Governor Newsom released his “May Revision” to the 2022-23 proposed budget on May 13, 2022 (https://www.ebudget.ca.gov/budget/2022-23MR/#/BudgetDetail). The revised budget proposal is constructed around the projected revenue and deficits in the current year and the 2022-23 budget year. The projected $97.5 billion budget surplus is an unprecedented high, and the governor wishes to allocate nearly all of the surplus to one-time funding of new and existing programs. The state’s budget is always an indication of the priorities of the state and these funds say a lot about our direction as a state.

drc continues to advocate with the knowledge that the COVID-19 pandemic is still raging throughout our state and the disability community.  We have stressed the fact that COVID is NOT over, and that it is important for the state to prioritize disabled people as we try to make sure that everyone in the state is healthy.

This year, Governor Newsom, “Big City Mayors” and the California Legislature have prioritized the Community Assistance Recovery Empowerment (CARE) Court framework. The framework essentially creates a new civil court system that will determine if individuals with schizophrenia and other psychosis disabilities need to engage in a CARE plan, which could include forced treatment options.

drc has been a part of a coalition that is strongly opposed to this framework in SB 1338 (Umberg), the bill that is in the legislative process and any budget funding dedicated to these efforts. drc and other advocates believe that this proposal would be a violation of disability rights, civil rights and human rights of people with mental health disabilities, who are unhoused. This proposal will disproportionately impact Black, Indigenous and other People of Color as well as people in the LGBTQIA+ communities. With these ongoing efforts, drc is part of the fight to point out that this framework could cost hundreds of millions of dollars without much structure or an end game that makes any sense.

Other policies that drc is advocating on in the budget process include issues impacting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities like rate reform and fair hearing reform funding. There will be a significant amount of funding directed to emergency response from the state, which includes the potential impact of wildfires in the state that impact all people in the state in a number of ways. Finally, education funding is going to be crucial for students with disabilities who are living in the COVID-19 pandemic, as students return to in person school.

The following are some of the key items in the proposed Budget impacting persons with disabilities and the programs that assist them:

• Aging
• Department of Developmental Services (DDS)
• Department of State Hospitals
• Diversity in State Employment
• Education
• Emergency Response
• Health and Human Services
• Homelessness and Housing
• In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
• Mental Health
• Public Safety
• Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Program

Aging

Masterplan on Aging

SUPPORT FOR AGING AND COMMUNITY LIVING

The May Revision includes $36.3 million General Fund in 2022-23 and ongoing funding to continue the implementation of the Master Plan for Aging. The May Revision proposes investments in the following programs to further support home and community living:

• Community Living Fund – $10 million one-time General Fund available for three years for the Community Living Fund, administered by the Department of Rehabilitation, which will assist non-Medi-Cal eligible older adults and persons with disabilities, including older adults, in transitioning from nursing homes to independent living.
• Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Infrastructure Planning and Development – $4 million one-time General Fund to develop a statewide roadmap for the Department of Aging, in partnership with the Department of Health Care Services, and to support the development of home and community-based services for individuals regardless of income in underserved areas.
• Caregiver Resource Centers – The May Revision transfers $14.9 million ongoing General Fund and oversight of California’s Caregiver Resource Center program from the Department of Health Care Services to the Department of Aging and includes an additional $545,000 ongoing General Fund for statewide training and technical assistance. California’s 11 Caregiver Resource Centers provide critical services to family caregivers including counseling, training, care planning, and respite.
• Long-Term Care Ombudsman Outreach Campaign – $3.5 million one-time General Fund to support a Long-Term Care Ombudsman outreach campaign to raise awareness of the resources available to residents and families in skilled nursing, assisted living, and other residential facilities.
• Aging and Disability Institute of Learning and Innovation – $682,000 ongoing General Fund to establish the Aging and Disability Institute of Learning and Innovation (Institute), which will develop a comprehensive adult learning management system to support local network leaders, home and community care providers, volunteers, and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman. The Institute will create a platform to develop content and improve training to further quality, efficiency, and access to services for older adults.
• Emergency Preparedness and Response – $400,000 ongoing General Fund to develop strategies, tools, and resources to help older adults, individuals with disabilities, family caregivers, and local partners prepare for and respond to state emergencies and natural disasters.

