On November 18, 2024, your UPE team met with the County to discuss providing social workers in PA/PG/PC that marshal estate assets, with new identification cards to have better access to banking institutions.
The Department stated that they want staff, in addition to their badge and business cards, to carry an identification card that includes the employee name, degree, employee identification number, job title, work address, date of birth, hair and eye color, and signature. The rationale behind this is that it should “assist staff in performing their duties with fewer challenges in the marshaling of assets and funds.” This identification card would be issued annually. Per the Department, this is considered the best practice recommendation by the California State Association of PA/PG/PC.
While UPE did not see any impact on staff carrying the identification cards, the team did take issue with the staff person’s date of birth (DOB) being on the card. UPE argued that a person’s date of birth is protected personal information and is not necessary for banks in a professional capacity. The solution offered was, instead, to use a date of issuance. The team also informed the Department that even if staff carry this identification card, the issue remains that when banks input information, they are looking for an alpha-numerical sequence (similar to DL/ID/passport number) to use.
UPE and the Department agreed to remove the DOB and implement a trial run of the new identification cards for six (6) months, starting December 1, 2024. After such time, UPE and the Department will reconvene on whether or not the identification cards assisted in the marshaling of estate assets.
Thank you, Deanna Green, Sarah Singleton and Alejandra Villa, for your advocacy!
