General Relief

The Temporary Covid-19 Guidelines are Ending for General Relief

WHAT IS THE CHANGE?

During the federal Public Health Emergency, Marin was able to extend General Relief eligibility beyond the six-months annual limit: On May 11, 2023, the Public Health Emergency will end.

Beginning, June 1, 2023, the temporary extension will no longer be available for recipients. Individuals already receiving General Relief for six-months or longer may experience a disruption in benefits due to this change. See below for more information.

WHAT TO EXPECT?

• Beginning June 1, 2023, new applicants will be eligible to receive six-months of benefits, based on meeting the standard General Relief eligibility requirements.
• Beginning June 1, 2023, recipients will be notified the annual six-month time limit waiver has ended.
• Beginning July 1, 2023, recipients will need to submit verification that they meet the disability exemptions to continue eligibility for General Relief.  See the Employability Assessment form (GR 61) for instructions for exemptions.
• Effective August 31, 2023, recipients who do not meet the disability exemptions and have received six-months or more benefits, will be discontinued from the General Relief program.
• Effective September 1, 2023, recipients who do not meet the disability exemptions and have received less than six-months of benefits, will remain eligible for benefits until they do not meet eligibility criteria or six-months from their beginning date of aid, whichever is first.
• Recipients discontinued from the General Relief program will be eligible to reapply six months after benefits end or when verification of a disability exemption is obtained.

WHY THE CHANGE?

The temporary extended benefits for General Relief were granted during the COVID-19 pandemic but county regulation requires that these temporary changes end when the federal public health emergency is lifted.