Effective January 1, 2025, participants who were members of a CalWORKs family when CalWORKs-eligible children were removed from the home will remain eligible for CalWORKs cash aid, child care and reunification services when: 1) all CalWORKs-eligible children were removed by the county Child Welfare Services (CWS), 2) the AU received CalWORKs cash aid when removed, and 3) the child welfare services agency or court has determined that the services mentioned above are necessary for reunification.
CalWORKs family reunification cash aid is limited to six months. Other CalWORKs family reunification services can continue after six month with good cause granted by the CWS.
Upon notification that all CalWORKs eligible children have been removed from the home, children are considered temporarily absent for one month. After one month, CalWORKs Family Reunification will take effect if either there is a case plan in effect or under development by the CWS agency that includes providing cash aid, or there is a court order for a case plan that includes providing cash aid.
Pregnant Person Only cases when there is immediate removal of the child upon birth can be eligible for CalWORKs Family Reunification cash aid.
Non-needy caretaker relatives are not eligible for CalWORKs Family Reunification cash aid.
CWS removal of a child is considered an action that is verified upon receipt, which means that it changes CalFresh benefits mid-period.
If CalWORKs is terminated because of removal of the children by CWS, the household can be eligible for Transitional CalFresh. (ACL 25-05, January 7, 2025.)