CA AB1344

Department of Child Support Services and county human services agencies must inform custodial parents or guardians about federal OASDI survivor benefits and Department of Veterans Affairs survivor benefits when a child's parent dies and the child may be eligible.

State Department of Social Services must submit a report to the Legislature by July 1, 2025, on the requirements, costs, and estimated number of California children eligible for a state-funded program to provide cash assistance to children with deceased parents who don't qualify for federal OASDI benefits.

Establishes the California Survivor Benefit (CalSurvivor) Program, a county-administered program providing cash assistance equivalent to federal OASDI survivor benefits for minors whose deceased parent was a California resident and who are ineligible for federal benefits, subject to legislative appropriation.

Authorizes counties to establish advocacy programs to assist CalSurvivor applicants and recipients in applying for federal OASDI survivor benefits and to inform them of how receiving CalSurvivor benefits may affect eligibility for other assistance programs.

Department must report to the Legislature by July 1, 2027, on CalSurvivor Program and advocacy program outcomes, including number of approved cases disaggregated by county.