Counties will continue to handle eligibility determination, emergency benefits, and benefit adjustments. Counties will also process requests to replace a lost card, and will handle appeals of denials by the contractor to resolve errors in the account. Benefits will be available by 5 a.m. on the designated issuance day. Staggering of benefits CalWORKs benefits will be staggered over the first three calendar days of the month. Food stamp benefits will be staggered over the first ten calendar days of the month.
Counties are free to switch to benefit cycling similar to that used in Fresno County.
The county will send a notice to the recipient after 60 days of inactivity. After 90 days, food stamp benefits are moved offline. The benefits are still in the account, but can be reached only if the county requests that the benefits be restored to on-line status. This takes up to 24 hours after the county makes the request. Benefits will be expunged for both cash and food stamp accounts.