(a)
Notwithstanding Section 12552, special circumstances shall also include the administration and payment by the department pursuant to this section of a recurring special need allowance to every eligible recipient who has a guide dog, signal dog, or other service dog, to pay for dog food and other costs associated with the dog’s care and maintenance.
(b)
Beginning January 1, 1991, the special need allowance shall be forty dollars ($40) per month. Beginning July 1, 1991, this amount shall be increased to fifty dollars ($50) per month.
(c)
The department shall mail an application for the allowance to each eligible recipient. The application shall be upon a standard form prescribed by regulations of the department and containing a written declaration that the affirmation is made under penalty of perjury subject to prosecution as the crime of perjury under the Penal Code. The recipient or, if the recipient is incapable, another person as described in Section 11054 may make the affirmation. The department shall grant the special need allowance upon the basis of the affirmation by mailing a monthly warrant in the amount indicated in subdivision (b) to the recipient.
(d)
The county welfare department shall cooperate in assisting the recipient in completing his or her application for the special need allowance authorized by this section.
(e)
For purposes of this section, “eligible recipient” means any blind or disabled recipient of either or both of the following benefits:
(1)
Federal supplemental security income benefits provided pursuant to Subchapter 16 (commencing with Section 1381) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code.
(2)
Benefits provided under the State Supplementary Program pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12000).