REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
December 7, 2021
FROM
GILBERT RAMOS, Director, Transitional Assistance Department
SUBJECT
Title
General Relief Policy Handbook, Chapter A - General Policy and Provisions Updating General Relief Maximum Basic Payment Levels
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve updates to the General Relief Policy Handbook, Chapter A - General Policy and Provisions increasing the General Relief Program’s maximum basic payment levels to eligible San Bernardino County residents effective July 1, 2022 through July 1, 2026, as detailed in the Financial Impact section below.
(Presenter: Gilbert Ramos, Director, 388-0245)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not require additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). General Relief recipients are eligible to receive maximum payments based on the Assistance Unit (AU) size (number of family members). The Transitional Assistance Department (TAD) is requesting annual increases to General Relief aid payments effective July 1, 2022 through July 1, 2026. Adequate appropriation and revenue will be included in the Aid to Indigents 2022-23 recommended budget and in future recommended budgets.
|
AU Size |
Current Levels |
2022-23 |
2023-24 |
2024-25 |
2025-26 |
2026-27 |
|
1 |
$332 |
$365 |
$402 |
$442 |
$486 |
$504 |
|
2 |
$445 |
$487 |
$529 |
$572 |
$615 |
$641 |
|
3 |
$558 |
$612 |
$667 |
$722 |
$777 |
$809 |
|
4 |
$672 |
$738 |
$804 |
$871 |
$938 |
$977 |
|
5 or more |
$785 |
$863 |
$941 |
$1,020 |
$1,099 |
$1,145 |
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The County’s General Relief Program is administered by TAD and provides loan assistance to indigent individuals and families in temporary need of housing, food and/or transportation. The program is mandated by and operated per Welfare and Institutions Code sections 17000 - 17039.1, which requires Board of Supervisors (Board) approval of the standards of aid and care for General Relief Program recipients as contained in the General Relief Policy Handbook, Chapter A - General Policy and Provisions. The recommended updates to Chapter A will increase General Relief aid payments annually over the next five years to align the County’s General Relief Program with 2020-21 California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) maximum aide payment levels. The proposed General Relief payment increases are a result of litigation and are part of an executed settlement agreement.
General Relief aid payments are established with maximum basic payment levels based on the number of AU members (one member up to five or more members) and subject to a payment reduction if additional income is reported. Payments are prorated whenever eligibility exists for only a portion of the month and are not paid to or for any applicant/recipient who is a resident of a treatment program or treatment facility.
Upon Board approval, the updates to the General Relief Policy Handbook, Chapter A - General Policy and Provisions will be effective July 1, 2022.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on November 10, 2021; Finance (John Hallen, Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on November 9, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on November 12, 2021.