Nursing Home Care

The May Revision proposes to reform the funding framework for nursing facilities to better incentivize value, quality, and workforce. Building on the average 4-percent annual increase proposed in the Governor’s Budget, the May Revision includes $280 million ($132.7 million General Fund) for the new Workforce and Quality Incentive Program for payment to facilities that meet quality benchmarks or make substantial improvements. A long-term funding framework that assures the long-term financial viability of these vital Medi-Cal providers is predicated on enabling nursing facilities to invest in quality patient care, improving workforce retention, and empowering the voices of essential workers responsible for the health and safety of nursing home residents.

Department of Developmental Services (DDS)

The May Revision proposes a major investment in workforce development for the purposes of recruiting and retaining regional center service coordinators and direct support professionals (DSPs).

• Training Stipends—$127.8 million to provide up to two $500 training stipends (with an additional $150 for taxes and administration) for DSPs.
• Internships for Workers who Provide Direct Services—$22.5 million to implement a three-month training and internship program intended to establish an entry point into DSP career paths. This proposal also includes up to two $500 retention stipends for workers.
• Tuition Reimbursement Program—$30 million to establish a tuition reimbursement program for regional center service coordinators pursuing advanced degrees in health and human services-related fields.

Other significant new investments in the May Revision include:

• Service Access and Equity Grant Program— A one-time increase of $11 million General Fund 2022-23 to increase the resources currently available for DDS to award to regional centers and community-based organizations through its Service Access and Equity Grant Program, which focuses on addressing disparities in regional center services.  This would double the amount of previous annual grant funding from $11 million to $22 million in 2022-23.
• Financial Management Services for Self-Determination Program Participants—$7.2 million ongoing ($4.4 million General Fund) to support participants in the Self-Determination Program by amending statute to move the cost of Financial Management Services out of their individual budgets.
• Pilot for Remote Supports—$5 million to pilot a program aimed at developing remote supports using technology systems to increase consumer independence and, when chosen and safe, reduce in-person and around-the-clock services.

Early Start

The May Revision includes $6.5 million General Fund in 2022-23, increasing to $29.5 million General Fund in 2024-25, to support identifying children with signs of developmental delays. The budget revises the Early Start qualification threshold from a 33 percent delay to a 25 percent delay in one of the specified assessment areas, separates communication delay assessments into expressive and receptive categories; and deems Fetal Alcohol Syndrome as a risk factor for intellectual and/or developmental delays.

$11 million General Fund one-time funding is proposed to increase the resources currently available for DDS to award to regional centers and community-based organizations which supports strategies to reduce disparities and increase equity in regional center services.

The May Revision proposes $7.2 million ongoing ($4.4 million General Fund) to support participants in the Self-Determination Program by amending statute to move the cost of Financial Management Services out of their individual budgets.

Department of State Hospitals (DSH)

The May Revision adds $608 million, a 24% increase over the January budget. $489 million (19%) of this amount is funding previously approved for implementation of the Incompetent to Stand Trial (IST) Solutions program.

Incompetent to Stand Trial

The growth in the number of people found incompetent to stand trial (IST) continues to grow, and as of the end of April 2022, there were 1,915 individuals deemed IST pending placement, up from 1,700 when the January budget was released.

Proposed solutions in the May Revision include additional funding for county sheriffs for custody supports, additional funding for county overhead required to serve DSH identified populations for a minimum of 30 years, increased funding for discharge planning and coordination with county behavioral health departments, and improvements to evaluations for determinations and decisions regarding medications.   

Equity and Practice Transformation Payments

The May Revision also includes $100 million (one-time) for Los Angeles County community-based treatment and housing for individuals found incompetent to stand trial for misdemeanor charges.

Diversity in State Employment

The Governor’s January proposal aimed to provide 43 permanent positions and $7.6 million ($6.3 million General Fund) in 202223 and $6.8 million ($5.5 million General Fund) ongoing for the Department of Human Resources (CalHR) to implement specific proposals recommended by a taskforce established by the Governor aimed at finding ways to make the state a better employer. These proposals include reducing barriers to state employment for people with disabilities. The May Revision does not provide additional funding to this effort.

