Mid-Period Action

The SSBS must act mid-period, regardless of an increase or decrease in benefits, when the following information is received:

  • A mandatory report made by the household.
  • A voluntary report made by the household of a change in circumstances resulting in an increase in benefits.
  • A voluntary request made by the household to close their CalFresh case.
  • A voluntary report made by the household of a change in residence. Potential changes in shelter costs must be investigated and explored when reported.
  • The three-month limit for an ABAWD subject to the time limit ends, or an ABAWD who has regained eligibility, is not exempt, and does not reside in an area with an ABAWD waiver, stops meeting the work requirement. The SSBS must also evaluate whether the ABAWD has exhausted their three additional consecutive months. 
  • Failure of a member of the household to comply with a Quality Control Review.
  • The county has verified that the CalFresh recipient is receiving SNAP benefits in another state.
  • A household member has been identified as a fleeing felon, probation, or parole violator.
  • Verified Nationwide Prisoner Match (NPM) or Deceased Persons Match (DPM). 
  • Household failure or refusal to provide mid-period verification of questionable information.
  • Failure or refusal to provide verification or information for deductions that are deemed/considered questionable deductions, such as dependent care, medical expense, shelter cost, child support paid, will result in the household’s benefits being recalculated without the deduction.
  • Information that is considered Verified Upon Receipt (VUR). For further guidance refer to the topic Verified Upon Receipt.
  • Public Assistance (PA) benefit amount information, not limited to CalWORKs, obtained directly from the county. 
  • Information regarding non-citizen status obtained from the Systemic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system.
  • Information regarding In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) provider wages obtained from IHSS.
  • Information regarding the removal of a child from a CalFresh household obtained from Child Protective Services and/or the county Foster Care system.
  • Information that a household member received substantial lottery or gambling winnings obtained from a data match.

 

Action Guide

Type of Change Reporting Required? Description Action

ABAWD

Reduction

in Work Hours

Mandatory

ABAWDs who are subject to the time limit are required to report, within 10 days, when work hours drop below 20 per week, or 80 hours averaged monthly.

  • Determine if the individual qualifies for:

    • An ABAWD exemption,

    • Meets good cause criteria,

    • Is eligible to receive an additional three consecutive months of eligibility, or

    • Can receive a percentage exemption. 

  • If none of the above apply, determine if the individual has any remaining months in their three countable months of benefits within the 36 months.

  • If the individual does not have any remaining months, discontinue benefits at the end of the month in which timely and adequate NOA can be provided.

  • Document actions in the Journal Detail page. 

Address Change: 

Report of change in residence

Voluntary

Household voluntarily reports an address 
change or an institution, such as a Drug Addiction 
or Alcoholic treatment center (DAA), reports that 
an individual left the DAA.

  • If the household does not provide information about shelter costs when they report the address change:

    • If a phone number is available, attempt to contact the household via phone to get shelter cost information.

    • Send a Request for Verification (CW 2200) requesting information when a phone attempt is unsuccessful.

  • If the household fails to provide information within 10 days, and does not request assistance obtaining the verification, then recalculate benefits without the shelter deduction and send the household a timely and adequate NOA.

  • The household may contact the SSBS anytime to provide shelter cost information. Once the SSBS has received the shelter cost information, the SSBS must recalculate the household’s budget with the shelter deduction effective the month following the reported change.

  • Document actions in the Journal Detail page.

Important: California is under the Alternate Procedures When Change of Address is Reported Waiver. Refer to the Change in Address and/or Shelter Costs section for current guidance during the waiver period.

Address Change: 

Returned Mail

N/A

The United States 
Postal Service (USPS) returns mail indicating the household is no longer at the address

  • If no forwarding address is provided by USPS:

    • Document actions in the Journal Detail page, and

    • Follow up at the next SAR 7 or recertification, whichever comes first. 

  • If there is a forwarding address provided by USPS, whether a sticker or handwritten on the envelope, do not consider an address change unless confirmed by the household.

    • If a phone number is available, contact the household via phone to confirm the address change.

    • If the phone attempt is unsuccessful, send the household a CW 2200 to the address on file.

