Updates

Judge's Order stops GA Time Limits in Alameda County

In Watkins, et al. v. County of Alameda, et al., PILP is challenging the County's implementation of a 6-month General Assistance (GA) time limit, which was set to cut around 5,200 "employable" GA recipients, starting July 1, 2008. Following the hearing on July 15, 2008, Alameda County Superior Court Judge David Hunter granted in part the writ of mandate, ordering that the County's current definition of "employable" does not comply with statutory obligations under Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 11000, 11000 and 17000. The County is prohibited from implementing time limits, at least until it changes its definition of employable and reasses the entire GA population.

Important Reminder:

Complete the SSP 22 for foster youth receiving SSI benefits to ensure they receive the full SSI/SSP benefit available to them.

SSP 22 Form

Public Benefits Justice (PB&J)

The Public Benefits Justice taskforce is a result of two Public Benefits Summits that took place in May and December 2007. Public benefits advocates from over 30 programs around the state gathered to (1) identify systemic issue(s) that cut across multiple benefits programs or constituencies, (2) choose a single issue to focus on collectively over the coming year in order to achieve victory on that issue for our clients; and (3) develop a strategic plan for ensuring success in reaching our designated goal in the upcoming year.

In December, participants chose Notice Requirements as the topic for 2008, and developed a strategic plan to improve notices within the year in order to ensure that our client populations are informed of their rights and given a fair opportunity to secure the benefits and services necessary to their basic survival. We developed four working groups to tackle this issue: litigation, legislation, administrative advocacy and community organizing/training.

For more information about PB&J or to join the coalition, please email .

PB&J Newsletter Summer 2008
PB&J Newsletter Winter 2008

SSI Transitions Project

The SSI Transition Project is a collaboration between the John Burton Foundation, the Public Interest Law Project and the Alliance for Children’s Rights. The goals of the Project are to help California’s disabled youth make a successful transition from foster care, improve local practices in transition planning for disabled foster youth and develop a state and federal policy agenda to promote SSI utilization among foster youth in transition.

The Project is designed to help implement recent California legislation, AB 1331, that mandates screening every youth in foster care for SSI benefits between the age of 16.5 and 17.5, and making applications on behalf of every youth determined likely eligible for SSI benefits.

SSI Transitions Project website

Past Updates