County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSA CalWORKs Program Guide Customer Request for Information Number Page 19000D 1 of 2 Revision Date 09012018 Background Certain case information regarding eligibility for CalWORKs aid or employment services may be open to inspection by the customer or hisher authorized representative Purpose This section outlines CalWORKs policies and procedures for customer requests for case information and benefit verification Information has been reformatted and updated to reference the EPPG Inspection of Case Records policy and to incorporate benefit verification instructions previously issued via CalWORKs Special Notice 0805 Policy Eligibility information that was provided solely by the customer in applications and other records made or kept by the County for the administration of the program may be open to inspection by the customer or hisher authorized representative with the exception of privileged communications Case information regarding domestic abuse medical history criminal background mental health substance use treatment and learning disabilities may only be released to the person who is the subject of the document Privileged Communication Privileged communications are not subject to review without specific written consent from the customer Examples of privileged communications include information protected by PhysicianPatient Privilege Confidential communication from a physician or other medical personnel will not be disclosed without specific written consent from the patient LawyerClient Privilege Confidential communication protected by lawyerclient privilege will not be disclosed without specific written consent from the client Privilege for Confidential Marital Communications Confidential communication during a marital or domestic partnership relationship will not be disclosed without consent from both spouses Refer to California Evidence Code sections 9001070 for other types of privileged communications Third Party Information Information that was provided confidentially to the County by a third party is considered privileged information and will not be disclosed to the customer or hisher authorized representative Examples include Reports summaries and other confidential communication or information obtained as part of an investigation by the Bureau of Public Assistance Investigations BPAI or Department of Health Care Services DHCS Absent parent information obtained by a child support agency Child Welfare Services CWSCPS findings including information obtained as part of a child abuse report or Child Abuse Hotline referral County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSA CalWORKs Program Guide Customer Request for Information Number Page 19000D 2 of 2 Foster Care or Adoptions information Juvenile Court detention records minutes Information protected by LawyerClient privilege Informant identity Certain information obtained through the Income Eligibility Verification System IEVS Medical information provided by a third party In some situations the physician may request information not to be released to the patient In such cases the physicians consent to release the information must be obtained Other privileged communication IEVS data is considered confidential third party information and cannot be disclosed to the customer Customers are to be informed if a discrepancy exists and referred to EDD to resolve the issues however discrepant information from the IEVS data such as employee name or employer information is not to be released to the customer Procedure Requests for Case Information Staff may provide a photocopy of a specific case document to the customer or hisher authorized representative upon request if the information was provided solely by the customer as outlined in this policy Customer requests to review all or a portion of their case record are to be documented via the CW 2213 Response to Request to Inspect Case Record and referred to Eligibility Operations Program Support staff Refer to EPPG 0503 Inspection of Case Records Requests for Benefit Verification Eligibility staff may provide customer case information for housing purposes by completing the housing verification form provided by the customer or hisher authorized representative If no housing form is provided eligibility staff will use the 0769 HHSA Request for Benefit Verification form to provide information about the customers benefits household composition and WTW sanction if any References MPP 19005 and 19006 EPPG 0503 Inspection of Case Records Sunset Date This policy will be reviewed for continuance by 09302021 Approval for Release Rick Wanne Director Eligibility Operations