      • If the household fails to provide information within 10 days, and does not request assistance obtaining the verification, then recalculate benefits without the shelter deduction and send the household a timely and adequate NOA.

      • If the household provides the requested information, act on the change accordingly.

  • Document actions in the Journal Detail page.

Important: California is under the Alternate Procedures When Change of Address is Reported Waiver. Refer to the Change in Address and/or Shelter Costs section for current guidance during the waiver period.

Child Support

Exclusion

Voluntary

Household voluntarily reports legally obligated 
child support payments 
(including arrearages) that a household member pays to or for an individual living outside of the household. This report may be an update on the amount of child support paid.

  • If the change would result in a decrease in benefits:

    • Do not request verification,

    • Send the household a No-Change NOA, 

    • Document actions in the Journal Detail page, and

    • Follow-up at the next SAR 7 or recertification, whichever comes first.

    • Note: If the household provided verification along with the reported change, do not act on the information reported.

  • If the change would result in an increase in benefits:

    • Send the household a CW 2200 requesting verification

      • Once all verification/information is obtained, process the changes to increase benefits.

      • If the household does not respond to the CW 2200:

        • Send the household a No Change NOA,

        • Document actions in the Journal Detail page, and

        • Follow up at the next SAR 7 or recertification, whichever comes first.

For more guidance, refer to the topic Child Support Paid.

County Initiated Mass Change

N/A

County initiated mid-period actions are mass changes or changes that the client does not need to report, such as a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) or a change in eligibility criteria due to regulatory or legislative action. 
  • Act on all county-initiated actions, even if the action results in a decrease or termination of benefits.

Household

Composition Change (Clear Information)

Voluntary

Household voluntarily reports a change in household composition and provides information and/or verification regarding a new household member, and the impact on the household’s benefits can be clearly determined.
  • If the change would result in a decrease in benefits:
    • Do not request verification,
    • Send the household a No-Change NOA, and
    • Document actions in the Journal Detail page, and
    • Follow up at the next SAR 7 or recertification, whichever comes first.

    • Note: If the household provided verification along with the reported change, do not act on the information.

  • If the change would result in an increase in benefits:
    • Add the new household member.
    • Document actions in the Journal Detail page.

 

Household

Composition Change (Unclear Information)

Voluntary

Household voluntarily reports a change in household composition, and the household did not provide or know the new household member’s information. As a result, the SSBS does not know the impact on the household’s benefits.
  • Send a CW 2200 requesting the necessary information and/or verification to evaluate the impact on the household’s benefits. 
    • If the household provides the required information and the change would result in a decrease in benefits:
      • Do not act on the change:
        • Send the household a No Change NOA, 
        • Document actions in the Journal Detail page, and
        • Follow up at the next SAR 7 or recertification, whichever comes first.
    • If the household provides the required information and the change would result in an increase in benefits:
      • Add the new household member.
      • Document actions in the Journal Detail page.
    • If the household does not provide the required verification:
      • Send a No-Change NOA, 
      • Document actions in the Journal Detail page, and
      • Follow up at the next SAR 7 or recertification, whichever comes first.

Household

Composition Change – Household member removal

Voluntary

Household voluntarily reports a change in household composition.

 
  • Unless questionable, process the change, regardless of the impact on the household’s benefits.

IEVS Report (other than PVS and Lottery Matches)

N/A

Recipient or Applicant IEVS data match, including but not limited to, SSA benefit amounts, Deceased Persons Match, and UIB benefit amounts

 

Reminder: The Recipient IEVS match follow-up must be completed within 45 calendar days of the receipt of the match.

IEVS Receipt of Substantial Lottery

N/A

CA Lottery Recipient IEVS Match through IEVS Secure Automated File Exchange or SAFE

 

Income:

Change of $50 or Less

Voluntary

Household voluntarily reports an income change of $50 or less.

 
  • If the change would result in a decrease in benefits:
    • Send the household a No-Change NOA, 
    • Document actions in the Journal Detail page, and
    • Follow up at the next SAR 7 or recertification, whichever comes first.
  • If the change would result in an increase in benefits:
    • The income change is $50 or less, and the source did not change:
      • Do not request verification and act on the change to increase benefits.
    • If the income source has changed:
      • Send a CW 2200 requesting verification before acting on the change to increase benefits. 

