Family Reunification Program Overview

Background

CalWORKs Family Reunification (FR) is a program that provides for the continuation of CalWORKs cash aid and/or services for the parents of children who have been removed from the home and are receiving out-of-home care.

CalWORKs services include Welfare-to-Work (WTW) activities, such as mental health and substance abuse treatment, or any other activities allowable under CalWORKs, including supportive services.

There are two distinct CalWORKs FR processes based on different Assembly Bills (ABs):

AB 135 also increased the allowable temporary absence period for CalWORKs FR from "up to 180 calendar days" to "up to six full months", not counting the initial temporary absence period. During this time, the children in foster care may return home for trial visits while the family continues to receive support and services through FR.

ExampleExample If CalWORKs FR cash aid and services are placed into effect March 1, 2025, and set to end August 31, 2025, that totals 182 calendar days, exceeding 180 calendar days but totaling a full six-month period.

Note: Refer to Chewable Byte 23-59: How to Process Family Reunification Case for CalSAWS entries.

FR Eligibility

All participants who were members of the CalWORKs family when the CalWORKs-eligible child(ren) was removed from the home are eligible for the CalWORKs cash aid, child care, and/or reunification services for up to six full months when all of the following conditions apply:

  1. All CalWORKs-eligible children were removed from the home and temporarily placed in out-of-home care by the Department of Family and Children's Services (DFCS) or a court.
    1. For the purposes of CalWORKs FR eligibility, “all CalWORKs-eligible children were removed from the home” includes families in which a parent is either receiving aid as a Pregnant Person Only (PPO) Assistance Unit (AU) or receiving aid as an existing CalWORKs FR family and a newborn is removed from the home.
    2. “Out-of-home care” is any placement of the child(ren) after removal and is designed to protect children who cannot safely remain in their home with their parent, legal guardian, or Indian custodian due to abuse or neglect. The Social Worker (SW) must consider non-custodial parents, relatives, and extended family members first for out-of-home placement.
  2. The family was receiving CalWORKs cash aid when all CalWORKs-eligible children were removed from the home.
    1. At least one parent or needy caretaker relative must have been aided at the time of the child(ren)’s removal to be eligible for CalWORKs FR cash aid, child care, and/or reunification services. There is an exception for AUs that have a parent with a Welfare-to-Work (WTW) sanction (see third bullet).
    2. Unaided parents/caretaker relatives, such as the list below, are not eligible to receive CalWORKs FR cash aid or services for themselves or their child(ren) because they are not eligible for cash aid, unless the parent is a WTW-sanctioned parent.
      1. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) participants,
      2. Ineligible noncitizens,
      3. Non-needy caretaker relatives,
      4. Timed-out parents who do not qualify for a Time on Aid (TOA) exception or extender.
    3. WTW-sanctioned parents may participate in CalWORKs FR services. Sanctioned parents are not eligible for cash aid under CalWORKs FR until the sanction has ended and the parent has been added back to the family. Children in an FR plan will remain eligible for cash aid even if the adults are in WTW sanction status.
  3. DFCS or a court has determined that CalWORKs FR cash aid, child care, and/or services are necessary for reunification, and a reunification plan is in effect or being developed.

    1. Note: An email from Foster Care DEBS Triage stating that a child(ren) has been placed in Foster Care does NOT mean that FR cash aid, child care, and/or services are recommended. The FR recommendation must come from DFCS (by a SW documenting in the DFCS case plan that the goal is family reunification and that cash aid and/or services assist in meeting this goal) or a court.

If at least one CalWORKs-eligible child remains in the home, but the remaining AU members become ineligible for a cash grant following the removal of one or more children, the parents and children remaining in the home may also become an FR family, when a reunification plan is authorized for the child(ren) who was removed. Establishing a reunification plan may be necessary in this situation in order to provide FR services only through AB 429 when the remaining AU members would be otherwise ineligible for CalWORKs.

Important: A court-ordered reunification plan is not necessary for the family to be transitioned to a CalWORKs FR aid code and start receiving cash aid and/or services.

Existing Penalties

Families with existing immunization, school attendance, and child support penalties are eligible for CalWORKs FR cash aid and/or services if they meet the FR eligibility criteria.

