Caretaker Relative Rules and Requirements

The following rules apply to caretaker relatives:

Only one non-parent caretaker relative may be linked to a child. If there is more than one child in the household and they are not siblings, each caretaker may be linked to a different child. The caretakers would be in separate budget units with their related child. The spouse for spouse responsibility rule does not apply.
A caretaker relative is not required to be in the MFBU if he/she is not requesting MC benefits for himself/herself.
A caretaker relative with his/her own deprived child and a related child may choose to be linked to either his/her own child or the related child.
If a relative of a child had his/her marriage annulled, the former spouse of the relative cannot be considered a caretaker relative
Caretaker relatives of children receiving Public Assistance (e.g., CalWORKs, Foster Care, SSI) has AFDC-MN linkage and may qualify for MC benefits for themselves, if otherwise eligible.

Children who are receiving PA are not in the MFBU with the caretaker relative. For the MN program, children under 21 living in the home with the senior parent is considered a child. Therefore, a senior parent has MN linkage if the minor parent and the minor parent’s child are receiving CalWORKs.

Relationship to Child

The caretaker relative must be related to the applicant or eligible child by any of the following relationships:

Biological Relatives

Parent (1st degree)
Grandparent or sibling (2nd degree)
Great grandparent, uncle or aunt, niece or nephew (3rd degree)
Great-great grandparent, great uncle or aunt, or first cousin (4th degree)
Great-great-great grandparent, great-great uncle or aunt, or first cousin, once removed (5th degree).

Step Relatives

Stepfather
Stepmother
Stepbrother/sister

Spouses of Relatives

Spouses of any person named above, even after the marriage has been terminated by death or divorce.

Adoptive Relatives

A person who legally adopts the child, or that person's relatives, as specified above.

When a child has been relinquished, adopted or parental rights are terminated, use the “AFDC Caretaker Relative Documentation Chart” (SCD 1383) to determine if appropriate caretaker relative relationship exists.