Education

Pre-K

The May Revision increases funding to the State Preschool Program for students with disabilities and dual language learners from $197.8 million Proposition 98 General Fund and $110.6 million General Fund to $201.8 million Proposition 98 General Fund and $140.6 million General Fund, respectively.

The Governor’s updated budget also calls for $10.8 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund and $10.8 million one-time non-Proposition 98 General Fund to waive the family share of cost for children participating in the State Preschool Program.

K-12 Education

At May Revision, the 2022-23 cost-of-living adjustment is updated to 6.56 percent, now the largest cost-of-living adjustment in the history of Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). Additionally, to help local educational agencies address ongoing fiscal pressures, staffing shortages, and other operational needs, the May Revision includes $2.1 billion ongoing Proposition 98 General Fund to increase LCFF base funding.

• Early Literacy
  An increase of $15 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund over three years to support 6,000 teachers in completing the coursework necessary to receive a supplementary state certification in reading and literacy.
• Afterschool Programs
  The 2021 Budget Act included $3 billion Proposition 98 General Fund, available over several years, to expand and strengthen the implementation and use of the community school model to all schools in communities with high levels of poverty. This investment supports a whole-child framework for school transformation to guide local educational agencies in planning and implementing other recent state investments in universal nutrition, before/after school and summer school enrichment and care, universal transitional kindergarten, behavioral health supports, and other similar initiatives.
• Dyslexia Screening
  The May Revision does not add to the prior investments in dyslexia training tools but stated the University of California San Francisco is creating a dyslexia screening tool that is appropriate for students from diverse language backgrounds. Once these tools have been validated, it is the Governor’s intent that all California educators have access to them.
• Modernizing Schools
  The May Revision increases funding for school modernization by $1.8 billion General Fund, allocating $2.2 billion one-time General Fund in 2021-22, $1.2 billion one-time General Fund in 2023-24, and $625 million one-time General Fund in 2024-25 to support new construction and modernization projects through the School Facility Program.
• Special Education
  $15 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund, available over three years for teacher development in the fields of special education and support for English Learners.

Higher Education

• California State University
  The May Revision provides an increase of $1.5 million General Fund to support First Star Foster Youth Cohorts at CSU East Bay and CSU Northridge.
• California Community Colleges
  The May Revision continues funding of the Governor’s multi-year framework for higher education which seeks to expand access to college and eliminate equity gaps for underrepresented and disabled students.

Emergency Response

Energy

The May Revision allocates $8 billion over five years to increase the state's energy system reliability and provide consumers with relief from rising electricity rates. This is in addition to the $2 billion allocated in the Governor's January Budget to provide incentives for long-duration-storage projects, renewable hydrogen, and industrial grid support and decarbonization projects.

Wildfire

The Governor's Budget proposed significant new enhancements to continue building forest and wildfire resilience statewide and expanded the state's wildfire response capacity. The May Revision builds on these efforts with additional funding to support expanded fire crews and air attack operations. The Administration also continues to work with firefighter associations on additional proposals that would appropriately staff CAL FIRE to meet the demands of wildland firefighting in a changing climate.

Health and Human Services

COVID-19

The May Revision proposes $176.5 million ($71.2 million General Fund) to permanently extend four flexibilities: (1) separate payments to Federally Qualified Health Centers for COVID-19 vaccinations; (2) presumptive eligibility for older adults and individuals with disabilities; (3) reimbursement rate at 100-percent of Medicare for oxygen and respiratory durable medical equipment; and (4) maintain 10 percent rates for Intermediate Care Facilities for the Developmentally Disabled. Many of the proposed changes have been developed in collaboration with stakeholders, and some were already included in the Governor’s Budget.

The May Revision continues to include $146 million ($73 million General Fund) over two fiscal years for additional county workload costs to support Medi-Cal eligibility determinations. Based on the evolving conditions of the virus, the state will be prepared to use the following different strategies in more precise and targeted ways, integrating new innovations and information to protect the state. The main points of the SMARTER plan are as follows:

• Shots—Vaccines are the most powerful weapon against hospitalization and serious illness.
• Masks—Properly worn masks with good filtration help slow the spread of COVID-19 or other respiratory viruses.
• Awareness—The state will continue to stay aware of how COVID-19 is spreading and of evolving variants. The state will communicate clearly how people should protect themselves and coordinate state and local government response.
• Readiness—COVID-19 isn’t going away and the state needs to be ready with the tools, resources, and supplies needed to quickly respond and keep public health and the health care system well prepared.
• Testing—Getting the right type of tests—PCR or antigen—to where they are needed most. Testing will help California minimize the spread of COVID-19.
• Education—California will continue to work to keep schools open and children safely in classrooms for in-person instruction.
• Rx—Evolving and improving treatments will become increasingly available and critical as a tool to save lives.

