Article 6 - Computation and Payment of Aid Grants

California Welfare and Institutions Code — §§ 11450-11469.3

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Sections (96)

Current Version

Amended (as amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 715, Sec. 2) by Stats. 2024, Ch. 798, Sec. 1. (SB 1415) Effective January 1, 2025. Section conditionally operative July 1, 2021, or later date, as prescribed by its own provisions. Conditionally inoperative on or after July 1, 2024, by its own provisions. Repealed conditionally by its own provisions. See later operative version, as amended by Sec. 2 of Stats. 2024, Ch. 798.

(a)(1) (A)    Aid shall be paid for each needy family, which shall include all eligible children of each eligible applicant or recipient child and the parents of the children, but shall not include a fetus, or recipients of aid under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12000), qualified for aid under this chapter. In determining the amount of aid paid, and notwithstanding the minimum basic standards of adequate care specified in Section 11452, the family’s income, exclusive of any amounts considered exempt as income or paid pursuant to subdivision (e) or Section 11453.1, determined for the prospective semiannual period pursuant to Sections 11265.1, 11265.2, and 11265.3, and then calculated pursuant to

Section 11451.5, shall be deducted from the sum specified in the following table, as adjusted for cost-of-living increases pursuant to Section 11453 and paragraph (2). In no case shall the amount of aid paid for each month exceed the sum specified in the following table, as adjusted for cost-of-living increases pursuant to Section 11453 and paragraph (2), plus any special needs, as specified in subdivisions (c), (e), and (f):

(B) If, when, and during those times that the United States government increases or decreases its contributions in assistance of needy children in this state above or below the amount paid on July 1, 1972, the amounts

specified in the above table shall be increased or decreased by an amount equal to that increase or decrease by the United States government, provided that no increase or decrease shall be subject to subsequent adjustment pursuant to Section 11453.

(2)The sums specified in paragraph (1) shall not be adjusted for cost of living for the 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, and 1997–98 fiscal years, and through October 31, 1998, nor shall that amount be included in the base for calculating any cost-of-living increases for any fiscal year thereafter. Elimination of the cost-of-living adjustment pursuant to this paragraph shall satisfy the requirements of former Section 11453.05, and no further reduction shall be made pursuant to that section.
(b)(1) (A) Until the date that paragraph (2) is effective, if the family does not include a needy child qualified for aid under this chapter, aid shall be paid to a pregnant child who is 18 years of age or younger at any time after verification of pregnancy, in the amount that would otherwise be paid to one person, as specified in subdivision (a), if the pregnant child and the child, if born, would have qualified for aid under this chapter. Verification of pregnancy shall be required as a condition of eligibility for aid under this paragraph.

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), and until the date that paragraph (2) is effective, if the family does not include a needy child qualified for aid under this chapter, aid shall be paid to a pregnant person for the month in which the birth is

anticipated and for the six-month period immediately prior to the month in which the birth is anticipated, in the amount that would otherwise be paid to one person, as specified in subdivision (a), if the pregnant person and child, if born, would have qualified for aid under this chapter. Verification of pregnancy is required as a condition of eligibility for aid under this paragraph.

(2)(A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the family does not include a needy child qualified for aid under this chapter, aid shall be paid to a pregnant person as of the date of the application for aid, in the amount that would otherwise be paid to one person, as specified in subdivision (a), if the pregnant person or the child, if born, would have qualified for aid under this chapter. Verification of pregnancy shall be required as a

condition of eligibility for aid under this paragraph.

(B)A pregnant person may provide verification of pregnancy as required in subparagraph (A) by means of a sworn statement or, if necessary, a verbal attestation. Medical verification of pregnancy shall be submitted within 30 working days following submission of the sworn statement or verbal attestation for benefits to continue. If the applicant fails to submit medical verification of pregnancy within 30 working days, the county human services agency shall continue aid when the applicant presents evidence of good faith efforts to comply with this requirement.
(C)(i) A person who receives aid pursuant to this paragraph shall report to the county, orally or in writing, within 30 days following the end of their

pregnancy.

(ii) Aid for persons under this paragraph shall discontinue at the end of the month following the month in which the person reports the end of their pregnancy to the county human services agency.

(iii) Prior to discontinuing aid for a person under this paragraph due to the end of their pregnancy, the county human services agency shall provide information about, and referral to, mental health services, including, but not limited to, services provided by the county human services agency, when appropriate.

(D)This paragraph shall take effect on July 1, 2022, or on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the California Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation

to implement this paragraph, whichever date is later.

(c)(1) The amount of forty-seven dollars ($47) per month shall be paid to a pregnant person qualified for aid under subdivision (a) or (b) to meet the special needs resulting from pregnancy if the pregnant person and child, if born, would have qualified for aid under this chapter. The county human services agency shall require a pregnant person to provide medical verification of pregnancy. The county human services agency shall refer all recipients of aid under this subdivision to a local provider of the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, and, commencing October 1, 2023, to perinatal home visiting services administered by the county public health agency, county human services agency, or applicable county home visiting provider.

If that payment to a pregnant person qualified for aid under subdivision (a) is considered income under federal law in the first five months of pregnancy, payments under this subdivision do not apply to a person eligible under subdivision (a), except for the month in which birth is anticipated and for the three-month period immediately prior to the month in which delivery is anticipated, if the pregnant person and child, if born, would have qualified for aid under this chapter.

