County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSACalWORKs Program Guide
Number Page
Benefit Issuance 44300B 1 of 2
Revision Date
December 1 2020
Background
CalWORKs benefits are issued monthly to customers via Electronic Benefit Transfer EBT or an alternate method Customers are required to be notified at application and redetermination of the available benefit issuance options
Purpose
This section outlines benefit issuance policies for CalWORKs Information has been updated to remove duplicative policies regarding replacement of cash benefits due to electronic theft and provide further clarification regarding skimming and scamming These policies are centralized in the EBT System Eligibility Policy and Procedure Guide EPPG for all programs
Policy
Benefit Issuance CalWORKs benefits including supportive services payments for Employment Services are issued to the Assistance Unit AU via their EBT cash account
An alternate method for benefit issuance such as direct deposit or warrant may be approved on a casebycase basis A warrant may be issued if the payee has demonstrated their inability to use the EBT system due to a physical or mental incapacity or condition or other barrier and there is no available alternative Verification of the condition and its expected duration is required Benefit issuance to a thirdparty vendor payment may be necessary in certain situations CPG 44300A
Benefit Availability CalWORKs benefits are available in the EBT cash account on a staggered basis over the first three calendar days of the month based on case number
Last Digit of Case Number
1 2 or 3
456 or 7
89 or 0
Benefit Issuance Date
1st day of the month
2nd day of the month
3rd day of the month
CalWORKs benefits that are issued via direct deposit are available in the payees personal bank account on the first calendar day of the month
Electronic Theft Skimming or Scams Electronic theft occurs when a customer or authorized representative has physical possession of their EBT card and benefits are stolen electronically from the EBT cash account Customers may be eligible to receive replacement cash benefits if all requirements are met within 90 days of the electronic theft Refer to the CalWORKs Processing Guide 40300B2
County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSACalWORKs Program Guide
Number Page
Benefit Issuance 44300B 2 of 2
Skimming
Skimming involves the use of electronic equipment or other electronic methods to capture a customers EBT card information without the customers knowledge A common example is the use of equipment installed on an ATM or thirdparty points of sale devices to capture the customers EBT card information
Scamming
Scamming involves deceiving or misleading a customer to unwittingly give their EBT account information that is then used to create a counterfeit card and steal the customers benefit Scams are typically done via text messaging and phone calls
Replacement cash benefits for victims of electronic theft will not count as income or property for CalWORKs eligibility purposes in the month received or in the following month
Benefits cannot be replaced if the EBT card has been lost or stolen or if the customer provided their EBT card number andor Personal Identification Number PIN to someone they know and the benefits were stolen by that person
Procedure
Eligibility Policy and Procedures Guide EBT System for CalFresh CalWORKs General Relief and Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants Eligibility Operations Processing Guide Electronic Theft of Cash Aid Procedures BEnDS 6358 Replacement of Lost or Stolen Cash EBT Benefits CalWORKs Processing Guide 44300B1 Direct Deposit Procedures CalWORKs Processing Guide 44300B2 Electronic Theft Procedures
Program Impacts
Management Reporting Outofstate benefit usage is monitored each month to ensure timely actions are taken when a customer is no longer a California resident Monthly reports are available in the MR SharePoint site
References
MPP 1600016801 4430044315 ACL 1367 18148
Sunset Date
This policy will be reviewed for continuance by November 302023
Rick Wanne Director Eligibility Operations