12 |
| Non Assistance | 1 | 12 |
| ESAP: All household members are either elderly and/or Disabled with No Earned income | 36 | 36 |
| ALL adult members are elderly or disabled | 24 | |
| Residents of Indian reservation | 1 | 24 |
| ES with postponed verification | 1 | 12 |
PA Households [63-504.121]
PA households shall be certified for no more than 12 months. When the CalWORKs RD due date falls before the 12th month, the CalFresh certification period shall expire in the month when the CalWORKs RD is due.
A CalWORKs family applies for CalFresh in January and is approved. The CalWORKs RD is due in September. Certify the household for nine months, beginning in January and ending in September, when the CalWORKs RD is due.
A CalWORKs family applies for CalFresh in January. The CalWORKs RD is due in March. Certify the household for three months, beginning in January and ending in March, the month when the CalWORKs RD is due.
A family files a joint application for CalWORKs and CalFresh in January and is approved for both on January 20. Certify the household for 12 months, beginning in January of the current year and extending through December of that year.
NA Households [63-504.122]
Non-Assistance (NA) households will be certified for no more than 12 months.
Refer to Categorically Eligible Households for further definition of PA and NA households.
All Adult HH Members are Elderly/Disabled [63-504.142] ACL 15-90
Households in which all adult members are elderly or disabled may be certified up to 24 months, even if there are children in the household.
For elderly/disabled households certified for 24 months, provided household circumstances are expected to remain stable, at least one interim contact with the household is required. For the interim contact, at the first 12 months of the certification period, the household must submit a SAR 7.
If elderly/disabled households have earned income, they must submit a SAR 7 at 6, 12, and 18 months during their certification period.
Refer to Elderly or Disabled [63-102(e)(i)] for the definition of elderly/disabled.
Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) Households
CalFresh applicant and recipient households are eligible for the ESAP if all household members are elderly (age 60 or older) and/or disabled and have no earned income. If the household includes excluded or ineligible members who are also all elderly and/or disabled, the household is still eligible for the ESAP. The certification period for ESAP households is 36 months.
Refer to Elderly Simplified Application Project for further guidance.
Related Topics
Classification Changes