MFG - Informing Requirements

TEMP 2102

Recipients of AFDC/CalWORKs were notified in writing of the MFG rule and the impact the rule had on future aid to the family. To insure that all recipients had adequate notification the state developed the “The Maximum Family Grant Rules For Recipients of Cash Aid” (TEMP 2102). The TEMP 2102:

  • Was sent to all AFDC/CalWORKs recipients from the State Department of Social Services on August 1, 1996.
  • Is included in each AFDC/CalWORKs Intake packet, given on or after August 1, 1996.
  • Is included in each CalWORKs RD packet given on or after April 1, 2000.
  • Was provided to any AFDC applicant who had their AFDC application "in-process" on August 8, 1996.
  • Explains the MFG rule and the exemptions.
  • Is printed in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Cambodian and Chinese. Other translations will be made available, as provided by the state.

Note: The TEMP 2102 is replaced by the CW 2102 in October 2000.

CW 2102A

The State mass mailed the notification, “Your Family’s Cash Aid May Not Go Up if You or Your Child Has a New Baby” (CW 2102A), to all CalWORKs recipients on aid as of July 2000 and therefore a copy may not be on file. ACIN 1-82-00 serves as documentation for the August mailing. The CW 2102A:

  • Was sent to all CalWORKs recipients from the State Department of Social Services on August 30, 2000.
  • Was provided by the county to any CalWORKs applicant who applied and had their CalWORKs application approved between June 1, 2000, and September 30, 2000.
  • Explains the MFG rule and the exemptions.
  • Is printed in English and Spanish.
  • Does not require the client’s signature.

CW 2102

The revised “The Maximum Family Grant Rule For Recipients of Cash Aid” (CW 2102) must be given to all CalWORKs applicants and recipients, effective October 1, 2000. The CW 2102 is essentially the same as the TEMP 2102, but now requires the client’s signature or acknowledgment of refusal. The CW 2102:

  • Must be included in each CalWORKs Intake packet, given to an applicant on or after October 16, 2000,
  • Must be included in each CalWORKs RV packet given on or after October 16, 2000,
  • Original must be given to the client and a copy of the signed or documented refusal to sign the CW 2102 must be scanned into the IDM case folder,
  • Explains the MFG rule and the exemptions,
  • Explains the MFG rule as it applies to "nested teens", and
  • Is printed in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Russian, Cambodian and Chinese.

Signature of Client

The CW 2102A sent August 30, 2000 to CalWORKs clients did not have a signature block on the bottom of the form. However, the CW 2102 has a signature block on the bottom of the form. The CW 2102 can be signed by either parent (caretaker relative) at application, AND annually at redetermination. In two-parent households, only one signature is required. The original must be given to the client and a copy of the signed CW 2102 must be scanned into the IDM case folder.

  • If the client refuses to sign the CW 2102, the EW must document their refusal, including the date, by noting it on the informing notice.
  • Once their refusal is documented (thereby establishing notification), apply the MFG rule to any child born to the AU that has received CalWORKs continuously for ten months after notification.

New Informing Notice Requirements

Except for the children of minor parents, the MFG rule will continue to apply to children already designated as MFG. Furthermore, any child (except for children of minor parents), born before November 1, 2001, will be subject to the MFG rule if appropriate notification (i.e., TEMP 2102, CW 2102A or CW2102) was provided at least ten months prior to the child’s birth.

  • On or after March 1, 2001:
    • All NOAs that are issued when a child is added to the case must contain the date the MFG notice was provided to the family when the MFG rule is applied.
  • On or after July 1, 2001:
    • The MFG rule only applies to the child of a minor parent, who is a dependent in his/her senior parent’s case, if the AU was provided a copy of the CW 2102 or CW 2102A at least ten months before the birth of the child and at the latest redetermination ten months before the child’s birth.
  • On or after November 1, 2001:
    • The MFG rule will apply to all children born into any AU (to adult and minor parents) ONLY if the AU was provided one of the new informing notices (CW 2102A or CW 2102) through the August mass mailing, at application, the most recent redetermination, or other later date that occurred at least ten months prior to the birth of the child. If the AU has been on aid long enough to have had a redetermination ten months prior to the birth of the child, then a notice must have been provided at redetermination for the MFG rule to apply.
  • On or after November 1, 2002:    
    • The MFG rule will apply to any children born into an AU (to adult and minor parents) ONLY if the case file contains a copy of the CW 2102 or other MFG informing notice issued or approved by CDSS with a written acknowledgment signed by the head of the household (a parent or non-parent caretaker relative, or documentation of their refusal to sign. To apply the rule, the case file must contain the signed acknowledgment that was provided at application or the most recent annual redetermination or other later date at least ten months prior to the birth of the child.

Example Example Philip, a CalWORKs recipient since October 1998, was provided and signed the CW 2102 at his redetermination interview on November 2, 2000. On the October 2001 monthly report, Philip reported the birth of another child with a date of birth of October 3, 2001. Since Philip had been provided a written copy of the CW 2102 at least ten months prior to the birth of the child, MFG would apply to this child, if no other exemptions apply. 

Example Example Isabel became a CalWORKs recipient on July 1, 2002. In July 2003, Isabel had her redetermination interview. In January 2004, Isabel had a child. When determining if the MFG rule would be applied, it was discovered that there was no copy of a signed CW 2102 in the case file (or documentation of her refusal to sign), nor was there any other appropriate informing document with a signed acknowledgment in the file. The MFG rule would not be applied to Isabel’s child. 

Beginning November 2002, MFG applies only if a written acknowledgment signed by the parent at application and at the most recent annual redetermination (or documentation of their refusal to sign) is in the case file.

Example Example A child was born into an existing AU in county #1 where mom was on aid for more than ten months prior to the birth of the child. The MFG rule was applied to the child. The child now lives with her father in county #2. The MFG rule would continue to be applied when the child went to live with the father if county #2 can document that the AU (mom) was appropriately notified of the MFG rule based on information from county #1, even if the other parent (father) was not an AU member when the written notice was sent to the AU. The MFG rule applies because the child was born into an AU that had been receiving aid for the ten months prior to the birth of the child. 

Example Example If the case file includes a CW 2102 with a signed acknowledgment or the annotation of refusal to sign, county #1 must send a copy of the form to the receiving county. If informing was done using the CW 2101A or the TEMP 2102, which do not contain a signed acknowledgment, county #1 must provide county #2 with the date the AU was notified and the specific informing document that was provided to the AU, i.e. the Temp 2102 or CW 2102A. These procedures must be followed for all Inter-County Transfer cases as well as cases in which the children move from one parent to another when the parents live in different counties. 

Example Example A mom went on aid with two children in 1997. The children’s father was not in the home at the time of application. In 5/99, the father became the caretaker relative for the children when mom left the home. The county did not provide the father with a copy of the MFG informing notice when he became caretaker of the children in 5/99. In 2/00, mom resumed her duties as caretaker relative and the father left the home. When mom left the home again in 6/00, the father applied to be caretaker for the children, with aid effective, 6/1/00. He was provided a copy of the MFG informing notice in 6/00. In 9/00, the father’s girlfriend who was pregnant moved into the home. The father and girlfriend’s child was born on 10/28/00. The MFG rule would not be applied to the child of the father and the girlfriend. Neither the father nor the girlfriend had been on aid for ten months before the birth of their child. Additionally, the father had not received a copy of the informing notice at least ten months before the birth of the child. 

Related Topics

MFG

MFG - Counting of Months

MFG - Exceptions

Eligibility of MFG Child

Effect of MFG Rule on Minor Parents