CalFresh Update 2024-06: Treatment of Shared Housing

CalFresh Handbook 

Date References Clerical Implementation
07/26/24 Draft ACIN N/A Immediately

Background

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has clarified how rental income is treated for CalFresh eligibility determination purposes. 

Changes

Rental income is treated differently for CalFresh in these three situations: 

  1. The CalFresh household rents a property with non-household member(s), and all parties are on the lease agreement.
  2. The CalFresh household rents a property where only the CalFresh household is on the lease agreement and subleases rooms to non-household members.
  3. The CalFresh household owns and rents a property or parts of it to non-household members.

The Allowable Shelter Expenses for Separate Households and Unearned Income chapters have been revised to provide detailed information on the clarified policy.

 

This clarification confirms the policy addressed in Program Directive 21-22. The PD policy is incorporated in the CF HB shelter chapter and is obsolete. 

Documentation

If verification was requested, the EW must document in the case journal why the reported information on the CalFresh application, periodic report, or recertification is questionable to determine the excess shelter cost deduction. 

 

Data Systems

No change 

Quality Compliance

Although state policy does not mandate verification of shelter costs during the initial application, periodic report, or recertification application, federal review guidelines for Quality Control (QC) require verification for shelter costs. Households selected for QC review will still need to verify their shelter costs. As a result, certain cases may be marked as errors and will need to be corrected, even if the client is at fault.

 

Other Programs

This policy only applies to the CalFresh Program. 

 

Department of Employment & Benefits Services

Contact Person(s): Michelle Demetrius, BPIS, (408) 755-7540