SEC. 20.7-12. ALLOWABLE REAL PROPERTY.

   An Applicant or Recipient of assistance under this Article VII may retain real property used as his or her home, provided that the Applicant’s or Recipient’s net monthly housing expense does not exceed the otherwise eligible Applicant/Recipient’s total monthly income and/or assets.

(As Sec. 20.56.9, amended by Ord. 212-80, App. 5/16/80; Ord. 152-98, App. 5/8/98; redesignated as Sec. 20.7-12 and amended by Ord. 153-16, File No. 160636, App. 8/1/2016, Eff. 8/31/2016, Oper. 1/1/2017)

SEC. 20.7-13. ALLOWABLE PERSONAL PROPERTY.

   No aid under this Article VII shall be granted or paid for any person who has not exhausted all assets and resources available to such person, provided, however, that the following properties and assets shall be considered “exempt” and shall not be counted in determining eligibility:

   (a)   Cash assets, savings and/or checking accounts, the total of which does not exceed the maximum property reserve permitted under the Medi-Cal program, as set forth in Section 50420 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations, or any successor regulations;

   (b)   Personal effects, exclusive of luxury jewelry;

   (c)   Household furnishings;

   (d)   Tools, trade equipment, and fixtures used in the individual’s regular trade or work;

   (e)   Insurance policies or funds placed in trust for the provision of interment or for funeral expenses to the extent of not more than $1,500 per family;

   (f)   An interment plot for use by members of the Applicant’s or Recipient’s family;

   (g)   A vehicle with a cash value that does not exceed the maximum equity value of a vehicle permitted under the CalWORKs program, as set forth in California Welfare and Institutions Code section 11155(c), or any successor statute; and

   (h)   Life insurance policies with a combined face value of up to $1,500.

(As Sec. 20.56.10, amended by Ord. 271-81, App. 5/21/81; Ord. 125-93, App. 4/30/93; Ord. 419-94, App. 12/23/94; Ord. 152-98, App. 5/8/98; redesignated as Sec. 20.7-13 and amended by Ord. 153-16, File No. 160636, App. 8/1/2016, Eff. 8/31/2016, Oper. 1/1/2017)

SEC. 20.7-14. EXEMPT INCOME OR RESOURCES.

   For the purpose of this Article VII, the following types of income and resources shall not be considered available to the Applicant or Recipient in determining eligibility:

   (a)   Income from relocation payments to individuals receiving aid under this Article VII being displaced by a redevelopment agency or any successor agency;

   (b)   SSI/SSP benefits and resources of a member of the Applicant’s or Recipient’s household;

   (c)   Any verified grants or loans made to a Recipient or to an Applicant in the month of application, or one month immediately prior to application for the purpose of enabling that Recipient or Applicant to pay his or her rent, or for the purpose of payment of first and last month’s rent and any lawful rental deposit;

   (d)   Income tax refunds, including the State and federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), issued to the Applicant or Recipient;

   (e)   Payments made to the Applicant or Recipient under the Foster Care, Adoption Assistance, or KinGAP Programs;

   (f)   Payments made to an Applicant or Recipient as a result of participation in job readiness or training programs, exclusive of wages earned through subsidized employment;

   (g)   The portion of any student grants or loans that is paid directly to the educational institution for tuition, fees, and/or books;

   (h)   Payments made to the Applicant or Recipient as part of a locally-funded work incentive program;

   (i)   Payments made to the Applicant or Recipient as a result of participation in a Guaranteed Income Pilot Program, provided the Applicant or Recipient has not declared themselves to be homeless, as set forth in Section 20.7-34 of this Article VII; and

   (j)   Payments made to the Applicant or Recipient under the Cash Not Drugs Pilot Program, pursuant to Article XX of Chapter 20 of the Administrative Code.

(As Sec. 20.56.11, amended by Ord. 212-80, App. 5/16/80; Ord. 1-95, App. 1/13/95; Ord. 152-98, App. 5/8/98; redesignated as Sec. 20.7-14 and amended by Ord. 153-16, File No. 160636, App. 8/1/2016, Eff. 8/31/2016, Oper. 1/1/2017; Ord. 196-23, File No. 230702, App. 9/28/2023, Eff. 10/29/2023; Ord. 257-24, File No. 240799, App. 11/14/2024, Eff. 12/15/2024)

SEC. 20.7-15. REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT.

   Each Applicant or Recipient shall sign an Interim Assistance Reimbursement Agreement to authorize Department reimbursement of assistance under this Article VII from retroactive SSI/SSP benefits, in the event that the Applicant/Recipient is subsequently awarded SSI/SSP.

(As Sec. 20.56.12, amended by Ord. 212-80, App. 5/16/80; Ord. 152-98, App. 5/8/98; redesignated as Sec. 20.7-15 and amended by Ord. 153-16, File No. 160636, App. 8/1/2016, Eff. 8/31/2016, Oper. 1/1/2017)

SEC. 20.7-16. IDENTIFICATION.

   (a)   Each Applicant shall present a verifiable social security number.

   (b)   Each Applicant shall present proof of identity. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) only the following photo identification shall be accepted:

      (1)   California Department of Motor Vehicles Driver’s License or a valid driver’s license from another state;

      (2)   A valid U.S. state Identification Card;

      (3)   Current United States Passport provided that such Passport contains a photo taken of Applicant/Recipient when he or she was at least 18 years of age; or

      (4)   Current Immigration and Naturalization identification, provided that such identification contains a photo which was taken of the Applicant/Recipient when he or she was at least 18 years of age and was taken within 10 years prior to the date of application of Applicant/Recipient.

   (c)   In the event that an Applicant cannot produce a valid photo identification card as specified in subsection (b), the Department may assist Applicants and Recipients once in obtaining California Department of Motor Vehicles photo identification. Failure to cooperate in obtaining a Department of Motor Vehicles identification or other permanently acceptable identification as determined by the Executive Director, after 90 days on aid under any County-funded indigent assistance program, shall be grounds for discontinuing aid. Recipients discontinued on these grounds are not eligible to receive aid under any County-funded indigent assistance program until they have valid identification pursuant to Department Regulations.

(As Sec. 20.56.13, amended by Ord. 271-81, App. 5/21/81; Ord. 152-98, App. 5/8/98; redesignated as Sec. 20.7-16 and amended by Ord. 153-16, File No. 160636, App. 8/1/2016, Eff. 8/31/2016, Oper. 1/1/2017)

SEC. 20.7-17. FINGER-IMAGING AND PHOTO-IMAGING.

   For the purpose of preventing multiple aid payments to the same person, the Department may require that Applicants and Recipients provide finger images as a condition of eligibility or continuing eligibility, subject to such procedures and regulations as the Department may adopt. Failure to cooperate with the finger imaging procedures provides grounds for denial or discontinuance of aid.

   Such finger images are subject to all applicable State and federal laws and regulations regarding the confidentiality of information of Applicants for, or Recipients of, public benefits.

(Added as Sec. 20.56.14 by Proposition V, 11/2/93; redesignated as Sec. 20.7-17 and amended by Ord. 153-16, File No. 160636, App. 8/1/2016, Eff. 8/31/2016, Oper. 1/1/2017)