Can my parents claim my son for CalWORKs if they provide childcare while I work full-time?

Your parents might be able to apply for a Non-Needy Caretaker Relative (NNCR) CalWORKs case for your son if they can prove they have primary responsibility for him. But there are some important things to consider: 1. They'd need to show they're the primary caregivers (having him overnight 5 days a week helps with this) 2. Your income wouldn't count against their case if you're not in their household 3. They would need to comply with child support requirements, meaning the county would pursue child support from your son's father (if he's in the picture) 4. The CalWORKs benefit would be just for your son, not increased benefits for your parents I'd recommend they contact their eligibility worker to discuss this specific situation. The worker can tell them exactly what documentation they'll need to prove the caregiving arrangement.

I went thru something similar with my mom watching my kids. You don't need official court guardianship - just a statement explaining the living arrangement. BUT they'll ask you for a bunch of verification - school records showing where he stays, doctors statements, maybe even neighbor statements. They're super picky about it.

Your parents actually mite qualify for "child only" CalWORKs which gives money for just ur child without counting there income or your income!!!! Its way more than $32 too. My sister gets like $500 something for her grandson this way cuz his mom is working. But watch out cuz they might ask where you live and if u live together then your income counts again an messes everything up!

I tried calling the county office about a similar situation when my niece was staying with me, but I was on hold FOREVER and then got disconnected THREE TIMES. So frustrating!! Eventually I found Claimyr.com which got me through to a real person in less than 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE - definitely made it way easier to talk to someone who could actually explain my options.

To clarify some of the confusion here: your parents would be applying for what's officially called a "Non-Needy Caretaker Relative" CalWORKs case. Here's what that means: 1. The benefit is only for your child (called a "child-only" case) 2. Your parents' Social Security income is NOT counted against the child's eligibility 3. Your income is NOT counted since you wouldn't be part of that household for benefit purposes 4. Legal custody remains with you - this is about financial benefits only 5. Your child would receive cash aid (likely $550-650 per month depending on your county) 6. Your child would automatically qualify for Medi-Cal However, they must be able to verify that your son genuinely stays with them 5 nights per week. The county will likely request proof like school records showing their address, medical records, and statements from both you and them confirming the arrangement.

I just want to warn you that applying for this can be SUPER frustrating!!! When my mom tried to get benefits for my kids while I was working, they kept sending us in circles with paperwork. Then they'd lose documents we already submitted and make us start over. The whole process took almost 3 months and we had to file an appeal before they finally approved it. Just be prepared to be patient and keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit!!!

One more important thing to consider: If your parents get approved for CalWORKs for your son, they should also immediately apply for CalWORKs childcare assistance. Since they're providing childcare that allows you to work, they may qualify for subsidized childcare payments through the CalWORKs Stage 1 Child Care program. This is a separate application process, but it could provide additional financial support to your parents for watching your son. Also, make sure they report this change to their current CalWORKs worker right away. Their current tiny benefit might change or end when they start a new child-only case for your son.

Just pointing out something important - if your parents get approved for a child-only case, they'll have to submit a SAR-7 report every 6 months and a SAWS-2 recertification once a year. Make sure they report accurately and on time or benefits can stop. Also they need to report within 10 days if your living arrangement changes (like if your son stops staying with them 5 nights a week). The county sometimes does home visits to verify living situations for these types of cases.

Thank you everyone for all this information! I'm going to help my parents apply for the Non-Needy Caretaker Relative case for my son. We'll gather all the documentation showing he stays with them during the week while I work. I'll also look into the childcare assistance program - that could be a game-changer for us financially. I really appreciate all your advice and warnings about the application process. I'll make sure to keep copies of everything and follow up regularly. This community has been so helpful!

Just wanted to add that when your parents submit their application, they should ask for expedited processing if possible. Since you mentioned you're visiting food pantries and struggling financially, they might qualify for emergency assistance which can speed up the approval process. Also, if your son is already enrolled in any programs like WIC or receives free school meals, bring those documents too - it helps establish his needs and your family's financial situation. The eligibility worker should also inform your parents about other resources like food stamps (CalFresh) that your son might qualify for as part of their household. Every little bit helps when you're trying to make ends meet!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share that I went through a very similar situation last year with my grandmother caring for my daughter. The Non-Needy Caretaker Relative case was a lifesaver for us! A few things that helped our application go smoother: 1) We had my daughter's pediatrician write a letter confirming she receives regular care at my grandmother's address, 2) The preschool provided documentation showing my grandmother as the primary emergency contact and daily pickup person, and 3) We kept a simple log for a month showing which nights she stayed where (even though it was consistent, having it written down helped). The whole process took about 6-8 weeks, but the $587/month we now receive for my daughter has made such a huge difference. Also definitely apply for CalFresh at the same time - my daughter qualified for about $200/month in food benefits as part of my grandmother's household. Don't give up if they ask for additional documentation - it's normal and they're just making sure everything is legitimate. Wishing you and your family the best!