The California Department of Social Services has issued policies about how same-sex marriages and domestic partnerships are treated for purposes of various programs. For CalWORKs, same-sex spouses and registered domestic partners who have adopted the children are treated as members of the assistance unit who are subject to welfare-to-work requirements. These households are considered two parent households for purposes of welfare-to-work requirements. Same-sex spouses and registered domestic partners who have not adopted the children are considered step-parents, meaning they can be considered part of the assistance unit and participate in welfare-to-work but are not required to do so.
For purposes of eligibility for child care, same-sex spouses and registered domestic partners who have adopted the children are treated as members of the assistance unit, meaning the same-sex spouse or registered domestic partner can be considered an able and available parents who can provide child care. Same-sex spouses and registered domestic partners who have not adopted the children are considered optional step-parents and are not considered for purposes of eligibility for child care.
For purposes of CalFresh, any group of persons who customarily purchase and prepare meals together are considered a household. Same-sex spouses are considered spouses and must be included in the CalFresh household. However, registered domestic partners are not considered spouses and are not automatically included in the household. Registered domestic partners who are part of the CalWORKs assistance unit or customarily purchase and prepare meals with the family must be included in the CalFresh household.
Refugee Cash Assistance has the same requirements as CalWORKs. Registered domestic partners have the same status as married couples for purposes of eligibility for Refugee Cash Assistance. ACL 16-13 (March 28, 2016).