Can seniors qualify for CalWORKs Cash Aid or is there an age limit?

Yes, your mom CAN qualify for CalWORKs Cash Aid as a senior citizen! CalWORKs is California's version of Cash Aid (they're the same thing). The important thing is that she's caring for an eligible child relative (your niece). Age of the caretaker doesn't matter - it's about the child. As a senior raising her grandchild/relative, she would apply as what's called a "Non-Needy Caretaker Relative" since she receives her own Social Security. This means: 1. Only the child's needs are considered for the grant amount 2. Your mom would be EXEMPT from Welfare to Work (WTW) requirements because she's over 60 3. Her Social Security income may reduce the grant amount, but they don't count all of it She should definitely apply through BenefitsCal.com or at her county office. Make sure she brings proof she's the caretaker for your niece!

hi my grandma got cash aid for raising me when i was little! shes was like 72 when she started getting it. they didnt make her do any work stuff, the social worker just had her fill out paperwork about why my mom couldn't take care of me. think she had to verify like every 6 months or someting but it wasnt hard

To answer your specific questions: 1. Cash Aid is part of CalWORKs in California - they're the same program 2. There is NO maximum age limit for the adult applying, only requirements for the child 3. Senior citizens over 60 are automatically EXEMPT from Welfare to Work requirements 4. Your mom would apply as a "non-needy caretaker relative" since she has her own income 5. For a household with one child, the maximum grant is $675 (2025 amount) but her Social Security will reduce this Make sure when she applies that she specifically tells them she's applying as a non-needy caretaker relative for her grandchild. They may try to count her as part of the assistance unit which would complicate things with her Social Security income. The CalWORKs case should just have your niece on it, with your mom listed as the caretaker. She should also apply for CalFresh (food stamps) at the same time if she hasn't already!

I went through this exact thing with my dad who's raising my sister's kids! The county worker told him he didn't qualify because of his pension but that was WRONG. Had to fight them and show them the regulations. They were trying to count him in the "assistance unit" instead of as a non-needy caretaker. Make sure your mom specifically says "I want to apply as a non-needy caretaker relative" when she applies. The system is messed up and they don't train the workers properly about senior caretakers. My dad was denied twice before we got someone who knew what they were doing. So frustrating!!!!

To answer your question about how much she might receive - it depends on how much of her Social Security gets counted. They don't count all of it (they apply certain disregards), but some will count. For one child, the maximum grant is currently $675, but with her income, it might be reduced to around $200-400 depending on various factors. It's still worth applying! Also, make sure your mom requests the special needs diaper allowance if your niece still needs diapers - that's extra money on top of the regular grant.

If your mom has trouble reaching someone at the county when she calls (which is super common), I'd recommend trying Claimyr. It's a service that calls the county for you and gets you connected to a real person. Saved me hours of waiting when I was trying to sort out my aunt's CalWORKs case for my cousins. The site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE Might be worth it if your mom gets frustrated with the automated phone system. Seniors sometimes have a hard time with all the button pressing and menu options, and the county often disconnects you after a long wait.

Senior citizens can definitely get calworks but they don't tell u that at the office!! my mother in law gets it for my husband's little sister. shes 65. they tried telling her she had to do job search but when we showed them her ID proving her age they had to exempt her. make sure ur mom brings her ID!!!!

One more important thing - when your mom applies, make sure she also asks about: 1. CalFresh (SNAP/food stamps) - separate application but can be done at the same time 2. Medi-Cal for your niece if she doesn't already have it 3. Child care assistance if needed (though at 67 she might not need it) 4. Emergency clothing allowance - one-time payment for clothes for your niece If your niece has any special needs or disabilities, mention that too as there can be additional assistance available. Also, your mom will need to complete a SAR7 form every 6 months to report any changes and recertify annually. Make sure she knows these deadlines as missing them could stop the benefits.

Just wanted to add - if your mom gets overwhelmed with all the paperwork and requirements, see if your county has a senior services department that can help her navigate the application process. Many counties have case workers who specialize in helping older adults access benefits. Also, if she's denied initially (which sadly happens a lot with senior caretakers), don't give up! Request a hearing immediately. I've seen too many seniors get discouraged after the first denial when they actually qualify. The appeals process can be confusing but there are legal aid organizations that help with CalWORKs appeals for free. Your mom is doing an amazing thing raising your niece, and she deserves all the support available to help make that easier financially. Good luck with the application!

I'm so sorry for the loss of your sister, but it's wonderful that your mom stepped up to care for your niece. Based on all the great advice here, I wanted to add one more tip - when your mom applies, if possible, try to schedule an in-person appointment rather than just calling. Sometimes it's easier to explain the situation face-to-face and make sure they understand she's applying as a non-needy caretaker relative. Also, if your county has any community organizations that help with benefit applications (like United Way or local senior centers), they often have volunteers who can accompany seniors to appointments or help fill out paperwork. Some even know which county workers are more knowledgeable about these specific cases. Your mom is lucky to have you advocating for her! The fact that you're researching all this shows how much you care. Even if the cash aid amount ends up being modest after they factor in her Social Security, every bit helps when you're raising a child on a fixed income.

I'm a caseworker and want to emphasize something important - your mom should bring documentation showing her relationship to your niece when she applies. This could be a court order giving her custody/guardianship, or other legal documents showing she has the right to care for the child. Sometimes families assume verbal arrangements are enough, but the county will need proof of the caretaker relationship. Also, if there's any child support ordered for your niece (even if it's not being paid), make sure your mom reports that during the application. They need to know about any potential income sources for the child, even if they're not currently being received. One last thing - if your mom applies online through BenefitsCal, she can upload documents directly which sometimes speeds up processing. But given her age and the complexity of her situation as a senior caretaker, an in-person appointment might still be the best route to ensure everything is handled correctly from the start.

I just want to echo what everyone has said about being persistent if you get pushback initially. When I helped my neighbor (she's 71) apply for CalWORKs for her grandson, the first worker kept insisting she needed to do job search activities and kept trying to include her in the assistance unit. We had to ask for a supervisor who immediately knew the rules about senior caretakers. One thing I'd add - when you go to the appointment, write down the worker's name and ask them to note in the case file that your mom is applying specifically as a "non-needy caretaker relative over age 60" and is therefore exempt from WTW requirements. This creates a paper trail in case there are issues later. Also, don't be surprised if the process takes a while. My neighbor's case took about 6 weeks to get approved because it had to go through additional reviews since senior caretaker cases are less common. But once it was approved, she got retroactive payments back to when she applied. Your mom is doing such an important thing raising your niece, especially after such a loss. The system should be supporting families like yours, not making it harder!