Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Claire Cunningham, 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 (GA) Program by increasing the General Assistance grant from $707 per month to $732 per month, consistent with the statutory formula, effective October 1, 2023.
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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 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".
Welfare and Institutions Code Section 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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