Care of Child

Care of Child 0-23 Months

This is a one-time-only exemption. The parent or other relative who has primary responsibility for personally providing care to one child from birth through 23 months of age.

• After a parent has used this one-time exemption, the parent no longer qualifies for it again when there is a break in aid/discontinuance, even if child’s age is still within the 0-23 month age period.
• Applies to only one parent at a time in a CalWORKs Unemployed Parent (two-parent) case; however, the parents have the option to alternate which parent is exempt. For example, one parent may receive the exemption for 12 months, and then alternate so that the other parent receives the exemption for the remaining 12 months. In this example, the exemption is fully exhausted after 23 months for both parents and neither parent is eligible to receive it again. This exemption can be swapped only once between the parents.
• In two-parent AUs, both parents can receive this exemption one-time for each qualifying child. However, the clients may not receive the exemption at the same time. One parent would be eligible for one child if the other parent was no longer receiving this exemption for another qualifying child.
• Can be used one-time only for the qualifying child, which means that if for example, the parent uses it for 4 months for a child who is 20 months old and then has another child two years later, he/she cannot use it again for the time remaining (20 months).
• It is optional, which mean that the individual may choose to use the exemption for a subsequent child (or at a later date for the same child), he/she may choose to do so. However, the exemption cannot be granted retroactively when client chooses to use it after he or she previously chose not to use it.
• Does not automatically resolve noncompliance or cure a WTW Sanction (client must request the exemption to become exempt or agree to a curing sanction plan to participate as a mandatory client). However, when the noncompliance process is initiated, the “CalWORKs Exemption Request Form” (CW 2186A) must be provided.
• Stops the CalWORKs 60-Month TOA Clock.
• The exemption has no automation and must be selected manually in CalSAWS.
• Since the exemption must be requested, the exemption request form CW 2186A and determination form CW 2186B must be completed.
• When the parent(s) no longer qualify for this new one-time only exemption, an evaluation for the other young child exemptions must be done.

Note: Use the Journal Entry type, "Program Status Update,” and Short Description, "Young Child WTW Exemption," to document the client’s choice of using, or waiving the exemption for future use.