In order to implement the SMARTER Plan, the May Revision includes:

• Staffing—$100 million for medical surge staffing in 2022-23 to allow CDPH to support upfront staffing costs for facilities needing additional staff during COVID-19 surges, until facilities can be invoiced and reimburse the state for such costs. Effective April 1, 2022, facilities are required to reimburse the state for deployed staff. Additionally, the May Revision includes $40 million in resources for vaccine staff in 2022-23 to prepare for the release of vaccines for children under five, continue second boosters for eligible populations, and increase staffing capacity at pediatric sites.
• Testing—$530 million in 2022-23 to purchase additional antigen test kits, support school testing with end-to-end vendors and laboratory network costs, and continue rapid testing and treatment sites.
• Vaccines—$93 million in 2022-23 for expanded programming prioritizing vaccination of children under 5, additional boosters for eligible populations over 50 or otherwise at higher risk, and mobile vaccination sites through the end of budget year. In addition, $230 million is for the Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications to continue supporting COVID-19 vaccine-related public education and outreach campaigns previously implemented by CDPH. Of this amount, $130 million was included for CDPH in the Governor’s Budget and will be transferred to the Office at the May Revision.
• Enhanced Surveillance—$16 million in 2022-23 to continue activities to that allow tracking and monitoring of transmission of COVID-19 through wastewater surveillance, epidemiologic data analysis, modeling of future data trends, and research on the long-term impacts of COVID-19.
• Test to Treat Therapeutics—$158 million in 2022-23 to implement a Test-to-Treat Program for therapeutic treatment targeted at uninsured and underinsured populations.
• Border Operations—$468 million for border operations that will continue the state’s COVID-19 response and humanitarian assistance at the southern border including in anticipation of increased arrivals and the need for additional support services. California’s national model of care and community partnership provides COVID-19 testing and vaccine services, support services, and temporary shelter for migrants so they may safely continue with their immigration proceedings after their release from short-term federal immigration custody. The California model prioritizes the state's border communities and the wellbeing of migrants.
• Operations Support—$183 million for the COVID-19 call center, contractor support and contract costs, and the Public Health Reserve Corps.
• Emergency Contingency Funds—$250 million to support unanticipated COVID-19 emergency response needs.

Other Significant Adjustments:

• Sickle Cell—$5 million for the Networking California Sickle Cell Care Initiative.
• LGBTQ+ Youth—$5 million for grants to counties and experienced community-based organizations to partner to improve capacity, training, and culturally responsive care to the unique needs and protections of LGBTQ+ youth.

Medi-Cal

The Medi-Cal budget is $121.9billion ($25.1billion General Fund) in 2021-22 and $135.5 billion ($36.6 billion General Fund) in 2022-23. The May Revision assumes that caseload will increase by approximately 6.6 percent from 2020-21 to 2021-22 and increase by 0.6 percent from 2021-22 to 2022-23. Medi-Cal is projected to cover approximately 14.5 million Californians in 2022-23, over one-third of the state’s population.

To maximize continuity of coverage for Medi-Cal beneficiaries, the Administration has prepared for the resumption of redeterminations through the following proposals:

