Beginning Date of Aid Special Situations

More than One BDA — Ineligible Person

The beginning date of aid for each member of the AU may vary. The BDA is the date of application or date of eligibility, whichever is later. Some potential members of the AU may have their eligibility determination remain pending or they may be denied until all eligibility criteria is met. Thus there may be different BDAs for individuals.

Example:

A family applies for CalWORKs on October 11, and is seen that day. All family members meet the eligibility requirements except for the youngest child who does not have an SSN. On October 26, the EW authorizes aid for everyone but the one child because proof of a “completed” SSN application had not been received. The application for that child was denied and the rest of the family approved. At a later date the proof of a “completed” SSN application is received:

IF...

THEN...

The SSN application is received November 13. It was completed on October 25 (within 30 days from the date of the CalWORKs application),

The denial for the child is rescinded and aid is approved back to the date of application for that child (if all other eligibility factors are clear).

The SSN application is received November 20. It was completed on November 12 (after 30 days from the date of the CalWORKs application),

The denial for the child stands and a new application for that child must be taken. This means the procedures for adding a person to the AU must be followed (i.e., a Statement of Facts must be taken). Refer to Adding a Person to the AU for more information.]

Note: November 20th becomes the date of request to add the person. The BDA rules under SAR would require that this individual be added the first of the month following receipt of the required information which in this situation would be December 1st.

Existing applicant rules regarding treatment of income of excluded individuals continue to apply.

More than One BDA — Pending Eligibility

At point of application when determining the BDA, a portion of the family may be eligible while an individual may be “pending” eligibility. We are able to determine eligibility but not able to make payment until a certain date. A NOA showing the “pending” status must be issued when the remainder of the family is approved.

ExampleExampleA family applies for CalWORKS on September 1. The family consists of a mother, her two separate children, her husband and a common child. The husband is the Principal Earner (PE), but has not been unemployed more than four weeks (28 calendar days). All eligibility conditions for the mother, her two children, and the stepparent (as an essential person) were met as of the date of application. The common child is considered to be “pending” and cannot be added to the AU until the U-parent requirement is met.

Pregnant Person Only

The beginning date of aid for the basic grant and pregnancy special need payment for a pregnant person only AU, is the date of application. The grant for the first month of aid and the pregnancy special need payment are combined using the beginning date of aid.

ExampleExampleApplication is made on 9/26/07, and the intake interview is completed on 10/10/07. Pregnancy verification date is 10/3/07 showing an EDC of 12/10/07. Prorate the combined grant and pregnancy special need from 9/26/07.

When the baby is born before the medical verification is provided, the beginning date of aid is the date of application, if the pregnant person was eligible on that date.

ExampleExampleApplication is made on 2/26/07, and the intake interview is completed on 3/10/07 but client has not provided the pregnancy verification. The child is born on 3/12/07. Prorate the combined grant and pregnancy special need from 2/26/07.

When the pregnant person is certified MN on or before the first day of the month of her request for CalWORKs, the beginning date of aid for the basic grant and the pregnancy special need is the date of application for CalWORKs, or the date she becomes CalWORKs eligible, whichever is later.

Maximum Family Grant (MFG) Child

When an application is made for a child who is born on or after September 1, 1997, the EW must determine if the MFG rule applies. Refer to Maximum Family Grant (MFG) - Obsolete for complete information.]

Applicant Changes Mind on Application — 1st Interview

When the applicant applies for one type of aid on the application, and then decides to apply for another type of aid at the time of the interview, follow the beginning date of aid rules using the date of the original SAWS 1 as the date of application.

Example:

Applicant applies for Medi-Cal and CalFresh on the SAWS 1 dated 1/10/07. During the interview on 1/13/07 the applicant decides to also apply for CalWORKs. The “date of application” is 1/10/07. The EW must:

Complete the existing SAWS 1 to indicate the request for CalWORKs.
Document in the [Journal] page of the reason for the change.
Give the applicant the opportunity to complete the Immediate Need ques- tions.
Follow BDA rules using the date of the original SAWS 1 as the date of application.

