Pickle Tickler System

The Lynch v Rank court order requires that all potential Pickle eligible persons be recorded in the Pickle Tickler system in order to allow for future notification and review of Pickle eligibility. The state-wide automated MEDS system was implemented in order to:

Establish a permanent means of identifying and tracking the status of potential Pickle eligibles via a Pickle Tickler code on the MEDS database.
Provide EWs with an annual listing of individuals whose cases must be reviewed for Pickle eligibility at the time of the RSDI COLA.
Enable EWs to update or correct potential Pickle status in the Pickle Tickler system on an ongoing basis.
EWs must ensure potential Pickle eligibility is recorded on MEDS. A manual online transaction may be required to record or change potential Pickle status on MEDS if necessary.

MEDS Coding Requirements

Individuals Discontinued from SSI/SSP after 1/1/87

Individuals whose SSI/SSP was discontinued after 1/1/87 will automatically be coded as potentially Pickle eligible (Code P1) on MEDS by DHCS.

Individuals Discontinued from SSI/SSP after 7/1/03

Individuals whose SSI/SSP was discontinued after 7/1/03 will automatically be transferred to one of the Craig Aid Codes 1E, 2E or 6E. A code of “C” will be placed in the Pickle Type on the MEDS record to identify this population.

Recording Potential Pickle Eligibles on MEDS

If an SCD 1296 is necessary to record potential Pickle status, the EW must:

Complete case identifying information.
Check the “Other” box and write in the comments section, “Record potential Pickle eligibility code “P” and Pickle status code “1.””
Enter the effective date that potential Pickle eligibility was discovered.
Attach a screen print of the CalSAWS Person Search [Case Members] page.
Once the MTO completes the transaction and returns the SCD 1296, it must be scanned into IDM.
Document a case narrative that potential Pickle eligibility has been recorded on-line.

Correcting Potential Pickle Eligibility on MEDS

Complete the SCD 1296 as stated above to update the Pickle status code in the following situations:

Individual has requested no further contact. (Code 2)
Loss of contact, whereabouts unknown. (Code 3)
Not Pickle eligible, or, previous information was incorrect or erroneous. (Code 7)
Deceased. (Code 9)
- Note: This change does not need to be recorded on MEDS when the entire case is discontinued due to death, using discontinuance code 001.

Pickle Tickler Process

Each January, at the time of the RSDI COLA, DHCS sends a Pickle Tickler notice to potential Pickle eligibles who:

Currently receive RSDI benefits,
Have been discontinued from SSI/SSP in the last 3 years (for any reason), and
Were determined ineligible during the Pickle screening process.

Any individual who has a Pickle Tickler Code “1,” on MEDS, “Recipient is a potential Pickle eligible,” will receive a “Lynch v Rank Tickler Notice” (Notice Type 52) from DHCS for three consecutive years.

The notice advises clients to contact their local county welfare department if they wish to apply for zero SOC MC benefits under the Pickle amendment.

Pickle Tickler Report

In January of each year EWs will receive a listing of individuals who received the notice and who must be reviewed for Pickle eligibility.

The listing contains potential Pickle eligibles for the last 3 years.
EWs are required to determine if individuals included on the Pickle Tickler reports are Pickle eligible by the month following the COLA, and send a NOA, whether the person is Pickle eligible or ineligible.

EWs must change the Pickle Tickler Code on MEDS if it is determined that an individual should not be included on the listing (i.e., deceased, client requests no further contact, not potential Pickle, erroneous information).

Approvals

When the client is determined to be Pickle eligible, send an approval notice by the end of the month following the COLA.

Ineligibility

Should the client be determined ineligible for Pickle at this time, evaluate for Non-MAGI MC.

Reminder: A denial NOA is required for individuals on the Pickle listing that are found ineligible.