  • The immunization penalty will remain on the CalWORKs grant until the family completes the action necessary to remove those penalties. Eligibility Workers (EWs) should provide families in FR with the Immunization Good Cause Request Form (CW 2209) and evaluate for good cause since parents in FR do not have custody of the children. If good cause is granted, the penalty will be removed from the CalWORKs grant while the family is in FR. 
  • CalWORKs FR families are exempt from school attendance penalties when a member of the family is cooperating with a plan developed by DFCS.
  • EWs should evaluate if the family is eligible for a good cause exemption for not cooperating with the Local Child Support Agency (LCSA) and complete the Child Support - Good Cause Claim for Noncooperation (CW 51) for the family, if applicable.

No FR Eligibility

There is no FR eligibility in the following scenarios:

  • If no parent was aided at the time of the child(ren)’s removal from the home, the family is not eligible for any reunification services or cash aid.

    • Exception: When the parent(s) is WTW-sanctioned, the reunification parent(s) may be eligible for reunification services only, if DFCS or a court has determined that such services are necessary for reunification. If both parents are sanctioned, they are not eligible for FR cash aid until their sanction is cured. In a two-parent AU, if one parent is WTW-sanctioned and the other is not, the non-sanctioned parent and the child(ren) who was removed would be eligible for cash aid and reunification services, if DFCS or a court has determined they are necessary for reunification.

  • If at least one CalWORKs-eligible child remains in the home, and the parent(s) remains financially eligible for a CalWORKs cash grant, the parent is not a reunification parent, and the family is not a reunification family. The child(ren) that was placed in out-of-home care must be removed from the AU once the child(ren) is no longer considered only temporarily absent, and the remaining eligible AU members will continue to receive their CalWORKs grant and services and be subject to all CalWORKs eligibility and WTW requirements.
  • If all children are removed and DFCS or a court does not recommend reunification, the family is not eligible for any reunification services or cash aid, and the case must be discontinued at the end of the 30-day initial temporary absence period.

Case Status and Aid Codes

In a CalWORKs FR case, the eligible child(ren) is considered temporarily absent from the home and the CalWORKs case remains open with an aid code of 4P or 4R. These aid codes are applicable for both AB 135 and AB 429 cases.

4P CalWORKs FR - All Other Families

Aid code 4P provides for approval of a FR cash grant for up to six full months and/or WTW services for the duration of the reunification plan, to all families, except two-parent families, when all eligible child(ren) has been removed from a CalWORKs home by DFCS or a court and is placed into out-of-home care, and DFCS or a court has determined that a cash grant and/or services is necessary for FR.

4R CalWORKs FR - Two-Parent Families

Aid code 4R provides for approval of a FR cash grant for up to six full months and/or WTW services for the duration of the reunification plan, for two-parent families when all eligible child(ren) has been removed from a CalWORKs home by DFCS or a court and is placed into out-of-home care, and DFCS or a court has determined that a cash grant and/or services is necessary for FR.

Note: All WTW services, including supportive services and child care services, as well as the once every 12 months Temporary Homeless Assistance (THA) special needs payment, are covered by aid codes 4P and 4R.

Initial Temporary Absence Period

The EW must not immediately discontinue the CalWORKs case when all CalWORKs-eligible child(ren) are removed from the home by DFCS or a court. The child(ren) must be considered temporarily absent for one full calendar month (from the first of the month through the last day of the month), even though a reunification plan has not been established yet.

During this time, DFCS or a court should determine whether the continuation of a CalWORKs cash grant and/or services to the AU is necessary for the family to reunify, develop a reunification plan, and immediately notify the EW when a reunification plan has been established.

Note: If the child(ren) has been absent for the entire month of February, the calendar month is not completed until they have been absent for 30 days.

Transition to FR

If the family is recommended for FR cash aid and/or services, the EW will transition the family to a CalWORKS FR aid code after the one full calendar month of initial temporary absence period has ended.

In both examples below, CalWORKs FR cash aid and services were recommended by DFCS or a court within the initial temporary absence period.