Applicant Changes Mind on Application — Subsequent Interview

When the applicant was informed of possible eligibility for CalWORKs at the time of the first interview, did not want to apply AND signs an “Informal Application Refusal” (SC 166), and then later wants to apply for CalWORKs, the EW must take a new SAWS 1 and process CalWORKs from that date, using BDA rules. The date of application is the date of the new SAWS 1.

Transitional Medi-Cal and Edwards v. Kizer

Transitional Medi-Cal or Edwards v. Kizer Medi-Cal to CalWORKs can be an exception to the BDA rule. If the request is made and eligibility is cleared within 30 days of the cash discontinuance, aid is paid using the beginning date of aid rules, unless the previous discontinuance was erroneous; i.e., the reason for discontinuance turned out not to be correct. In that case, aid is restored back to the 1st of the month following the discontinuance.

One AU to Another

When individuals have received aid in one AU and become eligible in another AU, the BDA of aid is the first of the month following discontinuance from the first AU.

ExampleExampleA minor mother reaches 18 years of age, and requests CalWORKs for herself and her child. They received CalWORKs for the month of November. Establish the new case December 1st, the first of the month after a timely discontinuance NOA is provided to other AU.

When a CalWORKs child is removed from the home as a result of a judicial determination and placed with a new caretaker (not in the Foster Care program), the new caretaker relative can receive aid for the child as of the first of the month after accepting the child. A 10-day notice of discontinuance is not required. However, an adequate notice must still be sent to the first AU no later than the effective date of the discontinuance.

ExampleExampleIf a child is removed from the home and moved in with his/her aunt on March 26, the aunt can receive aid for the child beginning on April 1. The child would be discontinued from the first AU effective March 31 with an adequate (but not timely) notice.

When a child is removed from the home for any reason other than a judicial determination and he/she has not been placed in Foster Care, then the child can only be discontinued from the first AU with a timely and adequate 10-day notice, at which time the second AU could be granted aid for the child.

ExampleExampleIf a child leaves his/her mother’s home and moves in with his/her aunt on March 26, the earliest date the child can be discontinued will be April 30, and the aunt cannot receive aid for the child until May 1. If the mother doesn’t report that her child has left the home until the next SAR 7, and if the aunt has not requested aid for the child, then the first AU can receive aid for the entire six-month period even though there are no eligible children in the home. There will be no overpayment for the first AU.

When a child was removed from the home and placed in Foster Care, the EW can process a county-initiated action to discontinue the child with a timely and adequate notice. The Foster Care aid can be approved effective 1st of the month after the replacement.

ExampleExampleIf a child was placed in Foster Care on March 26 and there is no time for the 10-day notice of discontinuance, aid will be granted for the Foster Care case effective April 1, and an overpayment for the month of April will occurred for the first AU.

Changing from Medi-Cal to CalWORKs

When a recipient is receiving Medi-Cal and wishes to apply for CalWORKs:

The applicant must apply for CalWORKs (complete the SAWS 1) and have eligibility determined as any other applicant.
A new SAWS 2 is required.
The beginning date of aid is the date of application, or the date on which the applicant meets all conditions of eligibility, whichever is later. (Follow the regular beginning date of aid rules.)

ExampleExampleA family is receiving Medi-Cal based upon the father's unemployment. His UIB ceases, and they apply for CalWORKs on December 10. Upon reviewing the case record, the EW discovers that there is no verification of an SSN application for the youngest child. The applicant provides this and the remaining verification on December 28. When the EW establishes the case, the beginning date of aid is December 10.

Changing from Foster Care to CalWORKs-FG/U

The beginning date of aid for a child converting from Foster Care to CalWORKs is the date the child is placed in the parent/relatives's home or the date eligibility conditions are met, whichever is later. The EW shall notify the Foster Care EW and request any necessary verification from the FC case.

Note: The effective date of the child's Medi-Cal must be the first of the future MEDS month.

Changing from Kin-GAP to CalWORKs-FG/U

The beginning date of aid for a child converting/transferring from Kin-GAP to CalWORKs is the first of the month following the date:

The Kin-GAP child is placed in the biological parent’s home, or
The parent moves in with the Kin-GAP child, or
The date CalWORKs eligibility conditions are met, whichever is later.

The CalWORKs EW must obtain any necessary verification from the Kin-GAP EW’s case file. [Refer to Foster Care Handbook, “Overview,” page 9-1]