Care of Child

Care of Child 0-23 Months

This exemption is granted one time only. It applies to a parent or other relative who has primary responsibility for personally providing care to a 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 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 Assistance Units (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).
• The exemption is optional, meaning the individual may choose to use it for a subsequent child or at a later date for the same child. However, this exemption cannot be granted retroactively if the individual elects to use it after previously declining it.  Accordingly, the Associate Employment Counselor (AEC)/Employment Counselor (EC) must document in a Journal Entry that the exemption was offered.
• Does not automatically resolve noncompliance or cure a Welfare-to-Work (WTW) sanction (client must request the exemption to become exempt or agree 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 Time on Aid (TOA) clock.
• The exemption has no automation and must be selected manually in CalSAWS.
• Since the exemption must be requested, the CW 2186A and the CalWORKs and Welfare to Work Time Limit Exemption Determination (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 completed.

Important: A spouse or second parent does not qualify for an exemption and cannot avoid participation in CalWORKs Employment Services (CWES) when the first parent is sanctioned if their exemption is based on any of the following: caring for an ill or incapacitated household member or caring for a young child (including the 3-month, 6-month, and 0-23 month exemptions).

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.