County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSACalWORKs Program Guide WelfaretoWork Exemptions Number Page 10020A 1 of 3 Revision Date 11012016 Background State regulations require CalWORKs recipients to participate in WelfaretoWork WTW activities unless they are excused or exempt from participation Excused or exempt recipients may voluntarily participate in WTW with certain exceptions MPP 42712 Policy 10020A1 Excused from Participation 1 CalLearn Participant A pregnant or parenting teen who is subject to CalLearn Program requirements CalLearn participants may not participate in WTW activities 2 Second Parent A second parent in a twoparent household with unemployment deprivation is excused from participation if the other parent is meeting the required participation hours 3 NonMinor Dependent NMD A dependent or ward of the court who is age 1821 and is meeting AB 12 program requirements to receive extended CalWORKs benefits CalWORKs NMDs may not participate in WTW activities 4 ParentOptional Stepparent A parent or optional stepparent is excused from participation if the other parent in the Assistance Unit is meeting the required participation hours 10020A2 WTW Exemption Criteria1 Age Under 16 2 School Attendance A FullTime Student An individual who is age 16 17 or 18 and is attending high school fulltime or a vocational or technical school fulltime Fulltime status is determined by the school Exemption will not be reinstated once the exemption ends due to noncompliance with school attendance requirements and the individual will be required to participate in WTW even if heshe later complies with school attendance requirements B PostSecondary Education An individual who is age 16 or 17 has completed high school or equivalent and is enrolled or planning to enroll in a postsecondary educational vocational or technical school training program Exemption cannot continue beyond the beginning of the school term without verification of enrollment 3 Age 60 or Older 4 Disability An individual who has a disability that is expected to last at least 30 calendar days that significantly impairs hisher ability to be regularly employed or participate in WTW Exemption will be granted if medical verification includes 1 the disability 2 the expected duration of the disability 3 the extent to which the disability impairs the individuals employment andor participation in WTW and 4 indicates that the individual is actively seeking appropriate medical County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSACalWORKs Program Guide WelfaretoWork Exemptions Number Page 10020A 2 of 3 treatment Medical verification must be from a doctor or health care professional that is licensed in the United States to diagnosetreat physical and mental impairments that can affect an individuals ability to work or participate in WTW activities Exemption will not be granted if medical verification indicates the individual can meet WTW participation hours requirements Exemption may be reviewed at the time the condition is expected to end or earlier if there is reason to believe there has been a change in the condition An exemption based on disability will be granted retroactively if the individuals condition impaired hisher ability to be employed or participate in WTW activities prior to the exemption request and heshe was actively seeking treatment during that time based on the medical verification provided 5 Aided Nonparent Caretaker Relative A needy caretaker relative who has primary responsibility to care for a child who is either a a dependent or ward of the court b a KinGAP recipient or c atrisk of placement in foster care as determined by the County Exemption will be granted if the County determines that the caretaking responsibilities are beyond normal daytoday parenting responsibilities and impair the caretakers ability to be regularly employed or participate in WTW Verification may include court documentation or other statement from Child Welfare Services CWS 6 Care of an Ill or Incapacitated Household Member An individual whose presence in the home is required due to the illness or incapacity of another aided or unaided member of the household Exemption will be granted if the County determines that the caretaking responsibilities impair the caretakers ability to be regularly employed or participate in WTW Verification may include medical verification forms or other statement from a doctorhealth care professional Family Medical Leave Act FMLA Leave documentation etc Exemption will not be granted if medical verification indicates the individual can meet WTW participation hours requirements or if there is a second parent in the home who is WTW sanctioned 7 Care of a Child Exemption may be given to only one parent at a time in a twoparent household Exemption will not be given if the other parent is WTW sanctioned A Age 6 Months or Under A parent or caretaker relative who has primary responsibility to personally provide care to a child age 6 months or under will be granted a onetime exemption Exemption may be reduced to the first 12 weeks or extended to the first 12 months on a casebycase basis after the birth or adoption of the child based on factors such as the availability of child care B Age 12 Weeks An individual who has previously received the onetime exemption for caring for a child age 6 months or under will be exempt for 12 weeks upon the birth or adoption of any subsequent children Exemption may be extended to six months on a casebycase basis based on factors such as the availability of child care C Age 023 Months Effective 01012013 A parent or caretaker relative who has primary responsibility to personally provide care to a child age 023 months will be granted a onetime exemption upon request Exemption may be reinstated after a break in aid if the same child County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSACalWORKs Program Guide WelfaretoWork Exemptions Number Page 10020A 3 of 3 continues to meet the age criteria Exemption may switch from one parent to the other only onetime if there is a change in caretaking responsibilities for the same child The parent will not qualify for the exemption again if heshe moves to a new Assistance Unit 8 Pregnancy A pregnant woman whose pregnancy impairs her ability to be regularly employed or participate in WTW as supported by medical verification Exemption based on a medicallyverified pregnancy may also be granted if the County determines WTW participation will not readily lead to employment or a training activity is not appropriate such as expected due date within the month 9 VISTA Participation An individual who is a fulltime volunteer in the Volunteers in Service to America VISTA Program as verified by a copy of a Domestic Volunteers Statement or a written verification from the VISTA sponsor or the Federal Region IX ACTIONVISTA Office 10020A3 Verification Individuals are required to provide the necessary documentation to establish basis for an exemption A range of documents may be accepted to verify the exemption 10020A4 Exemption Period Exemption will be granted prospectively based on the exemption request date and verification provided with the exception of retroactive disability exemptions Exemption will end when criteria are no longer met or if the individual is required to participate in WTW to avoid a sanction 10020A5 Voluntary Participation Excused or exempt individuals may volunteer to participate in WTW with the exception of individuals who are subject to CalLearn or NMD program requirements Individuals who are exempt due to disability or care of an ill or incapacitated household member may volunteer in WTW activities only to the extent permitted by the medical verification provided Procedure Refer to CalWORKs Processing Guide 10020A1 in the Eligibility Essentials SharePoint site Program Impacts CalFresh CFPG 63901 and 63904 References MPP 427012d2 and 42712 httpwwwdsscahwnetgovordentresgetinfopdf6EASpdf ACL 1508 httpwwwdsscahwnetgovlettersnoticesEntResgetinfoacl20151508pdf Sunset Date This policy will be reviewed for continuance on or by 11302019 Approval for Release Rick Wanne Director Eligibility Operations