Example #1: Children Removed in JanuaryExample #1: Children Removed in January

Example #2: Children Removed in Any Other MonthExample #2: Children Removed in Any Other Month

Reducing the AU Size

If there is a CalWORKs-eligible child(ren) in the AU after the full month of initial temporary absence ends (such as a child returning to the home), the EW must take mid-period county-initiated action, reduce the AU size to reflect any other child(ren)’s removal, and issue a Change Notice of Action (NOA). The family members who remain in the AU will continue to receive CalWORKs as long as they remain eligible.

Pregnant Person Only (PPO)

For PPO cases, when the newborn is removed at birth by DFCS, the case will remain open during the initial temporary absence period. If DFCS or a court does not provide a recommendation for CalWORKs FR by the end of the initial temporary absence period, the PPO case will remain open until the end of the SAR payment period. At this point, if DFCS or a court does not recommend CalWORKs FR services and cash aid, the case will be discontinued if there are no other eligible children in the home.

Reminder: The Statement of Facts to Add a Child Under Age 16 (CW 8A) must be completed to add the newborn to the existing case. Existing processes to add a child to the family unit mid-period remain applicable.

ExampleExample

Juvenile Detention

On the first of any month, if a minor is expected to remain at a juvenile correctional facility for one full calendar month or more, the minor is considered permanently absent from the home. The EW must take mid-period action to remove the minor from the AU at the end of the month with adequate and timely notice.

Cases where the only eligible child(ren) is in a juvenile correctional facility are not eligible for FR. However, if there is another child(ren) in the AU who has been placed in out-of-home care, the family may be eligible for FR with a DFCS or court recommendation.

Rescission/New Application

If DFCS or a court determines that cash aid and/or reunification services are necessary for reunification after the CalWORKs case has been discontinued due to the removal of a child(ren) from the home, the EW must determine if the case needs to be rescinded or if the client needs to submit a new application.

Important: Courts may implement an FR plan and make it effective the day the children were removed. A retroactive payment will not be issued if the CalWORKs FR cash aid and services are implemented retroactively by a court.

Rescission

The case must be rescinded if one of the following occurs within 30 days of the discontinuance date:

  • The child(ren) is returned to the home, or
  • DFCS or a court recommends cash aid and/or reunification services.

Aid must be granted for the full month. There is no break in aid, and a new SAWS 2 Plus is not required.

New Application

If the case has been closed for more than 30 days, a new SAWS 2 Plus is required, and the EW must complete the intake process. Any documentation or verification previously provided to the EW and in the case file will not be required again if the case has been discontinued for 12 months or less.

Refer to CalWORKs Handbook topic Restorations for more information.

Note: CalWORKs FR cash aid is the same category of aid as regular CalWORKs cash aid.

Important: If the family’s benefits started mid-month, they will receive a prorated month of CalWORKs FR cash aid, and that month would not count towards the six-month CalWORKs FR cash aid limit since it was not a full month of aid.

If...

Then...

The case has been closed for less than 30 days,
  • The DFCS CalWORKs EW Liaison informs the appropriate DEBS Continuing Office to rescind the CalWORKs case.

The case has been closed for more than 30 days,
  • The DFCS CalWORKs EW Liaison helps the client fill out a SAWS 2 Plus and forwards the application to the DEBS Intake Office.
  • The DEBS Intake Office gives the client a priority intake appointment.

Reminder: Chewable Byte 23-59: How to Process Family Reunification Case must be followed when setting up FR cases.

Discontinuance

No FR Recommendation

Upon expiration of the 30-day initial temporary absence period, if DFCS or a court has not recommended cash aid or reunification services, the CalWORKs case must be discontinued with timely and adequate notice. Refer to Common Place Handbook topic Notices of Action (NOAs) Overview.

CalSAWS will automatically discontinue CalWORKs at the end of the initial temporary absence period and mail out a NOA if the Household Status Detail page is filled out correctly and there are no entries in the Family Reunification Detail page.

ExampleExample

Note: An overpayment must not be established for the month of initial temporary temporary absence.

End of Six Months

Cash aid for reunification cases must be discontinued at the end of the sixth month of receipt. This is automated in CalSAWS through a batch job based on the Begin Month entered on the Family Reunification Detail page.

If DFCS or a court authorizes a good cause extension to the six-month FR temporary absence period, reunification services may continue. The family's CalWORKs case may become a Zero Basic Grant (ZBG) case. Otherwise, reunification services must also be discontinued at the end of the sixth month.

