Domestic Abuse Exemption/Extender

60-Month Time Limit

Exemption

Active CalWORKs clients approved for a DA exemption will not have their TOA counted against their CalWORKs 60-month time limit.

Extender

Previous CalWORKs clients who have been aided as adults for 60 cumulative months may receive CalWORKs beyond the 60-month time limit when the client is a victim or a survivor of past or present DA, , and it is determined that the abuse has significantly impaired the client’s ability to participate in self-sufficiency activities. Individuals may qualify for an extender at any time after being discontinued.

The TOA extender begins:

For a Safety Net case, the first of the month, following the month verification is received, or the first of the following payment period if it results in a grant decrease. Refer to Adding Persons to the AU and Beginning Date of Aid.
The date of re-application for a family applying for cash aid, or the date verification is provided, whichever is later.

Refer to Chapter 43 Time Limits for more detailed information regarding TOA exemptions/extenders.

Coding TOA Exemptions in CalSAWS

An individual approved for a TOA exemption/extender due to DA is also exempt from WTW participation.

To record the DA exemption/extender correctly in CalSAWS, the EW must take the following actions prior to running EDBC/authorizing results:

DA Exemption

Adds the case flag "Domestic Abuse" and enters an end-date 30 days out.

DA Extender

For AEC/EC actions, refer to CWES Handbook Welfare-to-Work (WTW) Waiver Time Frames.

TOA Exemption Priority

The DA exemption takes precedence over all other exemptions.

When a DA waiver/exemption expires and will not be extended, the EW must review the case for any other exemption for which the client may qualify. If the client does not meet any other exemption criteria, EDBC must be run, since the client is a mandatory registrant.

Reminder: The DA exemption stops the 60-month CalWORKs clock, and the clock status on the Cash Aid Time Limit Month List page should display as “Exempt.”