Do I have to work for CalWORKs with a toddler and disabled adult child at home?

You might qualify for a caregiver exemption if you're caring for an ill or incapacitated household member. The county should evaluate this separately from your young child exemption. Ask your worker specifically about the "caregiver for disabled family member" exemption and request the paperwork. You'll need medical verification that your adult son requires full-time care and that you're the only available caregiver. Don't just accept what one worker says - sometimes they don't explain all the options available to you.

ur caseworker is wrong!! they always try to push ppl into WTW even when exempt. my cousin has similar situation w/ disabled grandmother and they tried same thing but she fought it. get documentation from ur sons doctor asap!!!

Did your caseworker set you up with an appointment yet for your WTW orientation? If not, you still have time to get this sorted out. When they scheduled mine, I waited until the orientation to bring up my issues (big mistake). Everything moved so fast and suddenly I was signed up for job search activities I couldn't possibly complete. Definitely get that exemption paperwork started ASAP before you get too far into the WTW process.

i had EXACT same situation but with my disabled mother instead of a child. they will make u get a doctor note saying she needs full time care. not ALL doctors will sign it tho, some say "part time care" which doesnt help. make sure doctor knows to check FULL TIME CARE box on the form!!!!!

Have you tried calling your caseworker back to discuss the caregiver exemption? I was trying to reach my worker for WEEKS about a similar issue and kept getting voicemail. Finally I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a real person at the CalWORKs office in like 15 minutes instead of waiting on hold all day. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE - totally worth it for situations like this where you need to talk to someone before a deadline.

One more important thing - even if you can't get the full exemption, you might qualify for modified WTW requirements. Some counties will allow you to do fewer hours or home-based activities if you have caregiving responsibilities. Ask about "good cause" for reduced participation or alternative WTW plans that accommodate your caregiving duties. The worst thing you can do is just not show up to the orientation - that will definitely lead to a sanction and reduced benefits.

Just to provide some clarity on the rules: CalWORKs allows exemptions for parents caring for young children under 24 months (one-time exemption), AND separately offers exemptions for individuals caring for ill or incapacitated household members. These are different exemptions. For your 19-month-old, you're likely reaching the end of that exemption period. For your adult son, you need to request the caregiver exemption specifically. Bring his medical records to your WTW orientation if you can't resolve it before then. The county should evaluate both situations independently, and it's entirely possible to transition from one exemption to another if you qualify.

I work with CalWORKs recipients, and this is a situation I see frequently. Here's what you need to do: 1. Contact your worker immediately and request form CW 2186A (Request for CalWORKs Exemption) 2. Schedule an appointment with your son's doctor to complete the form, explaining that he needs to document full-time care requirements 3. Submit this documentation BEFORE your WTW orientation if possible 4. If timing doesn't work out, attend the orientation but inform them you've applied for a caregiver exemption 5. Request your case be put on hold until the exemption determination is made Also, keep in mind that caring for a disabled family member can be challenging, so ask about supportive services like IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) if you haven't already applied. This program might provide payment for some of the care you provide to your adult son.

To answer your follow-up question - yes, IHSS can work alongside CalWORKs, but there are some important things to know. IHSS payments received for caring for your disabled adult son would count as income and could reduce your Cash Aid amount. However, the total between both programs is typically more than CalWORKs alone. Additionally, IHSS income may qualify you for an earned income exemption that lets you keep more of your benefits. It's worth looking into because it provides more stable long-term support, especially since CalWORKs has the 48-month lifetime limit.