Article 3 - Special Circumstances

California Welfare and Institutions Code — §§ 12550-12554

Sections (7)

Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 111, Sec. 40. Effective July 30, 2001.

(a)For the purposes of this article, “special circumstances” means those which are not common to all recipients and which arise out of need for certain goods or services, and physical infirmities or other conditions peculiar, on a nonrecurring basis, to the individual’s situation. Special circumstances shall include purchase, repair, and replacement of essential household furniture, equipment, or clothing, necessary moving expenses, required housing repairs, and unmet shelter needs, subject to limits set by the department.

(b)This section shall become operative on July 1, 1998.

§ 12550.1

Added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 111, Sec. 41. Effective July 30, 2001.

(a)Effective July 1, 2001, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the following benefits shall be provided under this article:

(1)The maximum amount for purchase, repair, or modification of housing or to prevent foreclosures or for relocation expenses shall be one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500).

(2)The maximum amount of payment for the purchase, repair or replacement of equipment, including appliances, shall be six hundred dollars ($600).

(3)The maximum amount of payment for the purchase, repair, or replacement of bedding and mattresses shall be three hundred dollars ($300).

(4)The maximum amount of payment for the purchase, repair, or replacement of clothing shall be two hundred fifty dollars ($250).

(b)The department may adopt emergency regulations to implement this section.

§ 12551

Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 606, Sec. 30. Effective October 3, 1997. Note: This section was inoperative from October 3, 1997, until July 1, 1998, pursuant to provisions from this amendment (by Stats. 1997, Ch. 606).

Special circumstances shall also include special needs as provided in Sections 11023 and 11023.1.

This section shall become operative on July 1, 1998.

§ 12552

Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 606, Sec. 31. Effective October 3, 1997. Note: This section was inoperative from October 3, 1997, until July 1, 1998, pursuant to provisions from this amendment (by Stats. 1997, Ch. 606).

The county shall verify that a special circumstance does exist and shall issue a warrant for payment within the guidelines provided by the department. The county shall then send a claim to the state for payment.

This section shall become operative on July 1, 1998.

§ 12552.1

Added by Stats. 2001, Ch. 111, Sec. 42. Effective July 30, 2001. Applicable from July 1, 2001, by its own provisions.

(a)A county may transfer funds received for the implementation of this chapter from its administrative allocation to its benefit allocation for the purposes of providing additional benefits to clients to the extent that administrative savings are achieved.

(b)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2001.

§ 12553

Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 871, Sec. 1.

(a)Notwithstanding Section 12552, special circumstances shall also include the administration and payment by the department pursuant to this section of a recurring special need allowance to every eligible recipient who has a guide dog, signal dog, or other service dog, to pay for dog food and other costs associated with the dog’s care and maintenance.

(b)Beginning January 1, 1991, the special need allowance shall be forty dollars ($40) per month. Beginning July 1, 1991, this amount shall be increased to fifty dollars ($50) per month.

(c)The department shall mail an application for the allowance to each eligible recipient. The application shall be upon a standard form prescribed by regulations of the department and containing a written declaration that the affirmation is made under penalty of perjury subject to prosecution as the crime of perjury under the Penal Code. The recipient or, if the recipient is incapable, another person as described in Section 11054 may make the affirmation. The department shall grant the special need allowance upon the basis of the affirmation by mailing a monthly warrant in the amount indicated in subdivision (b) to the recipient.

(d)The county welfare department shall cooperate in assisting the recipient in completing his or her application for the special need allowance authorized by this section.

(e)For purposes of this section, “eligible recipient” means any blind or disabled recipient of either or both of the following benefits:

(1)Federal supplemental security income benefits provided pursuant to Subchapter 16 (commencing with Section 1381) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code.

(2)Benefits provided under the State Supplementary Program pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12000).

§ 12554

Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 452, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2002.

(b)For purposes of this section, the special need allowance shall be fifty dollars ($50) per month.

(c)The department shall mail an application for the allowance to each recipient of benefits under the federal Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program who is known to the department to have a guide dog, signal dog, or other service dog, or who has requested an application from the department, and who is a legal resident of this state. The application shall include a disclosure of the applicant’s resources and all sources and amounts of the applicant’s income. The application shall be upon a standard form prescribed by regulations of the department and containing a written declaration that the affirmation is made under penalty of perjury subject to prosecution as the crime of perjury under the Penal Code. The recipient or, if the recipient is incapable, another person as described in Section 11054 may make the affirmation. In order to establish eligibility pursuant to subdivision (e), the applicant shall also be required to present a proof of income statement from the federal Social Security Administration. The department shall grant the special need allowance upon the basis of the affirmation by mailing a monthly warrant in the amount indicated in subdivision (b) to the recipient.

(d)The county welfare department shall cooperate in assisting the recipient in completing his or her application for the special need allowance authorized by this section.

(e)For purposes of this section, “eligible recipient” means any person legally residing in this state who is a recipient of benefits under the federal Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, provided for pursuant to Title II of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 401, et seq.) and whose income and resources are not in excess of the federal poverty level. For purposes of determining eligibility under this section, income and resources shall be defined in the same manner as those terms are used in determining eligibility for aid under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12000).