People who live in Indian Country with at least 50% unemployment are exempt from CalWORKs and federal Temporary Aid to Needy Families time limits.
The California Department of Social Services has released the list of Indian Country areas with 50% or higher unemployment in 2025. Individuals who lived in those areas during 2025 are eligible for a time limit exemption for the months that they received aid.
If the individual lives in an Indian County area that is not on the list, they may get written documentation from a federally recognized tribe that they lived in an area where adult unemployment was 50% or higher in 2025. That certification qualifies the individual for the time limit exemption. (ACL 26-23, April 14, 2026.)