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Expanded Temporary Homeless Assistance
An apparently eligible applicant, who is fleeing domestic abuse and who provides a sworn statement of past or present abuse, is considered homeless and may be eligible for up to 32 days of Expanded THA. The available income and assets (such as cash on hand) used to meet the applicants needs at the time of application is used to determine the immediate need property limit. Additionally, the income and assets of the alleged abuser are not considered when determining eligibility for Expanded THA.
Reminder: “Apparently eligible” for CalWORKs means that the information provided on the statement of facts and information otherwise available indicates that the applicant would be eligible if the information on the statement of facts was verified.
Expanded THA is:
- For CalWORKs applicants while the CalWORKs application is in pending status,
- Issue the first payment in a lump-sum of 16 days.
- If the CalWORKs application is still in pending status or has been approved after the initial issuance, the second 16-day payment of THA, equaling a total of 32 cumulative days, may be issued if they are fleeing domestic abuse,
- Separate from regular THA and the Domestic Violence exception that is available every 12 months and
- Is a once in a lifetime benefit.
Note: Expanded THA is not available for incoming CalWORKs ICTs.
An applicant family fleeing domestic abuse applies for CalWORKs and Homeless Assistance and is apparently eligible, however, is missing some mandatory verification. While the application is in pending status, Expanded THA may be granted. The initial issuance will be made in a lump sum payment of 16 days. The family provides the necessary verification to approve the CalWORKs application prior to the 16th day and on day 17, requests additional THA due to fleeing domestic abuse. The second issuance of the Expanded THA may be granted in another 16-day lump sum issuance.An applicant family fleeing domestic abuse applies for CalWORKs and Homeless Assistance and is apparently eligible, however, is missing some mandatory verification. While the application is in pending status, Expanded THA may be granted. The initial issuance will be made in a lump sum payment of 16 days. The family provides the necessary verification to approve the CalWORKs application prior to the 16th day and on day 17, requests additional THA due to fleeing domestic abuse. The second issuance of the Expanded THA may be granted in another 16-day lump sum issuance.
Linkage to CalWORKs
Expanded THA applicants must either have a child or provide medical verification or pregnancy sworn statement. The applicant or the applicant’s child must also have a Social Security number or be an eligible non-citizen.
Verification of Homelessness
There is no requirement to verify homelessness beyond the complete CW 42 form which includes the sworn statement that the applicant is fleeing domestic abuse even if the applicant has not yet spent a night homeless.
Issuance of Benefits
Expanded THA benefits for CalWORKs applicants (including applicants that became recipients) that are fleeing domestic abuse are issued in a lump sum payment equal to 16 days of temporary homeless assistance on the day of application. EWs must inform the applicant that the 2nd 16 day lump sum is available to them as needed and do not need to be issued consecutively. Because the two 16-day increments do not need to be used consecutively, the second issuance could be for a different instance of homelessness, months or years later, as long as the applicant meets the eligibility criteria for these benefits. Families are still limited to a maximum of 32 days of these benefits in their lifetime.
Clients Choice of Payee
Expanded THA applicants may choose to receive payments directly or to a provider of temporary shelter, unless the EW determines mismanagement of funds.
Mismanagement of Funds
Expanded THA applicants are required to provide verification of monies spent on shelter cost. If the applicant fails to provide verification that the initial 16 day payment was spent on shelter, then the final payment must be issued by vendor pay following the existing process for THA.
Refer to Restricted Payments for additional information.
Note: Please note that when issuing restricted payments, EWs must take all health and safety concerns of these applicants into consideration.
Evidence of Permanent Housing Search
Expanded THA applicants are exempt from providing proof of their search for permanent housing, unless granted an immediate need payment or are issued the first month of CalWORKs.
Good Cause
While CalWORKs recipients in receipt of regular THA are not exempt from providing proof of their search for permanent housing EWs are strongly encouraged to grant good cause if the housing search criteria is not met as these cases are fleeing domestic abuse.
Overpayment
The Expanded THA payment is not considered an overpayment if it is later determined that the AU is not eligible for CalWORKs as long as the applicant was eligible for the Expanded THA at the time of application. An overpayment may exist if it is later determined that the applicant was not eligible for the Expanded THA benefits due to a misrepresentation of facts (i.e. it is determined that the client was not fleeing domestic abuse).