• Health Enrollment Navigators Project—The May Revision includes $60 million ($30 million General Fund), available over four years, to continue the Health Enrollment Navigators Project. Health enrollment navigators help eligible beneficiaries retain Medi-Cal coverage by assisting with annual renewals, reporting updated contact information, and engaging in outreach regarding application assistance and enrollment. Health enrollment navigators will also provide more targeted outreach and enrollment to support individuals newly eligible for Medi-Cal through coverage expansions, such as the expansion for all income-eligible Californians regardless of immigration status.
• Coverage Ambassadors—DHCS is enlisting counties, CBOs, state and local government partners, Medi-Cal managed care plans, providers, and others to be Coverage Ambassadors to amplify messaging on various platforms related to the continuity of coverage for beneficiaries in preparation for the end of the PHE.
• Media and Outreach Campaign—An April 1 Budget proposal included $25 million ($12.5 million General Fund) for a media and outreach campaign to encourage beneficiaries to update their contact information with their counties, and to educate beneficiaries of the implications of their eligibility once the COVID-19 PHE ends.
• Transitions to Covered California—DHCS and Covered California are actively working to implement Chapter 845, Statutes of 2019 (SB 260) to support a seamless transition of eligible individuals from Medi-Cal coverage to a Covered California health plan.

Homelessness and Housing

In total, the Budget adds another $500 million to the $1.5 billion for housing production and makes unspecified additional spending to homelessness services, with the Governor’s focus being on the establishment of coerced treatment through his CARE Court model.

Project Homekey

The May Revision proposes an additional $150 million in the current year, for a total of $2.9 billion in Homekey funding over two years. The May Revision also includes $500 million over two years to house unsheltered individuals on state-owned land through grants to local governments for interim housing and site preparation.

Encampments

The Governor’s Budget included $2 billion General Fund to expand access to housing for individuals with complex behavioral health needs and grants to local governments to address encampments. The May Revision does not specify additional funding to this effort, except for the CARE Court proposal.

Utility and Rent Relief

The May Revision includes funding of $1.2 billion to reduce or eliminate past due energy bill balances accrued by customers economically impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The May Revision includes $2.7 billion one-time General Fund in the current year for rental assistance through state and local programs established during the height of the pandemic

In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)

The May Revision includes $19 billion ($6.5 billion General Fund) for the IHSS program in 2022-23. Average monthly caseload in this program is estimated to be 601,000 recipients in 2022-23.

IHSS Permanent Back-up Provider System – $34.4 million ($15.4 million General Fund) ongoing to establish a permanent back-up provider system for IHSS recipients to avoid disruptions to caregiving due to an immediate need or emergency. A portion of the funding is for transition activities and will allow counties to maintain existing emergency back-up provider services until October 2022 when the permanent system is implemented.

Mental Health

CARE (Community Assistance Recovery and Empowerment) Court

In March of this year, the Governor released a framework for CARE Court, a court-ordered mental health treatment program. The Governor’s proposal is contained in a bill (SB 1338 (Umberg and Eggman)) and the May Revision includes the following funding specifically for CARE Court:

• Supporter Program—$10 million General Fund ongoing to the Department of Aging for the CARE Court Supporter Program to help the participant understand, consider, and communicate decisions by providing the tools to make self-directed choices to the greatest extent possible.
• Training and Technical Assistance—$15.2 million General Fund in 2022-23, $1.1 million General Fund annually between 2023-24 and 2026-27, and $1.3 million General Fund annually ongoing for the Department of Health Care Services to provide training and technical assistance to counties, data collection, and evaluation.
• Judicial Branch—$39.5 million General Fund in 2022-23 and $37.7 million ongoing for the Judicial Branch to conduct CARE Court hearings and provide resources for self-help centers.

There is no new funding specified for treatment services, but the May Revision states, “[t]he Administration continues to work with counties to estimate costs associated with this new court process.”

Opioid Response

The May Revision adds $41.8 million from Opioid Settlement Funds:

• Workforce Training - $29.1 million for substance use disorder provider workforce training at the Department of Health Care Services, bringing the program total to $51.1 million.
• Naloxone - $10 million for the naloxone distribution project targeting unhoused populations, for a total of $15 million for this program.
• Public Awareness - $2.7 million for a public awareness campaign targeted towards youth opioid education and awareness and fentanyl risk education at the Department of Public Health for a total of $40.8 million.

