California Department of Social Services - State Hearings Division
Notes from the Training Bureau - April 30, 1998

This ACIN states general policies in cases where the CalWORKS grant is reduced because someone who would normally be in the AU has failed to comply with a program requirement. The terms "penalty" and "sanction" are distinguished.

A sanction results when an individual is deleted from the AU for failure to comply with a program requirement, such as failing to meet welfare to work requirements. A penalty results when an individual does not comply with a program requirement and the CalWORKS grant is reduced, but the individual stays in the AU, such as when a parent fails to provide documentation that his child has received proper immunizations.

This ACIN provides a chart that states the various program requirements, the penalty or sanction for failing to comply with each requirement and whether or not the noncomplying person: remains in the AU; is subject to a food stamp penalty; is subject to work requirements; needs to be reassessed for Medi-Cal eligibility; needs to be reassessed for food stamp eligibility; or is subject to vendor/voucher payments.

Judges should be aware that the chart contains several errors that will be corrected at a later date.