ExampleExample

A CalWORKs AU consists of one parent and two children. Their current aid code is 30, and their redetermination (RD) is due in August 2025.

Retracted FR Recommendation

If a parent is not in compliance with their DFCS case plan, the Social Worker can amend the case plan and remove FR cash aid and/or services from the FR plan. Once the EW is notified of this change, the CalWORKs cash aid and/or services must be discontinued, and a NOA must be sent. An End Month must be entered on the CalSAWS Family Reunification Detail page.

Inter-County Transfers (ICT)

CalWORKs ICT rules apply to FR cases. Refer to CalWORKs Handbook Chapter 14 Inter-County Transfers for more information.

The parents need to stay in compliance with their DFCS case plan. The sending county must communicate with the receiving county regarding the status of the family's DFCS case plan and that DFCS is still recommending FR cash aid and/or services for the family.

Homeless Assistance

Temporary Homeless Assistance (THA)

Reunification families experiencing homelessness may be eligible for THA, if DFCS or a court determines that THA is necessary for reunification and the family is otherwise eligible (i.e. the family meets the eligibility criteria for homeless assistance). Social Workers making the determination of the need for THA in the reunification plan should coordinate closely with the EW to ensure these families can access THA as appropriate. 

When calculating the daily rate for THA for FR cases, EWs must include the child(ren) removed from the home.

EWs must follow existing business processes for THA as provided in the CalWORKs Handbook topic Temporary Shelter.

Permanent Homeless Assistance (PHA)

Reunification families are not eligible for PHA. The CalWORKs AU may be evaluated for PHA once the children have been returned home and are added back into the AU.

Other Special Needs

If the reunification family receives... Then...
FR cash aid and services, They are eligible for other special needs, such as Pregnancy Special Needs (PSN).
FR services only, They are not eligible for other special needs, such as PSN, because these payments are considered cash assistance.

CalWORKs Housing Support Program (CHSP)

CHSP is designed to assist eligible CalWORKs families, including families eligible for FR cash aid, who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Reunification families may be eligible for CHSP, if CHSP services are necessary for reunification.

Refer to CalWORKs Handbook topic CalWORKs Housing Support Program for more information.

Medi-Cal

Families participating in FR are not eligible for cash-linked Medi-Cal (MC). EWs must follow existing policies and re-evaluate eligibility for MC by performing a full MC redetermination and progressing through the MC hierarchy. EWs must conduct an ex parte review of all available information before contacting the MC member(s). While the EW completes the redetermination, the MC member(s) should remain in aid code 38 to maintain their MC eligibility.

If the MC member(s) are not eligible for MAGI MC, they must be screened for eligibility for other MC programs such as Non-MAGI, Consumer Protection Programs (CPP), and Covered California plans. The MC aid code will be the primary aid code and the FR aid code will be the secondary aid code.

Refer to Medi-Cal Handbook topics Medi-Cal Hierarchy. Ex Parte Process section in Loss of Contact, and Edwards v Kizer (also known as Edwards v Myers) for more information.

MC for Parents

MAGI

When determining MAGI MC eligibility for the parent(s) in CalWORKs FR families, EWs must follow the household composition rules to determine if tax filer or non-filer rules must be used.

  • When the parent(s) expects to file taxes, expects to continue to include children removed from the home as part of FR in the tax household, is not being claimed as a dependent, and tax filer rules are used, children removed from the home as part of FR are included in the household composition.
  • If the parent(s) does not file taxes, does not expect to be claimed as a dependent, and non-filer rules are used, EWs must determine if reasonable predictable changes should be considered. Reasonable predictable changes could allow for the inclusion of the children in the household if it was reasonably anticipated that they would be returning to the home from a temporary absence.

Refer to Medi-Cal Handbook topics Tax Filer Rules and Non-Tax Filer Rules for more information.

Non-MAGI MC

A child removed due to a court order is not considered residing in the home. However, when determining the parent’s eligibility for Non-MAGI MC in CalWORKs FR families, the EW must evaluate whether it is a temporary absence. The child would be included in the Medi-Cal Family Budget Unit (MFBU) if the absence is temporary.

