Exhibit 3: Overview of Public Benefit Programs
Table: Potential Impacts to Benefits
Benefit Description Potential Adverse
Impact to
Beneficiaries
Waivers/Exemptions
Available?
CalWORKS Aid and services to
eligible families
Low risk: CDSS has
agreed to disregard
the income increase
1 Yes, must follow CDSS
exemption request
process
SNAP/CalFresh Benefit enabling low-
income adults and
families to purchase
food in authorized
retail food stores
Low risk (if privately
funded): CDSS has
agreed to disregard
the income increase
if from a private
source
Yes, for private funding
sources only
Social Security Retirement income
payable to adults at
least 61 years and 9
months old
Low risk (for 1-year
program): Eligibility
is based on previous
contributions to
Social Security
No
Social Security
Disability Income
(SSDI)
Aid to adults who
cannot work due to a
medical condition
Low risk (for 1-year
program): Eligibility
is based on previous
contributions to
Social Security and
inability to work
No
Supplemental
Security Income
(SSI)
Aid to disabled and
low-income children
and adults; also
payable to adults at
least 65 years old
without disabilities
who meet financial
limits
Impacted: GBI
payment is
considered a gift and
counts against
eligibility
No
Unemployment Temporary aid for
adults who lose their
job to help them
meet expenses while
seeking new
employment
Low risk: Eligibility is
based on earned
income
No
Women, Infants
and Children (WIC)
Supplemental foods,
health care referrals,
and nutrition
Some risk: Eligibility
is based on income
and/or participation
No
1 The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has agreed to disregard the income increase for participants in GBI pilot programs as it relates to CalWORKS benefits that “comply with statutorily mandated criteria.“ To secure an exemption, a GBI pilot program must make a request to CDSS and, if granted, recipients of GBI payments who are also receiving CalWORKs benefits can avoid any negative impacts that program participants might otherwise have on CalWORKs participation, eligibility, and benefits. . education for low-
income mothers, and
to infants and
children up to five
years old who are at
nutritional risk
in Med-Cal,
CalWORKS, and
CalFresh
Medi-Cal Free or low-cost
health insurance for
low-income children
and adults
Impacted: Public
funds (federal, state
or local) will be
considered taxable
income by the IRS
No
Covered California Subsidized
Affordable Care Act
plans for California
Impacted: Public
funds (federal, state
or local) will be
considered taxable
income by the IRS
No
Public Housing and
Section 8 Vouchers
Housing assistance
for low-income
families, the elderly,
and persons with
disabilities either
through government-
owned housing or
vouchers to be used
Low risk: can secure
waiver from Alameda
Housing
Authority/HUD
Yes, from Alameda
Housing Authority