Once In a Lifetime
Expanded THA benefits issued to applicants as a result of fleeing domestic violence are:
- Allowed once in a lifetime,
- In addition to regular temporary and permanent HA benefits, and
- Do not count against the once-a-year homeless assistance exception, including those exceptions based on domestic abuse.
Forms
Applicants for Expanded THA must complete, at minimum, the following forms:
- CalWORKs application (SAWS 1 or SAWS 2 Plus),
- “Homeless Assistance Application” (CW 42)
Process
The following guidelines will be used when issuing Expanded THA benefits:
Examples
The following examples illustrate how to process a request for Expanded THA:
- Clerical:
- App-reg case for CalWORKs application.
- Eligibility Worker:
- Conducts CalWORKs Intake interview. Reviews the required forms:
- SAWS 2 Plus
- CW42
- Completes the following minimal pages if the applicant has completed the SAWS 2 Plus so that the NSDI and EBT card can be issued:
- Assign Payee
- Issue EBT card to Payee
- Set up EBT account for CW & CF)
- Add Case Flag; Select AB557DV THA.
- Conducts CalWORKs Intake interview. Reviews the required forms:
- Once CalSAWS entries are complete, EWs will provide the following information to their EW Supervisor to complete NSDI Issuance:
- Case Number,
- Program-CalWORKs
- Payment sub-type-Non-Recurring Special Need
- Aid Code (If interview and work-flow completed, run EDBC and check Wrap Up for aid code. If work-flow not completed, review State and Federal Aid Codes to determine the appropriate aid code); and
- Dollar amount of 16 days of THA.
- EW Supervisor:
- Searches for a Non-System Determined Issuance > Add New Issuance.
- [Refer to CA 8.2 for additional information.]
- Goes to Search for Office Issuance to process issuance.
Examples
The following examples illustrate how to process a request for Expanded THA:
Example 1
On February 15, a mother applies for CalWORKs and THA and states that she is fleeing domestic abuse. She provides a Social Security number for herself and her two children. She tells the EW that she left her children at her husband’s house, but plans to get them as soon as she has somewhere to take them. She has a joint bank account with her husband, but is afraid to access the money. The CW 42 is completed which includes the sworn statement stating that she is fleeing domestic abuse and the EW determines her apparently eligible for CalWORKs and issues 16 days of Expanded THA.
On March 2, she returns to the office and provides verification of shelter cost and is given another lump sum payment for 16 additional days of Expanded THA. On March 15, the EW determines that the income and assets of her abuser are not available to meet her family’s needs and the CalWORKs application is approved.
If she is still homeless, she is potentially eligible for regular, once-a-year temporary and permanent THA, THA based on a domestic abuse exception, as well as additional housing supportive services through the HSP.
Example 2
On February 15, a mother who is fleeing her abuser applies for CalWORKs and Expanded THA. She completes the CW 42 which includes the sworn statement that she is fleeing her abuser and is given 16 days of Expanded THA that day. On March 1, her CalWORKs application is approved, if she continues to be homeless, the second 16 days of Expanded THA are issued. Additionally, if still homeless, the family is potentially eligible for regular temporary and permanent THA after the 32 days, as well as THA based on a domestic abuse exception. She is reminded that she now must show poof of her daily permanent housing search or request good cause. The recipient is also encouraged to utilize HSP as appropriate as well as domestic abuse counseling and services.
Example 3
On February 15, a mother applies for CalWORKs and HA and completes the CW 42 answering the question that she is fleeing domestic abuse. On February 15 she receives her first 16 days of Expanded THA payments. On March 1 the CalWORKs application is denied because she reports that she got a job that puts her over the CalWORKs income limit. As she is no longer an apparently eligible applicant, she is not eligible for the second 16 days of Expanded THA benefits. Additionally, since she was eligible for the first 16 days of Expanded THA benefits when she received them, the payment is not an overpayment
Example 4
On March 1 a mother applies for CalWORKs and expanded HA and completes the CW 42. On March 1 she receives her first 16 days of Expanded THA payment. On March 5 she moves back in with her abuser. On August 5, she leaves the abuser and is fleeing domestic abuse and reapplies for CalWORKs. She is eligible for the second 16 day of Expanded THA. She has now exhausted the Expanded THA once in a lifetime benefit. She may be eligible for the once every 12-months THA and an exception if she meets the criteria.
Related Topics
Homeless Assistance Program Eligibility
Homeless Assistance Exceptions
Homeless Assistance Application
Homeless Assistance Payment Information
Homeless Assistance Case Management Concerns
Questions and Answers Regarding Shared Housing