Shelter Payments - GA Policy [281]
The Director of the Agency (or his/her designee) may set rules and regulations for the implementation of vendor payments. Vendor Payments require a statement from the landlord, on the “Housing Assistance Verification” (GA 31) or the “Client’s Housing Assistance Statement” (GA 11). Upon receipt of a statement from the landlord, the shelter payment amount, up to the maximum GA grant, may be paid by the Agency directly to the landlord on behalf of the recipient.
At no time will payment of aid for shelter exceed the actual cost of shelter. The costs of shelter INCLUDE the costs for rental or mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, and utilities (gas, electricity, water, garbage, sewage, basic telephone).
Reminder: If the total rent that the client(s) are responsible to pay exceeds the maximum GA grant amount, the EW must obtain a collateral letter from the person who is or will be responsible for paying the difference in rent.
Grant Issuance
The amount indicated on “Housing Assistance Verification” (GA 31) or “Client’s Housing Assistance Statement” (GA 11), (up to the maximum allowable GA grant), is the amount to be paid directly to the landlord.
The balance of the grant, (up to the maximum personal needs allowance for the GA household), is the amount that is paid directly to the client. This amount will be authorized as the continuing grant amount for the client’s personal needs.
Refer to Personal Needs Option below for more information.
Utilities
When GA applicant/recipient incurs a utilities cost, a bill from the utility company, in the applicant's/recipient's name, MUST be provided as verification. The average amount of the utilities may be added to the personal needs, but it should not exceeds the monthly maximum allowable GA grant for the household. If the bill is not in the name of the applicant/recipient, the bill must be in the name of the landlord. If not, the amount claimed for utilities will be disallowed.
EW MUST document circumstances in a Journal Entry and have copies of all verification documents scanned to Imaging.
Personal Needs Option
The clause in the GA Policy [281] is not intended to disallow the client’s personal needs. At Intake the applicants must always be given the option of receiving a personal needs allowance, up to the maximum allowed. All applicants/recipients are to be given a choice of one of the following two options:
- To receive their Personal Needs amount and have the remainder of the Maximum GA payment sent directly to the landlord.
- Not to receive their Personal Needs amount and have the entire maximum GA payment sent directly to the landlord.
The applicant/recipient must complete Section III of the “Housing Assistance Verification” (GA 31) or “Client’s Housing Assistance Statement” (GA 11) to indicate their choice.
If the client wishes to change his/her option, it may only be done at their Redetermination (RRR) or when there is a change in residence. Section III of the GA 31 or Vendor Payment Information of the GA 11 MUST be completed to choose his/her new option. It is not necessary for the Landlord information, Section 1 of the GA 31 or the Vendor Payment Information of the GA 11, to be reverified unless there is a change in residence.
When a client requests a Personal Needs option change as indicated above, the client must be informed prior to making the change that it is his/her responsibility to notify the landlord of the change to avoid conflicts that can lead to an eviction.
If the client is a CalFresh recipient, the CalFresh budget must be changed to reflect the client’s GA payment following the periodic reporting regulations.
Related Topics
Initial Payment of Aid - GA Policy [271]
Employment or Training Commencement Payment (ETC) - GA Policy [275]
Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) for GA Payments
General Assistance Token Program
Reported Changes - GA Policy [105]
Motel Reimbursement for Homeless