Children’s Behavioral Health

The May Revision includes an additional $290 million over three years for suicide prevention and wellness programs:

• $40 million General Fund to develop and implement a data-driven targeted community-based youth suicide prevention program for youth at increased risk of suicide such as Black, Native American, Hispanic, and foster youth.
• $50 million to provide grants to pilot school and community-based crisis response and supports following a youth suicide or youth suicide attempt and pilot a new approach of designating youth suicide and youth suicide attempts as a reportable public health event.
• $85 million over two years for grants for wellness and mindfulness programs in schools and communities and expansion of parent support and training programs.
• $15 million to develop and distribute a video series for parents to build their knowledge, tools and capacity to support the behavioral health of their children.
• $25 million to identify and support the early career development of 2,500 highly talented and culturally diverse high school students interested in mental health careers.
• $75 million for next generation digital supports for remote and metaverse based mental health assessment and intervention.

Public Safety

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)

The Governor's proposed Budget includes total funding of $13.9 billion for CDCR in 2022-23.

COVID-19 Update

Active COVID-19 cases have declined significantly statewide since the peak of the Omicron surge in January, when CDCR reported 6,375 active incarcerated adult COVID-19 cases and 5,113 active staff cases. As of May, CDCR was tracking just 352 active incarcerated adult and 304 active staff cases, allowing CDCR to return to normal operations in nearly all of its facilities consistent with its Roadmap to Reopening, while continuing to monitor for and respond to outbreaks.

In light of improvements in the containment of COVID-19 and refined projections, the May Revision includes a total of $240.1 million for COVID-19 prevention and response activities, a decrease of $184.6 million compared to the Governor’s Budget. These resources will enable CDCR to continue taking proactive measures and precautions to protect the incarcerated population and staff, which include testing, utilizing masks and other personal protective equipment, and providing extra cleaning and sanitation services.

Prison Capacity and Closure

The adult prison population has steadily declined over many years, which presented opportunities for CDCR to eliminate its reliance on contract prison capacity. CDCR terminated its final remaining contract to house incarcerated persons out-of-state in June 2019. CDCR terminated its final in-state contract correctional facility in May 2021. In total, the termination of these contracts has saved the state hundreds of millions of dollars in annual expenditures. Consistent with the 2021 Budget Act, the Department closed Deuel Vocational Institution in Tracy in September 2021, achieving savings of $150.3 million General Fund annually beginning in 2022-23.

California has announced that the state intends to close a second prison, the California Corrections Center (CCC) in Susanville and the minimum security portions of the California Corrections Institution and the California Training Facility (CTF). In September of 2021, CDCR closed 567 and 500 minimum security beds at CCI and CTF respectively. The estimated savings would be approximately $122 million.

Juvenile Justice

Consistent with Chapter 337, Statutes of 2020 (SB 823), the Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) ceased intake of new youth on July 1, 2021, with limited exceptions. DJJ is scheduled to close on June 30, 2023, pursuant to Chapter 18, Statutes of 2021 (SB 92). The May Revision reflects an estimated average daily population of 641 youth in 202122 and 430 youth in 2022-23, which represents a decrease of 16 and 114 youth in 202122 and 2022-23, respectively, compared to the Governor’s Budget estimates.

The May Revision population-related adjustments reflect a decrease of $6 million General Fund and 32.5 positions in 2021-22, and a decrease of $15.7 million and 95 positions in 202223, as compared to Governor’s Budget estimates. Additionally, the May Revision reflects a decrease of $87.8 million and 554.7 positions in 2023-24 and ongoing in recognition of DJJ’s closure at the end of 2022-23.

Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Program

The federal SSI program provides a monthly cash benefit to individuals with disabilities, including children, and adults aged 65 or older who meet the program’s income and resource requirements. In California, the SSI payment is augmented with an SSP grant. These cash grants help recipients meet their basic needs and living expenses. The federal Social Security Administration administers the SSI/SSP program, making eligibility determinations, computing grants, and issuing combined monthly checks to recipients. The state-only Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) provides monthly cash benefits to aged, blind, and disabled individuals who are ineligible for SSI/SSP due solely to their immigration status. The May Revision includes $3.1 billion General Fund in 2022-23 for the SSI/SSP program. The average monthly caseload in this program is estimated to be 1.1 million recipients in 2022-23. A 5.9-percent federal SSI cost-of-living adjustment and 24-percent SSP increase took effect on January 1, 2022, bringing the maximum SSI/SSP grant levels to $1,040 per month for individuals and $1,766 per month for couples. CAPI benefits are equivalent to SSI/SSP benefits.