Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Ken Cole, Director, Human Services Agency
Subject: Modification to the Rules and Regulations of the General Assistance Program Standard of Aid
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing a modification to the rules and regulations of the General
Assistance Program by increasing the General Assistance grant to the same level
as the CalWORKs grant, consistent with the statutory formula, effective October 1, 2021.
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BACKGROUND:
State law requires counties to provide support for indigent county residents who do not
qualify for other financial assistance. Counties meet this requirement by providing
financial assistance through the General Assistance (GA) program. The GA program provides this financial assistance in the form of a cash grant, or in the form of vouchers, for essential services to individuals who have no minor children and whose income and
property do not exceed certain limits. It is incumbent on the county Board of Supervisors
to set the county "standard of aid".
The Welfare and Institutions Code 17000.5 permits the San Mateo County Board of
Supervisors to set the County's GA grant levels according to a statutory formula, which
requires GA to be based on and subject to the same annual adjustment as CalWORKs
grant levels. Compliance with the formula relieves the County of the requirement of
setting the grant based on the cost of subsistence in the County. It ensures consistency
of grant levels between counties and discourages recipients from "grant shopping."
Pursuant to Section 2.30.050 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code, the Human
Services Agency (HSA) is responsible for proposing changes to the rules and
regulations concerning policies and procedures for GA program administration to the
Board of Supervisors for approval.
DISCUSSION:
The California State Department of Social Services (CDSS) has advised counties ...
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