The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has release the final regulations implementing changes to CalWORKs Pregnant Person Only cases and the Pregnancy Special Needs supplement.
The amended regulations make several changes:
- Pregnant Person Only applicants are eligible to receive CalWORKs aid from the date of application regardless of pregnancy trimester.
- Pregnant Person only applicants who cannot provide medical verification of pregnancy at the time of application can submit a sworn statement or verbal attestation to temporarily verify the pregnancy and receive cash assistance. Medical verification is required within 30 working days following submittal of the sworn statement or verbal attestation, which can be extended if the applicant is making a good faith effort to obtain medical verification.
- Participants must report to the county within 30 days of end of their pregnancy not resulting in the live birth of a child.
- Prior to discontinuing cash aid or the Pregnancy Special Needs supplement, counties must provide information about, and referral to mental health services.
- Pregnant Person Only applicants and pregnant participants with other eligible children can submit a sworn statement or verbal attestation to issue the Pregnancy Special Needs payment when the medical verification of the pregnancy is not available. Medical verification is required within 30 working days following submittal of the sworn statement or verbal attestation, which can be extended if the applicant is making a good faith effort to obtain medical verification..
- Increases the monthly Pregnancy Special Needs payment to $100.
- Allows the use of sworn statement or verbal attestation for pregnant person applicants to be determined apparently eligible for CalWORKs and therefore eligible for temporary homeless assistance. (ACIN I-57-24, November 1, 2024.)