Income:

Change of More Than $50 but less than household IRT

Voluntary

Household voluntarily reports an income change of more than $50.

 
  • If the change would result in a decrease in benefits:
    • Do not request verification,
    • Send the household a No Change NOA, 
    • Document actions in the Journal Detail page, and
    • Follow up at the next SAR 7 or recertification, whichever comes first.

    • Note: If the household provided verification along with the reported change, do not act on the information.

  • If the change would result in an increase in benefits:

    • Send the household a CW 2200 requesting verification

      • Once all verification/information is obtained, process the changes to increase benefits.

    • If the household does not respond to the CW 2200:

      • Send the household a No Change NOA,

      • Document actions in the Journal Detail page, and

      • Follow up at the next SAR 7 or recertification, whichever comes first.
Medical expenses: 
Reported by the Household
 		 Voluntary Household makes a voluntary mid-period report of a medical expense that would allow/disallow for a medical deduction.
  • If the change would result in a decrease in benefits:
    • Do not request verification,
    • Send the household a No Change NOA, 
    • Document actions in the Journal Detail page, and
    • Follow up at the next SAR 7 or recertification, whichever comes first.

    • Note: If the household provided verification along with the reported change, do not act on the information.

  • If the change would result in an increase in benefits:

    • Send the household a CW 2200 requesting verification

      • Once all verification/information is obtained, process the changes to increase benefits.

  • If the household does not provide the required verification:
    • Send a No-Change NOA, 
    • Document actions in the Journal Detail page, and
    • Follow up at the next SAR 7 or recertification, whichever comes first.
Medical 
Expenses: 
Reported by 
Third Party		 Voluntary A change in medical expenses reported by a source other than the household mid-period.
  • Do not request verification, and do not act unless the third-party report is considered VUR.
Out-of-State EBT usage Voluntary The county discovers through an EBT usage report or other third-party information that a household is accessing their benefits in another state for an extended period of time.
Report of 
Change in 
Student 
Status		 Voluntary Household reports a change in student status or a change in student exemption information (with or without verification).
 
  • If the change would result in a decrease in benefits:
    • Do not request verification,
    • Send the household a No Change NOA, 
    • Document actions in the Journal Detail page, and
    • Follow up at the next SAR 7 or recertification, whichever comes first.

    • Note: If the household provided verification along with the reported change, do not act on the information.

  • If the change would result in an increase in benefits:

    • Send the household a CW 2200 requesting verification.

      • Once all verification/information is obtained, process the changes to increase benefits.

  • If the household does not provide the required verification:
    • Send a No-Change NOA, 
    • Document actions in the Journal Detail page, and
    • Follow up at the next SAR 7 or recertification, whichever comes first.

Note: If the reported change is income, follow mid-period income rules. If the household reports a new student exemption for an excluded student, follow mid-period household composition change rules. 
Report of 
Fleeing Felon		 N/A Federal regulations make any individual found to be a fleeing felon or in violation of a condition of probation or parole imposed under a federal or state law, ineligible for CalFresh.
  • Remove the individual from the CalFresh household and send the household a timely and adequate NOA.
Shelter 
Expense 
Change		 Voluntary Household voluntarily reports a change in shelter expense.
 

 

  • If the household does not provide information about the amount of the new shelter at the time they report the 
    change:

    • Send a CW 2200 requesting information on the new shelter cost.

  • If the household does not respond to the CW 2200:
    • Send a No-Change NOA, 
    • Document actions in the Journal Detail page, and
    • Follow up at the next SAR 7 or recertification, whichever comes first.

    • Note: The household may contact the SSBS anytime to provide shelter cost information. Once the SSBS has received the shelter cost information, the SSBS must recalculate the household’s budget.

  • If the change would result in a decrease in benefits:
    • Send the household a No Change NOA, 
    • Document actions in the Journal Detail page, and
    • Follow up at the next SAR 7 or recertification, whichever comes first.

  • If the change would result in an increase in benefits:

    • Process the changes to increase benefits. 

    • Document actions in the Journal Detail page.