MC for Children

Children must be assessed for continued MC eligibility without a break in aid. This eligibility determination could include MC through Foster Care, MC under a new case with the adult who has care and control of a child, or any other program with linked MC already included.

If the child has a change in circumstance that would otherwise make them ineligible, the child would be held in coverage until the next redetermination. For additional guidance, refer to Medi-Cal Handbook topic Continuous Eligibility for Children (CEC).

CalFresh

Reunification cases may continue to be eligible for CalFresh (CF) benefits as long as all other eligibility requirements are met. The CalWORKs cash grant is considered unearned income for CF eligibility purposes. The CF aid code is 09 for families receiving CalWORKs FR cash aid and services.

Reminder: The Consent to Release CalFresh Confidential Case Information (SCD 2577) must be utilized when a Social Worker is assisting the client in obtaining eligibility information on a CalFresh case. Refer to DEBS-BP Handbook topic DEBS & DFCS CalFresh Disclosure of Case Information for more information.

Removing Child(ren) from the CF Household

Information regarding the removal of a child(ren) from the home obtained from DFCS is considered information known to the county and is Verified Upon Receipt (VUR). EWs must remove the child(ren) from the CF household mid-period, and not wait for the next SAR 7 or recertification. The CF allotment will be recalculated, therefore the household will remain eligible for CF and not Transitional CalFresh (TCF).

Refer to CalFresh Handbook topic Verified Upon Receipt (VUR) for more information on VUR.

Notices of Action (NOAs)

The CalFresh noticing requirements remain unchanged. If the children are removed from the CF household due to a household composition change, a notice of adverse action must be issued.

Refer to CalFresh Handbook topic Notices of Action (NOAs) for more information.

Transitional CalFresh (TCF)

CF households are not eligible for TCF while they have an active CalWORKs case open and receive a CalWORKs grant, including FR cash aid. If a CalWORKs FR family has exhausted their six months of FR cash aid and they receive a good cause exemption, they will be transitioned to a Zero Basic Grant (ZBG) case and remain eligible for CalWORKs FR services only. Since the family remains eligible for CalWORKs as a ZBG case, they will remain eligible for CF and will not be eligible for TCF.

If CalWORKs FR is not recommended in the family's FR plan, the family would be discontinued from CalWORKs and may be eligible for TCF.

Refer to CalFresh Handbook topic Transitional CalFresh Benefits for more information.

Income Reporting Threshold (IRT)

When CalWORKs FR cash aid and services are approved, the CalWORKs IRT no longer applies to the CF household. The household is a Non-Assistance CalFresh (NACF) household and not Categorically Eligible (CE), and the household is subject to the CF IRT.

CalWORKs FR cash aid is state-funded and does not include MOE funds. Only households where all members are receiving cash through a public assistance program funded in full or in part with federal money under Title IV-A or with State money counted for MOE purposes under Title IV-A can be considered CE.

Refer to CalFresh Handbook topic Categorically Eligible (CE) for more information.

Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)

Individuals participating in the RCA program are not eligible for CalWORKs FR.

General Assistance (GA)

If a client received GA and CalWORKs FR cash aid in the same month(s), EWs must create a GA overpayment for these month(s).

Foster Care (FC)

AFDC-FC and ARC

Relative caregivers of children who have been removed from their home and whose parent(s) are receiving CalWORKs FR can apply for Aid to Families with Dependent Children-Foster Care (AFDC-FC) or the Approved Relative Caregiver (ARC) Program to receive support for the children.

  • The AFDC-FC program provides cash and Medi-Cal benefits for children placed into foster care.
  • ARC provides payments to a relative caregiver when the relative caregiver or child has been denied federal foster care funding.

Refer to Foster Care Handbook topics Adoptions and Safe Families Act (ASFA) Provisions for AFDC-FC Eligibility and Approved Relative Caregiver (ARC) Funding Option Program for more information.

If an out-of-home caregiver applies and is approved for ARC or any other FC program for the child that was removed, the child’s cash benefit from those programs is not considered available income to the CalWORKs FR family and the CalWORKs FR cash aid amount will not be impacted.

In addition, CalWORKs FR cash aid is funded with state general funds and does not affect potential eligibility for FC or other federally funded programs.

Related Topics

Family Reunification Services Only (AB 429)

Family Reunification Cash Aid and Services (AB 135)