49-015_1 Telephone Application Process

Effective November 13, 2018, applicants for the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) may apply by telephone at (866) 613 – 3777 and select option #7. Married applicants are to apply for CAPI individually and complete separate CAPI applications (SOC 814, Statement of Facts Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants). Applicants completing the CAPI application by telephone will be provided a follow-up appointment for a face-to-face interview with a CAPI Intake Eligibility Worker (EW) to complete the application process.

CAPI applicants may give permission for the designated EW to sign the application (SOC 814) on their behalf. However, applicants must still sign the application at the in-person interview.

Additionally, as part of the application process, CAPI applicants may be required to apply for Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payments (SSI/SSP). Applicants must not be referred to the Social Security Administration (SSA) if:

A. It is determined the applicant is not a qualified alien, or

B. The applicant/recipient presents a formal or informal denial of SSI/SSP benefits based solely on immigration status of the applicant/recipient, dated within the last six months.

An applicant may call to complete an application or authorize someone else to complete it on his/her behalf. Designation of an Authorized Representative (AR) can be done verbally over the phone and the signature may be captured telephonically by documenting the case journal that the signature was verbally provided over the telephone. There is no signature needed by the applicant nor the AR at the time the application is taken over the phone. However, the applicant will need to complete the MC 382, Appointment of Authorized Representative at their first office visit in the presence of a County employee. Additionally, in accordance with SSA requirements, the AR may not sign the SSP 14, Authorization for Reimbursement of Interim Assistance Initial Claim or Posteligibility Case.

Applications are to be approved or denied no later than 30 calendar days following the application date. If the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) is unable to make a decision on eligibility and/or benefit payment amount within 30 calendar days due to the applicant’s failure to comply with DPSS requests to submit documents or verifications, the application may be denied for non-cooperation (except when DPSS determines that the applicant had good reason for failure to timely submit the requested information). When an applicant under age 65 applies for CAPI and claims disability, a disability determination from the State Disability Determination Service Division (DDSD) is required. The 30-calendar day application processing date begins on the day that the State DDSD decision is received.

Any individual who wishes to apply for CAPI in person may do so at any DPSS office location. However, all applications for CAPI are to be forwarded to the Metro North District Office for processing. All incoming calls from those wishing to apply for CAPI through the Customer Service Line will be routed to Metro North eligibility staff.

There are NO “Immediate Need” or “Expedited Services” in the CAPI Program. Any of the following will be used as screening tools but will not replace the SOC 814:

A. SAWS 1, Initial Application for CalFresh, Cash Aid, and/or Medi-Cal/34-Health Care Programs, or

B. SAWS 2 Plus, Statement of Facts for Cash Aid, Food Stamps, and/ Medi-Cal/34 County Medical Services Program.

Background

All County Letter (ACL) No. 17-31, dated May 18, 2017, clarified the procedures that counties must follow in accepting and processing CAPI applications.

Definitions

Term	Description
Authorized Representative (AR)	Another person who the applicant has authorized to represent him/her or to apply for services, including CAPI, on his/her behalf.
Decision Period	As a general rule, DPSS must make a decision to approve or deny an application for CAPI as soon as possible, but no later than 30 calendar days following the date of application.
Eligible Couple	An eligible person and his/her eligible spouse.
Eligible Person	An aged, blind, or disabled person who meets all the CAPI eligibility requirements.
Household	A personal place of residence in which the person(s) share common living quarters and function as a single economic unit.
Ineligible Spouse	Someone living with the applicant/participant as husband or wife who is not eligible for CAPI or SSI/SSP. An otherwise eligible spouse who does not apply for CAPI or SSI/SSP is considered an ineligible spouse.
Protected Application Date	Also known as the date of application. It is the date that DPSS receives the applicant’s request to apply for CAPI by telephone, in person, fax, or mail.
Qualified Alien	An immigrant who is: A. Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence; B. Granted Cuban/Haitian entrant status; C. A refugee; D. An asylee; E. Deportation/removal is being withheld; F. Paroled into the United States (U.S.) for a period of at least one year; G. A conditional entrant admitted to the U.S.; or H. A battered person, child of a battered spouse, or parent of a battered child with a petition pending.
Sponsor	A person who has executed an affidavit of support agreeing to support an immigrant as a condition of the immigrant’s admission for permanent residence in the U.S.
Sponsored Immigrant	A person on whose behalf a sponsor has executed an affidavit of support.
Spouse	The definition of a married couple follows California Law which includes same-sex marriages. A spouse is defined under any of the following conditions: A. Legally married under the laws of California, or the state where the applicant/participant had their permanent residence while living together; B. Either member of the couple is entitled to the other member’s Social Security Insurance benefits as the spouse of the other; or C. The applicant/participant resides with an unrelated person of the opposite or same sex in the same household and both lead people to believe that they are spouses.
Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payments (SSI/SSP)	Refers to the federal (SSI) and State (SSP) funded program that provides cash assistance to aged, blind, and disabled residents of California.

Requirements

Any individual or married couple may apply for CAPI. A parent or legal guardian may apply for CAPI on behalf of his/her child (person under the age of 18). The following documents must be completed as part of the CAPI application:

A. SOC 814, Statement of Facts Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI);

B. SOC 453, Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) Statement of Household Expenses and Contributions;

C. SSP 14, Authorization for Reimbursement of Interim Assistance Initial Claim of Post Eligibility Case; and

D. SOC 455, Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants State Interim Assistance Reimbursement Authorization.

Documents required when the applicant is a sponsored immigrant with the 10-year sponsor deeming period:

A. SOC 860, Sponsor’s Statement of Income and Resources (required only after DPSS has denied applicant’s request or the applicant declines to apply for an indigence exception from sponsor deeming). Completed by sponsor (and sponsor’s spouse, if applicable); and

B. SOC 809, Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants Indigence Exception Statement (completed by applicant if applying for an indigence exception).

Additional documents and verification may be required, as applicable.

Verification Documents

As applicable, a CAPI applicant must provide to his/her worker the following verifications as part of the CAPI application process:

Type	Acceptable Documents
Applicant Verifications	Documentation verifying statements made on SOC 814, e.g., pay stubs, bank statements, tax records, rent receipts, proof of property ownership, landlord statement, lease, etc.
Sponsor Verifications	Documentation verifying statements made on SOC 814 and SOC 860, e.g., sponsor’s contact information, pay stubs, bank statements, tax records, rent receipts, proof of property ownership, etc.
Immigration Documents	Evidence of current immigration status, such as Legal Permanent Resident card.
Identity Documents	Driver’s License, government issued photo identification e.g., passport, Matricular Card, or U. S. Citizenship Immigration Services documents. Note: Expired Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) cards can be accepted if the eligibility staff can verify the applicant/participant has current lawful permanent resident status via a Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) query.
Proof of Age	Evidence of date of birth e.g., birth certificate.
Proof of SSI Ineligibility	A denial letter from SSA issued within the past 6 months before the CAPI application date that indicates the applicant is ineligible for SSI/SSP solely due to his/her immigration status. Note: An alternate acceptable document is a receipt from SSA indicating that the CAPI applicant has applied for SSI/SSP and that the application is currently being reviewed.