CALFRESH

63-504.2 Notices of Action

Purpose

(  ) To release a new policy

(  ) To release a new form

(  ) To convert existing policy to new writing style only – No concept changes

(  ) Revision of existing policy and/or form(s)

(X) To reinforce existing policy/procedures

To reiterate policy on the issuance of an accurate Notice of Action (NOA) for CalFresh households and to provide steps on how to suppress an inaccurate NOA and to generate a manual NOA.

Policy

A NOA is a form which is provided to households to inform them of an adverse action which has been or will be taken concerning their eligibility status or changes in their benefits.

All NOAs shall contain the following information to be considered accurate: 

A.   Explain in an understandable language:

1.    The proposed action;

2.    The reason for the proposed action;

3.    The household’s right to request a State hearing; and

4.  The availability of continued benefits and the potential liability of the household for any overissuance received while awaiting a State hearing, if the hearing decision is adverse to the household.

B.    Include the Intake Eligibility Worker’s (EWs) phone number for the denial NOAs and the Customer Service Center (CSC) telephone number for the termination NOAs; and  

C.   Include the NA Back 9, which provides the applicant/participant the information regarding their appeals rights.

Adverse Actions:       Timely notice must be provided to a household prior to any action to reduce or discontinue its benefits within the certification period.  A NOA will be considered timely if there are at least ten days from the date the notice is issued until the effective date of the change.

Increased Benefits:     Adequate notice must be provided to a household whenever benefits are increased as a result of a reported change no later than the date the increased benefits are received.

Background

LEADER Replacement System (LRS) is programmed to generate the appropriate NOA for CalFresh cases.  However, the language of some NOAs is not accurate.  In the event that an inaccurate NOA is generated, every effort must be made to provide the household with the appropriate NOA.

Definitions

N/A

Requirements

Every CalFresh application must be either withdrawn, approved or denied and a timely accurate NOA must be provided.  In addition, for every action taken on a case including case discontinuance, a timely and accurate NOA must be issued.

Verification Documents

N/A