County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSA
CalWORKs Program Guide
Minor Parent Assistance Unit Number 41500H Page 1 of 3
Revision Date
July 1 2020
Background
A minor parent is a pregnant or parenting minor under age 18 who has never been married The minor parent must be residing in an adultsupervised living situation The minor parent requirement is also applicable to a minor parent who is an undocumented noncitizen or receives Supplemental Security IncomeState Supplementary Payment SSISSP benefits
Purpose
To define the minor parent requirements This material revision is to provide clarifications to the minor parent regulation to update the referral process to Child Welfare Services CWS to reformat this section and to relocate the Questions and Answers material to Eligibility Essentials
Policy
Minor Parent Requirement To meet the minor parent residence requirement the minor parent must live with one of the following
A senior parent
A legal guardian
An Adult Relative a relative age 18 or older who is within the degree of relationship specified for caretaker relatives
In a Licensed Home a state licensed adultsupervised supportive living arrangement which includes a group home or a maternity home
When a minor parent does not live in an appropriate living situation or meet one of the exceptions listed below the minor parent andor the minor parents Assistance Unit AU is ineligible for CalWORKs
If two or more sibling minor parents live with their unaided senior parent a separate eligibility determination must be made for each minor parent If both unmarried minor parents of the child live together then each minor parent must be living in an appropriate adultsupervised living arrangement or meet one of the specified exceptions If only one of the minor parents meets this condition of eligibility only that minor parent and the child are aided The minor parent who does not meet the minor parent provisions is excluded from the AU Any income from that minor parent is counted in the budgeting process as a nonAU member
Exemptions to Minor Parent Requirements The minor parent and their dependent child are exempt from the minor parent requirement when any of the following conditions exist an exception must exist for each senior parent
Deceased
Whereabouts Unknown
Not allowed to Live in Home
HealthSafety
Live Apart for 12 Months
Emancipation
County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSACalWORKs Program Guide Number
Page Minor Parent Assistance Unit
41500H
2 of 3
Minor Parent Claiming an Exemption When a minor parent claims to have an exemption take all the following actions
Verify the exemption
Grant CalWORKs if all other eligibility conditions are met
Make a referral to Child Welfare Services CWS Minor Parent Services unless the minor is emancipated CWS will complete assessments within 30 days of the referral state that this is a minor parent investigation
Minor Parent Eligibility Determination When a minor parent is eligible to be included in their own AU it is not necessary that the senior parent be present at the intakeannual renewal interview It is the minor parents responsibility to complete the required forms and provide all other necessary information
All minor parents are required to complete a CW 25 Supplemental Statement of Facts Minor Parent and a SAR 23 Supplement to the Statement of Facts during any of the following
Application
Annual renewal
When the minor has been living in a supervised setting and there is a change of address andor living arrangement
Aid will be denied or discontinued when there is a failure or refusal to complete and return the CW 25 or SAR 23 after timely notification
Minor Parent Who Claims a Risk When a minor parent alleges that living with a senior parentlegal guardian will jeopardize the physical or emotional health or safety of themselves or their child a referral will be made to CWS to have the allegation supported Also the Human Services Specialist HSS will contact the CWS Child Abuse Hotline at 858 5602191 or to the State of California toll free at 800 3446000 to report the safety concern httpwwwsandiegocountygovhhsaprogramscschildwelfareserviceschildabusehotlinehtml
Refer to HHSA Chapter Policy Strategy and Program Development No HHSAH1 on how to report suspected child abuseneglect httpinsitesdcountycagovhhsaMisc20PoliciesChild20Abuse20Reportingpdf
The referral must be documented in the case file
Minor Parent Risk Assessment The CWS Social Worker will complete risk assessments within 20 days Immediate need risk assessments will be completed within 15 days The CWS Social Worker will complete the CWS portion of the CW 25 and return it to the HSS
If the CWS Social Worker determines that there is a safety issue aid will be granted if all other eligibility conditions are met If the CWS Social Worker determines that there is not a safety issue aid will be
County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency HHSA
CalWORKs Program Guide
Minor Parent Assistance Unit Number 41500H Page 3 of 3
denied or discontinued if the minor parent does not meet the Minor Parent Requirement or other exception
Responsible Adult as the Payee Unless the minor parent is exempt from the minor parent requirement CalWORKs payments will be issued on behalf of the minor parent to the adult living in the home or to the licensed home
Adult Refusal If the adult living in the home refuses to act as payee on behalf of the minor parent the minor parent may be the payee
Minor Parent Refusal or Failure to Cooperate If the minor parent refuses or fails to cooperate in obtaining verification of the adults consent or refusal to act as payee on their behalf the minor parents AU is ineligible for CalWORKs
Determination That Minor Parent Should Be Payee Whenever it is determined to be in the best interest of the minor parent and their child the minor parent may be the payee of their case instead of the adult living in the home with the minor parent
Note
Form CW 25A Payee Agreement for Minor Parent is required as a condition of eligibility when the minor parent lives in the home of a senior parent legal guardian or adult relative
A CW 25A is not needed when the minor resides in an adultsupervised living arrangement In this situation use the facility as the payee
Procedure
Refer to Eligibility Essentials CalWORKs Questions Answers 41500H1 Minor Parent Requirement for different examples of Minor Parent scenarios
Impacts
None
References
EAS 89201
Sunset Date
This policy will be reviewed for continuance by July 31 2023
Rick Wanne Director Eligibility Operations