.Purpose

Policy

Background

Release Date:

12/01/16

Definitions

Requirements

Verification Docs

CalWORKs

44-305 Payee Change/Protective Payee

Purpose

(  ) To release a new policy

(  ) To release a new form

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

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

Policy

If a child is living with a caretaker relative, the benefits must be paid to the caretaker relative unless there is a protective payee.  In such cases, the benefits are paid to the protective payee. 

 

The payee can be changed to another relative when:

 

·       

The current payee requests the change; or

·       

The new caretaker relative requests the change and the current payee is not available or able to request the change (i.e., hospitalized, etc.).

 

For minor parent cases, the benefits are paid to the senior parent with whom the minor parent resides unless the senior parent has refused (in writing) to be the payee on the minor parent’s case.

 

Since eligibility for cash and CalFresh benefits is determined by the circumstance of the household/Assistance Unit (AU) on the first day of the month, the old payee is entitled to all remaining benefits in the account(s) for the month; therefore, if there is a balance of cash and/or CalFresh benefits, the new case payee must apply for benefits beginning on the first of the following month.  The new case payee can be entitled to any remaining benefits in the month only if the old payee chooses to make the benefits available via an Alternate Cardholder.  The old payee can authorize an Alternate Cardholder to access the cash and/or CalFresh benefits.

 

Note:  The case can only have one Alternate Cardholder that is not a household member.

 

If there is an emergency, the benefits may also be delivered to a person acting temporarily for the parent or relative payee.  This includes situations when the participant is temporarily absent from the home.  The parent/caretaker relative may request and designate a “temporary” payee in this instance.  The “temporary” payee does not have to be a relative. (The length of the “temporary” status must be determined on a case-by-case basis.)

Background

N/A

Definitions

N/A

Requirements

Requirement

Limit/Condition

Duplicate cash aid cannot be paid to the same child(ren) in the same month

In any given month, if a payee is eligible for CalWORKs benefits for an eligible child and receives the CalWORKs benefits for the eligible child, a new payee is not eligible to receive cash aid for the same child(ren) in the same month, regardless if the new payee is caring for the child(ren) and the monthly grant is not available to the new payee.

Minor Parent

Unless the minor parent is exempt from an acceptable living arrangement, the grant must be paid to the adult living in the home or group/maternity home for the minor parent.

 

Refer to 89-201 – Minor Parent for more information.

Temporary Payee

 

When the participant has an emergency and he/she is temporarily absent from the home, the parent/caretaker relative may request and designate a “temporary” payee.  In this instance, the “temporary” payee does not have to be a relative.

 

Whenever possible, the parent/caretaker relative must provide the designated “temporary” payee with a signed note stating that the individual is to receive the grant.  The parent’s/caretaker relative’s signature must be compared by the Eligibility Worker (EW) with the signature on the most recent Eligibility Status Report (SAR 7) or other official document.

Protective Payee

Protective payee payments are only required for participants that have refused to assign child/spousal support rights or participants who have failed to comply with GAIN.

Alternate Cardholder

The head of the AU can designate a responsible individual to be an Alternate Cardholder.  The Alternate Cardholder receives an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card and Personal Identification Number (PIN) to access benefits.  This individual is not a member of the AU.

Verification Documents

Category

Acceptable Documents

Relationship Evidence – New Payee/

Caretaker

The new payee’s relationship to the child must meet the relationship requirements.  The relationship evidence must be compared with information in the case record.  Examples of evidence may include:

 

·       

Birth certificate;

·       

Marriage certificate;

·       

Baptismal certificate;

·       

Family bible;

·       

Obituary notice; or

·       

Affidavit when other evidence is not available.

 

Refer to 82-808 Caretaker Relative Requirements, for a complete list of acceptable verification.

Temporary Payee -Affidavit

The Affidavit must include the following information:

 

·       

Date the circumstances requiring a payee change occurred; and

·       

Any other evidence available that supports the circumstances such as, but not limited to, hospital admission records.

Payee Agreement For Minor Parent, CW 25A

The CW 25A is used in minor parent cases to designate an adult as the payee.

 

If the minor parent refuses or fails to cooperate in obtaining verification of the adult's consent or refusal to act as payee on his/her behalf, the minor parent's AU is ineligible for CalWORKs.  However, the senior parent can refuse to be the payee on the CW 25A.  In such instances, the minor parent can be the payee on the case.

 

Refer to 89-201 Minor Parent for more information.