Stage One child care is available to every CalWORKs participant with a dependent child in the household who is age 12 or younger. Children who reach age 13 are generally ineligible for subsidized child care. Children with exceptional needs or severe disabilities may receive child care through age 21. Children who are under court supervision can receive Stage One Child Care to age 18.
Children who certified for child care prior to their thirteenth birthday may receive child care for 12 months. Contractors cannot disenroll a child when they turn age thirteen during the 12-month eligibility period and must allow the child to continue in subsidized child care until the family’s next recertification. Counties must give families a Notice of Action stating the duration of eligibility that includes an end date of eligibility which must be through the 12-month eligibility period. (Child Care Bulletin 22-04, January 13, 2022.)