California Department of Social Services - State
Hearings Division
Notes from the Training Bureau -
December 5, 2000
| Item 00-12-02H CDHS ACWDL 00-53 -- October 23, 2000 (Synopsis): Temporary Disregard of Social Security Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) |
Temporary Disregard of Social Security Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA)
Beginning with the January 2001 COLA, counties are not to apply the Social Security COLA to the 1931(b) program until the new FPLs are released and applied (usually April 1 of each year).
Prior to this change, there would be a hardship imposed on beneficiaries when counties would terminate 1931(b) Medi-Cal eligibility in January because the beneficiary received the Social Security COLA and would be ineligible for 1931(b) Medi-Cal based on the prior year's FPL. Counties would restore 1931(b) benefits in April when the new and higher FPLs went into effect.