CDSS has issued instructions implementing AB 480 regarding diapers as a welfare-to-work (WTW) supportive service. Starting April 1, 2018, counties must provide $30 per month to welfare-to-work participants to assist with diaper costs for each child under 36 months of age.
To qualify, WTW participants must have a child who is under 36 months of age at the beginning of the month and is either receiving CalWORKs or is ineligible for aid but is under the care and control of the WTW participant.
A participant in the WTW program is defined as a CalWORKs client who is not sanctioned or removed from aid, exempt from WTW or excused from participation because of participation by another adult. Persons who are sanctioned or removed from aid who are participating as part of a cure plan are eligible for the diaper benefit. Exempt or excused persons who are voluntarily participating are eligible for the diaper benefit. Teens in the Cal-Learn program are eligible for the diaper benefit. Clients in noncompliance who are not yet sanctioned and clients with good cause for non-participation are eligible for the diaper benefit.
Designation as participating is not based on assignment to WTW activities, scheduled hours or verified actual hours. A WTW plan is not required to be eligible for the diaper benefit. Persons are considered participating regardless of their number of participation hours, even if the participation hours are zero.
Counties must provide diaper payments to all qualifying WTW participants who have time remaining on their 48 month clock. Diaper payments can also be provided to persons who have reached their 48 month time limit as a job retention service or a post-aid service depending on the County Plan.
The diaper benefit is available to both single and two parent assistance units. Child only assistance units where the parent is ineligible for CalWORKs are ineligible for the diaper benefit.
Diapers are considered a necessary supportive service and participants will have good cause for not participating in WTW if payment is not provided in advance of the assigned activity.
The benefit will be a $30 payment per month for each qualifying child in the home. The benefit is not prorated. Any number of days in the month that the parent qualifies for the diaper benefits will result in the full $30 payment for each child.
Payments will be issued automatically to eligible clients unless the clients opts out of the payments. Payments will be distributed on the household’s EBT card.
Counties must inform all new and current WTW participants of the diaper supportive service and payments must begin immediately without action or communication from eligible participants. The diaper benefit must be issued in advance of any assigned WTW activity.
(ACL 18-38, March 28, 2018.)