The SSI/SSP program
provides cash assistance to low income persons who are elderly,
disabled, or blind.
The caseload leveled off in the mid-1990s, in part because
of federal law changes that restricted eligibility for disabled children
and certain noncitizens. Subsequent to these changes, caseload
growth has remained steady at about 2 percent per year.
In addition, about 11,000 recipients participated in the
state-only program for certain legal noncitizens (created in 1998).
CalWORKs Caseload Decline Continues
Cases in Thousands
After peaking in 1994-95,
the caseload declined 46 percent through 2001-02. We project a further decline of
about 3 percent in 2002-03.
The caseload decline resulted from a combination
of demographic trends (such as birth rates for young women),
the economic expansion, and full implementation of
California's welfare reform.
From Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 1996 through FFY 2001, the
U.S. caseload declined by 53 percent, compared to 47 percent
in California.
SSI/SSP Grant Is Just Above Poverty Level . . .
. . .While CalWORKs Grant Is Significantly Below Poverty Level
Child Support Collections Rising but Cost-Effectiveness Lags Nation
Child support collections
for assistance (CalWORKs) and nonassistance families
have increased steadily each year, from $1.1 billion in 1995-96
to $2.1 billion in 2001-02.
State savings in CalWORKs grants due to the collection of child
support increased from approximately $249 million in 1995-96
to $334 million General Fund in 2001-02.
California collects between $2 and $3 in child support
payments for each dollar spent on program administration. By
comparison, the 2000 national average was over $4 collected for each
dollar spent.
Foster Care Caseload Declined In Recent Years
The total foster care
population grew steadily throughout the 1990s, from about 44,000 in
1988 to about 94,000 in 1998. Since then, the caseload has
declined over 15 percent, to 79,000.
The decline in the foster care caseload is primarily due to
two factors: (1) the advent of the Kinship Guardianship
Assistance Payment (Kin-GAP) Program which allows children to exit
the foster care system to relative caregivers and (2) an increase
in the number of adoptions of foster children.
IHSS Cost Increases Have Outpaced Caseload Growth
The In-Home Supportive
Services (IHSS) program provides various services to eligible aged,
blind, and disabled persons who are unable to remain safely in
their homes without such assistance.
Since 1996-97, the cost per person served has increased
by 62 percent, while the caseload has risen by 50 percent.
Wage increases—both discretionary and those
mandated by minimum wage increases—are a major contributing factor
to the cost increases.
