44-315 CalWORKs Maximum Aid Payment Levels

.Purpose

Policy

Background

Release Date:

9/3/24

Definitions

Requirements

Verification Docs

CalWORKs

44-315 CalWORKs Maximum Aid Payment Levels

Purpose

( ) To release a new policy

( ) To release a new form

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

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

What changed?

The CalWORKs Maximum Aid Payment (MAP) levels will increase by 0.3 percent, effective October 1, 2024.

1. The system was programmed to centrally mail the TEMP 2250 (6/24), State Law Changes Maximum Aid Payment Levels for Cash Aid Recipients, to all active CalWORKs/Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) participants (Approved cases) starting August 29, 2024, to inform them of the new payment levels:

a. The TEMP 2250 must be provided to new CalWORKs/RCA applicants beginning September 2024 through October 2024, to inform them of the new payment levels.

2. The TM44-315O (7/24), Law Change to MAP Levels, Notice of Action (NOA) will be generated by the system and mailed to participants to inform them of the MAP change, effective October 1, 2024, anytime the Eligibility Determination Benefit Calculation (EDBC) is run for October 2024 benefits.

3. Senate Bill (SB) 380 Child MAP charts were modified to reflect the new MAP levels. These charts are used in determining eligibility for applicants/participants who opted to exclude step/half-siblings for consideration in the determination of the MAP for the Assistant Unit (AU) when the amount of child support payment received each month is more than the cash aid amount for the child.

Note: Changes are shown highlighted in grey throughout the document.

Policy

CalWORKs/RCA participants receive their grants based on Exempt (higher) or Non-Exempt MAP. An AU receives the Exempt MAP when each parent, aided stepparent, caretaker relative, pregnant person, or adult in an RCA case receives one of the following benefits:

·	Supplemental Security Income (SSI)/State Supplemental Payments (SSP);
·	In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS);
·	State Disability Insurance (SDI);
·	Temporary Workers’ Compensation (TWC); or
·	Temporary Disability Indemnity (TDI).

In addition, the AU receives the Exempt MAP when it includes an unaided (non-needy) non-parent caretaker. All other participants receive the Non-Exempt MAP.

The MAP increase is considered a County-initiated mid-period action. CalWORKs/RCA participants who receive CalFresh may receive a decrease in their CalFresh allotment due to the increase in the CalWORKs/RCA grant.

Effective October 1, 2024, the CalWORKs/RCA MAP levels for Los Angeles County are:

AU Size	Exempt MAP	Non-Exempt MAP
1	$809	$734
2	$1,039	$930
3	$1,314	$1,175
4	$1,579	$1,416
5	$1,850	$1,659
6	$2,123	$1,902
7	$2,395	$2,145
8	$2,669	$2,389
9	$2,939	$2,631
10 or more	$3,215	$2,876

Minimum Basic Standards of Adequate Care (MBSAC) Payment Standards

MBSAC standards remain the same as released in Administrative Release (AR) 44-212 Minimum Basic Standard of Adequate Care. MBSAC figures are normally adjusted to account for any increases or decreases in the cost of living. These figures, when adjusted, are effective in July of each year and will be released at that time.

Background

As a result of Assembly Bill 161 (Chapter 46, Statutes of 2024), effective October 1, 2024, the CalWORKs/RCA MAP levels will increase by 0.3 percent.

Definitions

Terms	Description
MAP	The maximum cash aid benefits a family can receive. This amount depends on the number of persons in the AU.
Exempt MAP	The family must have an eligible child and each adult relative caretaker receives one of the following benefits: SSI/SSP, IHSS, SDI, TWC, TDI, or is a non-needy/non-parent caretaker relative to receive the Exempt MAP.
Region 1 and Region 2 Counties	There are two levels of the MAP that are assigned to California counties known as Region 1 and Region 2. The Region is determined based on the lower or higher cost of living. Region 1 is for counties with a higher cost of living. Region 1 includes the following counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Orange, San Diego, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, and Ventura. Region 2 includes all other counties. Los Angeles County DPSS staff should be aware of the Region 1 and Region 2 levels when processing Inter-County Transfer cases from Region 2 counties.

Requirements

Informing Requirements:

Requirement

Limit/Condition

TEMP 2250, State Law Changes MAP Levels for Cash Aid Recipients

The TEMP 2250 is a notification provided to applicants/participants to inform them of the change to the MAP and the potential decrease to their CalFresh benefits due to the increase of the CalWORKs/RCA benefits:

·	A separate CalFresh NOA will be sent to families whose CalFresh benefits are affected.

TM44-315O, Aid Payment – Law Change to MAP Levels

The TM44-315O is a NOA that must be provided to all participant cases to inform them of the MAP level increase.

AR 2 SAR, Reporting Changes for CalWORKs and CalFresh

The AR 2 SAR is a notification that must be provided to all Annual Reporting/Child Only cases every time there is a change to the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT).

SAR 2, Reporting Changes for Cash Aid and CalFresh

The SAR 2 is a notification that must be provided to all Semi-Annual Reporting (SAR) cases every time there is a change to the IRT.

SB 380, Child MAP Charts

The charts were revised to reflect the increase to the MAP levels. Refer to existing procedures outlined within AR 44-316.9 Step/Half-Siblings Receiving Child Support. Staff must use the revised charts to determine whether the participating child is still eligible for the SB 380 option, during the next Renewal (RE) or SAR 7, Semi-Annual Eligibility Status Report.

Verification Documents

N/A