Title
Receive an oral report from the Department of Social Services regarding the CalFresh Expansion for Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) Recipients, effective June 01, 2019. (3)
Presenters: Henry Espinosa, Acting Director of Department of Social Services and Cindy Cassinelli, Deputy Director Department of Social Services, Community Benefits
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Health, Housing and Human Services (HHHS) Committee receive an oral report from the Department of Social Services (DSS) regarding the CalFresh Expansion for SSI/SSP Recipients, effective June 01, 2019.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
In 1974, policy was established in California which prohibited SSI/SSP recipients from receiving CalFresh food assistance benefits. California Assembly Bill 1811 passed on June 27, 2018, reversed this policy. As of June 1, 2019, SSI/SSP recipients may now be eligible for CalFresh food assistance benefits if all other eligibility criteria are met. This policy change will allow many seniors and individuals with disabilities in our community who are receiving SSI/SSP to qualify for CalFresh food assistance benefits without a change or reduction to their existing SSI/SSP payment amount.
Monterey County has over 8,000 SSI/SSP recipients that will be potentially eligible to CalFresh benefits for the first time since they were approved for SSI/SSP benefits. SSI/SSP recipients who are not part of an existing CalFresh household will be considered as newly eligible and existing CalFresh rules for elderly and/or disabled individuals will apply when determining their eligibility. There are approximately 800 SSI/SSP recipients who are already excluded members of an existing CalFresh household. They will be added to the existing case at the next periodic report or annual recertification. These households may also make a voluntary request to add the SSI/SSP recipient at any time. If adding the SSI recipient increases a household's CalF...
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