California

California provides additional payments in supplementation to the basic Federal SSI payment. An SSI recipient in California may receive either a mandatory or an optional supplement depending on individual circumstances. By agreement, SSA administers both mandatory and optional State supplementation payments for California

The provision for mandatory supplementation requires that states provide a supplement to maintain individuals/couples converted from State to Federal assistance in 1974 at their December 1973 income levels. This was mandated to assure that no one would be reduced in income as a result of the federalization of state welfare programs in 1974. (SI 01401.001B.4, SI 01403.001B.9, and SI 02005.082)

The Mandatory State Supplement (MSS) is designated as the Minimum Income Level (MIL) and is retained until the converted recipient dies or is no longer blind or disabled.

Most recipients in California receive payments based on Optional State Supplement (OSS) payment levels instead of MILs because OSS payment levels are generally higher and the population converted from State to Federal assistance has decreased.

California provides supplementation for eight living arrangement variations:

1. OSS A - Independent Living with cooking facilities (SI SF01415.110)

2. OSS B - Nonmedical Out-of-Home Care (NMOHC) (SI SF01415.120)

3. OSS F - Nonmedical Out-of-Home Care Living in the Household of Another (SI SF01415.130)

4. OSS C - Independent Living without cooking facilities (SI SF01415.140)

5. OSS D - Living in the Household of Another (SI SF01415.150)

6. OSS E - Disabled Child under Age 18 (SI SF01415.160)

7. OSS G - Disabled Child Under Age 18 Living in the Household of Another (SI SF01415.160)

8. OSS J - Residing in a Medical Facility when Title XIX (Medicaid) pays more than 50 per cent of the cost of care (SI SF01415.170)

NOTE: OSS K is not applicable for SSI cases. It applies only to Title VIII Special Veterans Benefits (SVB). Refer to VB 01305.003 for eligibility requirements.

The payment rates for each state supplementation living arrangement are available via the Region IX Center for Programs Support SSI/SSP Payment Rates & Break-Even Deeming Charts website.

California permits an SSI recipient to receive the highest categorical supplement for which he/she can qualify. Therefore, the lead questions (SI SF01415.190, Exhibit 1) regarding the need for care and supervision and access to adequate cooking and food storage facilities must be asked and documented in all initial claims, FO-initiated redeterminations (Data Operations Center (DOC) transfers as defined in SI 02305.043, are not FO-initiated), and posteligibility reports of living arrangement changes since the last living arrangement determination. Redeterminations transferred from the DOC do not require this documentation unless a change in living arrangement or residence address is involved.

For Modernized Supplemental Security Income Claims System (MSSICS) cases, document the answers to the lead questions on the LCAO screen. For non-MSSICS cases, document on an SSA-795 and store it electronically.

NOTE: For deferred development cases (SI 00603.003), ask the lead questions at the initial interview. Complete the Application for California Restaurant Meals Allowance at the initial interview if the applicant alleges inadequate cooking/food storage facilities (SI SF01415.190, Exhibit 3). For potential OSS B and F cases, defer completion of the SSP-22 until the "update." (SI SF01415.120 and SI SF01415.130).