CalFresh: eligibility: guidelines.

Existing federal law provides for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) , under which nutrition assistance benefits are allocated to each state by the federal government. Under existing state law, the CalFresh program, California's federal allocation is distributed to eligible individuals by each county. Existing law requires that the eligibility of households be determined to the extent permitted by federal law, and requires the State Department of Social Services to establish a program of categorical eligibility for CalFresh in accordance with federal law. Existing law requires each county welfare department to carry out the local administrative responsibilities of this program, subject to the supervision of the department and to rules and regulations adopted by the department. This bill would require the department to issue guidance to simplify the verification of dependent care expense deductions necessary to determine a household's eligibility for, or the benefit level of, CalFresh. The bill would require that the guidance establish that dependent care expenses shall be considered verified upon receipt of a self-certified statement of monthly dependent care expenses, unless federal law requires, or the county human services agency requests, additional documentation, as specified. The bill would authorize the department to implement these provisions by all-county letters or similar instructions until regulations are adopted, and would require the department to adopt regulations on or before January 1, 2015.