Households must report receipt of substantial lottery or gambling winnings within 10 calendar days of receipt of winnings at any time during the certification period. This mid-period reporting requirement is in addition to existing mid-period reporting requirements. This reporting requirement was added in the 2018 Farm Bill, 7 U.S.C. section 2015(s) and implemented by 7 CFR 273.11(r).
Substantial lottery winnings are a cash prize won in a single game, purchase of a ticket, hand, or similar bet, which is equal to or greater than the resource limit for elderly or disabled households, which is currently $4,500. [ACIN I-45-24.] The dollar amount is determined before taxes or other withholding. If a household member shared in the purchase of a ticket, hand, or similar bet, with a non-household member, the total portion of the winnings allocated to the household must be considered when determining whether a household is required to report during the certification period. This reporting requirement applies even if the household immediately spends or loses a substantial portion of the winnings and the remaining winnings are below the resource limit for elderly and disabled households. [ACL 20-132.]
The county must verify the winnings, and if the dollar amount is above the resource limit, must discontinue the entire household based on receipt of the winnings. A household with substantial winnings will remain ineligible until the household’s income and resources do not exceed the resource limit. This applies to all households, including categorically eligible households where all members receive CalWORKs, general assistance, SSI, and households certified under modified categorical eligibility. [Id.]
A household may reapply for CalFresh at any time. The household must not be considered categorically eligible or modified categorical eligible. Counties must apply the CalFresh gross income, net income and resource test. This requirement only applies the first time the household is certified following the loss of eligibility. [Id.]
If the household composition has changed, the household is considered a different household that is treated as any other CalFresh applicant household. [Id.]
Counties must verbally inform all new and existing households of the new substantial lottery and gambling winnings reporting requirement during the initial certification and recertification interview. Counties must inform the household that benefits will be discontinued if the household receives substantial winnings during the certification period. [Id.]
The Income and Eligibility and Verification (IEVS) system now a has match with the California Lottery. The system will provide monthly reports of people who received over the maximum allowable resources for a CalFresh or disabled household. [ACL 24-29.]
When there is a match, counties must review the case information to determine if the household reported the lottery winnings. Case narration is acceptable as a report of lottery winnings. If the winnings have not been reported, the county must send a verification letter to the household within 45 days. If the recipient does not respond to the letter with sufficient information to resolve the discrepancy, the county must discontinue the entire household. A household that is discontinued can reapply at any time, but the household cannot be considered categorically eligible for CalFresh. [Id.]