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Kern County General Assistance Program Disability Advocate

Kern County General Assistance Program Disability Advocate. Program Eligibility. Be a Kern County resident for at least 15 days. Any income to the household must be declared/verified.

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Kern County General Assistance Program Disability Advocate

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  1. Kern County General Assistance Program Disability Advocate

  2. Program Eligibility • Be a Kern County resident for at least 15 days. • Any income to the household must be declared/verified. • GA maximum amount is $266.00 per month. No cash payments are made to GA participants. Rent/utilities are paid via a Vendor system. • Must register for work, conduct a job search and participate in the County Work programs. Receive (3) full months of benefits in a 12-month period for Employable. • If disabled or unable to work, a doctor must verify the disability. Disabled 30-days or longer Unemployable.

  3. General Assistance applicants qualify based on their status of being employable • Shall be available for and actively seeking all types of employment which they are capable of performing; • Must be work registered with EDD; • Shall not have quit a job or been terminated from a job training program. Nor refused to apply for an offer of job training or an offer of employment meeting any minimum wage requirement, or work relief project assignment, without good cause, in the last 30 days of application.

  4. General Assistance applicants qualify based on their status of being unemployable Applicants deemed unemployable due to verified incapacity that is expected to last at least 30 days. A Disability Advocate is available to assist individuals in applying and following through the SSI evaluation and approval process. To prevent duplication of assistance, a person who meets all the eligibility requirements of GA and who applies for SSI, will be granted GA on an Interim Assistance basis pending receipt of the SSI benefits.

  5. General Assistance Cases & Benefit Amounts

  6. Key questions regarding the Disability Advocacy Program in Kern County

  7. What has helped Kern County’s GA participants qualify for SSI? What percent (%) of SSI claim approvals has Kern County achieved? Kern County is very fortunate to have a Disability Advocate who works full time getting the SSI benefits granted for our disabled indigent individuals. Almost 60% of the unemployable participants are approved SSI.

  8. Potentially Eligible and Granted SSI

  9. What barriers has Kern County encountered in helping GA participants qualify for SSI? How have we effectively addressed these barriers? Lack of medical evidence is one of the main barriers for the participant along with transportation and resources needed for obtaining prescribed medications. Kern County utilizes bus passes to eliminate the transportation barrier. Coordination of services with Mental Health, Parole, Kern Linkages and Kern Housing Authority assist the participant in extending the monies for rent. The county hospital has been invaluable in assisting the participants in obtaining disability verifications.

  10. How has Kern County worked with SSA to facilitate the SSI process? Kern County Human Services Disability Advocate established a partnering relationship with SSA, and as a result, the advocacy program is well respected. Communication is the key!

  11. What barriers has Kern County encountered in effectively working with other county agencies on SSI advocacy? Kern County Human Services has a seat on the Kern County Homeless Collaborative in which multiple agencies are brought together to facilitate working solutions to the barriers participants face – stable/permanent homes, access to needed services, and transportation. This is a county-wide problem seeking county-wide solutions through collaboration. Local agencies working together to determine local solutions and strategies for Kern County residents experiencing poverty. A KCDHS Assistant Program Director facilitates the Kern County Homeless Service Providers Collaborative.

  12. How does Kern County fund SSI advocacy? Does Kern County use their own staff and/or contractors for SSI advocacy? The Kern County Human Services Disability Advocate is a full-time county employee assigned to the GA Unit. Distinguishing Characteristics The focus of this position is advocating for GA participants, so that they may receive SSI. A majority of the work day is dedicated to providing information and assistance to GA participants. This classification is distinguished from the Human Services Technician III by knowledge of public assistance programs administered by the KCDHS as well as extensive knowledge of the SSI program and disabling conditions.

  13. What litigation, if any, has Kern County faced with their SSI advocacy program? The Kern County Advocacyprogram is well respected by our local SSA Office, the disability evaluators in Fresno, the Administrative Law Judges in the Office of Disability Adjudication and Review in various cities and states, and the many physicians who are involved in helping these participants. In short, there has not been any litigation.

  14. QUESTIONS? Call or email questions to: Tony Lopez (661) 631-6105 lopezt@co.kern.ca.us

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