Plain English Breakdown
The official text states exemptions apply 'except as specified,' but does not list those specific exceptions within the provided summary or digest.
Excluding Education Money from CalWORKs and CalFresh Income Limits
This law stops grants, awards, scholarships, loans, and fellowships for college students in a household from counting as income or resources when deciding if families qualify for cash aid or food benefits.
What This Bill Does
- Exempts any grant, award, scholarship, loan, or fellowship provided to an assistance unit member for attending an institution of higher education from being counted as income for CalWORKs and CalFresh eligibility.
- Exempts those same funds from being counted as resources when determining CalWORKs eligibility or benefit amounts.
- Requires the State Department of Social Services to use a federal option, where allowed by law, regulation, guidance, or waiver, to exclude any income type excluded for CalWORKs from CalFresh calculations.
- Directs the department to implement these changes through an all-county letter or similar instruction until official regulations are adopted.
Who It Names or Affects
- Families applying for or receiving cash aid through the CalWORKs program.
- Households seeking food assistance benefits under the CalFresh program.
- Members of these households who receive education funds to attend an institution of higher education.
- County agencies that process applications and manage benefit amounts.
Terms To Know
- CalWORKs
- A state program providing cash assistance and other benefits to qualified low-income families using a mix of state, county, and federal funds.
- CalFresh
- California's name for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food benefits distributed by counties.
- Institution of higher education
- A school, such as a college or university, that an assistance unit member attends to receive grants, awards, scholarships, loans, or fellowships.
Limits and Unknowns
- The law does not provide new state funding from the General Fund specifically for implementing these changes.
- Changes depend on federal laws, regulations, guidance, or waivers allowing states to exclude this type of income.
- Final details will be set later when official regulations are adopted.