CA Welf & Inst Code Section 18999.2

(a)

(1)A participating county shall provide, or contract for, outreach, active case management, and advocacy services related to all of the following programs, as appropriate:

(A)

The Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Program for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (SSI/SSP).

(B)

The federal Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program.

(C)

The Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants.

(D)

Veterans benefits provided under federal law, including, but not limited to, disability compensation.

(2)

The outreach and case management services required by this subdivision shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(A)

Receiving referrals.

(B)

Conducting outreach, training, and technical assistance.

(C)

Providing assessment and screening.

(D)

Coordinating record retrieval and other necessary means of documenting disability.

(E)

Coordinating the provision of health care, including behavioral health care, for clients, as appropriate.

(3)

The advocacy services required by this subdivision, which may be provided though legal representation, shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(A)

Developing and filing competently prepared benefit applications, appeals, reconsiderations, reinstatements, and recertifications.

(B)

Coordinating with federal and state offices regarding pending benefit applications, appeals, reconsiderations, reinstatements, and recertifications and advocating on behalf of the client.

(b)

A participating county shall use screening tools to identify populations of individuals who are likely to be eligible for the programs listed in subdivision (a), in accordance with the following:

(1)

The county shall give highest priority to individuals who are chronically homeless or who rely the most heavily on state- and county-funded services.

(2)

Other populations to be targeted by the program include, but are not limited to, the following:

(A)

General assistance or general relief applicants or recipients who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

(B)

Parents who receive CalWORKs assistance or whose children receive assistance or children who are recipients of CalWORKs in families that are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

(C)

Low-income individuals with disabilities who can be diverted from, or who are being discharged from, jails or prisons and who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

(D)

Low-income veterans with disabilities who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

(E)

Low-income individuals with disabilities who are being discharged from hospitals, long-term care facilities, or rehabilitation facilities and who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

(c)

(1)As appropriate, a participating county may refer an individual to workforce development programs who is not likely to be eligible for the programs listed in subdivision (a) and who may benefit from workforce development programs.

(2)

In consultation with an individual who has been served by the Housing and Disability Income Advocacy Program and considering the circumstances of his or her disabilities, a participating county may, upon approval or final denial of disability benefits, refer an individual who may benefit from workforce development programs to those programs.

(3)

An individual’s participation in a workforce development program pursuant to this subdivision is voluntary.