CalWORKs eligibility if both parents attend college with baby under 1 - is this allowed?

Yes, you can potentially qualify for CalWORKs while both attending college, but there are specific rules you need to understand. Since your child is under 1 year old, one parent can actually receive a young child exemption from the Welfare to Work (WTW) requirements. This means one of you wouldn't have to participate in work activities at all. For the other parent, education CAN count toward the WTW participation requirements if it's an approved program leading to employment. Both your programs (dental assistant and welding) sound like they would qualify, but you'll need to get them approved through your WTW worker with a WTW 2 form and education plan. Make sure to tell your worker specifically that you want to use the young child exemption for one parent and count the education as WTW activity for the other parent. Sometimes workers don't explain all the options if you don't ask specifically.

when i had my baby my worker told me that u get excused from WTW for 12 months with a kid under 2 so maybe both of u can be exempt????? not sure if thats right tho, my cousin got cut off when she went to school but her kid was older

If you're both already in your programs, make sure to request RETROACTIVE childcare payments too! CalWORKs will pay for childcare while you're in approved education activities, and they can backdate it to your application date. We got almost $800 for the month between applying and getting approved. Just need to use an approved provider and get a Stage 1 childcare form filled out. The approval process can be slow, so start this ASAP.

Have y'all tried calling your eligibility worker to get clarification? I spent THREE DAYS trying to reach mine about a similar question (I'm in school part-time). Kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Finally I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that holds your place in line and calls you back when a worker is available. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE Anyhow, when I finally got through, my worker explained all the education exemptions. Turns out my community college program DID qualify as my WTW activity since it leads directly to employment. Worth calling to ask about your specific situation!

BE CAREFUL! I was on CalWORKs while in a nursing program and they cut me off because I exceeded my 48-month time limit! I didn't know college months counted toward the limit! Make sure u ask about time limits at ur interview.

lol they change the rules all the time. I got denied last month cuz I went over the income limit by $32!!! but then got approved this month with the SAME income. make sure you ask for the exact income limits for ur family size. also bring ALL ur school paperwork and financial aid info. they count some school money as income depending what kind it is

Just to add some specifics about the education requirements: For your programs to count as WTW activities, you need to show they lead directly to employment and are likely to help you become self-sufficient. You'll need to complete a WTW 2 form for each of you, along with your current class schedules, enrollment verification, and a statement from each program showing the expected completion date and job prospects. For the parent who isn't using the young child exemption, the standard participation requirement is 35 hours per week for two-parent families. If your educational program doesn't meet all those hours, you may need to supplement with other approved activities like work experience, job search, or additional trainings. Also important: Make sure to apply for the CalWORKs program at your colleges! Many community colleges have special CalWORKs offices that provide additional support services for students receiving Cash Aid.