(2)A pregnant person may provide the verification of pregnancy required by paragraph (1) by means of a sworn statement or, if necessary, a verbal attestation. Medical verification of pregnancy shall be submitted within 30 working days following submission of the sworn statement or verbal attestation for the pregnancy special need benefit to continue. If the pregnant person

fails to submit medical verification of pregnancy within 30 working days, the county human services agency shall continue the benefit when the applicant presents evidence of good faith efforts to comply with this requirement.

(3)Beginning May 1, 2022, or on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the California Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this paragraph, the special needs payment described in paragraph (1) shall be one hundred dollars ($100) per month.
(4)Beginning July 1, 2022, or on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the California Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this paragraph, the special needs payment described in this

subdivision shall discontinue at the end of the month following the month in which a person reports the end of their pregnancy to the county human services agency.

(d)For children receiving AFDC-FC under this chapter, there shall be paid, exclusive of any amount considered exempt as income, an amount of aid each month that, if added to the child’s income, is equal to the rate specified in Section 11460, 11461, 11462, or 11463. In addition, the child is eligible for special needs, as specified in departmental regulations.
(e)In addition to the amounts payable under subdivision (a) and former Section 11453.1, a family is entitled to receive an allowance for recurring special needs not common to a majority of recipients. These recurring special needs include, but are not limited

to, special diets upon the recommendation of a physician for circumstances other than pregnancy, and unusual costs of transportation, laundry, housekeeping services, telephone, and utilities. The recurring special needs allowance for each family per month shall not exceed that amount resulting from multiplying the sum of ten dollars ($10) by the number of recipients in the family who are eligible for assistance.

(f)(1) After a family has used all available liquid resources, both exempt and nonexempt, in excess of one hundred dollars ($100), with the exception of funds deposited in a restricted account described in subdivision (a) of Section 11155.2, the family is also entitled to receive an allowance for nonrecurring special needs. This paragraph does not apply to the allowance for nonrecurring special needs for homeless

assistance pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3).

(2)An allowance for nonrecurring special needs shall be granted for replacement of clothing and household equipment and for emergency housing needs other than those needs addressed by subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3). These needs shall be caused by sudden and unusual circumstances beyond the control of the needy family. The department shall establish the allowance for each of the nonrecurring special needs items. The sum of all nonrecurring special needs provided by this subdivision shall not

exceed six hundred dollars ($600) per event.

(3)(A) (i) An allowance for nonrecurring special needs for homeless assistance is available to a family that is homeless and seeking shelter when the family is eligible for aid under this chapter.

(ii) (I) Homeless assistance for temporary shelter is also available to families that are homeless and seeking shelter that are apparently eligible for aid under this chapter. Apparent eligibility exists when evidence presented by the applicant, or that is otherwise available to the county human services agency, and the information provided on the application documents indicate that there would be eligibility for aid under this chapter if the evidence and

information were verified. However, a noncitizen applicant who does not provide verification of their eligible immigrant status, or a person with no eligible children who does not provide verification of their pregnancy, is not apparently eligible for purposes of this section.

(II) A pregnant person may provide verification of pregnancy, as required in subclause (I), by means of a sworn statement or, if necessary, a verbal attestation. Medical verification of pregnancy shall be submitted within 30 working days following submission of the sworn statement or verbal attestation for benefits to continue. If the applicant fails to submit medical verification of pregnancy within 30 working days, the county human services agency shall continue aid when the applicant presents evidence of good faith efforts to comply with this requirement.

(iii) Homeless assistance for temporary shelter is also available to families that are homeless and seeking shelter that would be eligible for aid under this chapter but for the fact that the only child or children in the family are in out-of-home placement pursuant to an order of the dependency court, if the family is receiving reunification services and the county determines that homeless assistance is necessary for reunification to occur.

(B)A family is considered homeless, for the purpose of this section, when the family lacks a fixed and regular nighttime residence, the family has a primary nighttime residence that is a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations, or the family is residing in a public or private place

not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings. A family is also considered homeless for the purpose of this section if the family has received a notice to pay rent or quit.

(4)(A) (i) A nonrecurring special needs benefit of eighty-five dollars ($85) a day shall be available to families of up to four members for the costs of temporary shelter, subject to the requirements of this paragraph. The fifth and additional members of the family shall each receive fifteen dollars ($15) per day, up to a daily maximum of one hundred forty-five dollars ($145). County human services agencies may increase the daily amount available for temporary shelter as necessary to secure the additional bedspace needed by the family.

(ii) This special needs benefit shall be granted or denied the same day as the family’s application for homeless assistance, and benefits shall be available for up to three working days. Upon applying for homeless assistance, the family shall provide a sworn statement that the family is homeless. If the family meets the criteria of questionable homelessness, which means that there is reason to suspect that the family has permanent housing, the county human services agency shall refer the family to its early fraud prevention and detection unit, if the county has such a unit, for assistance in the verification of homelessness within this period.

(iii) After homelessness has been verified, the three-day limit shall be extended for a period of time that, when added to the initial benefits provided, does not exceed a total of 16 calendar days. This

extension of benefits shall be done in increments of one week, and shall be based upon searching for permanent housing, which shall be documented on a housing search form, good cause, or other circumstances defined by the department. Documentation of a housing search is required for the initial extension of benefits beyond the three-day limit and on a weekly basis thereafter if the family is receiving temporary shelter benefits. Good cause shall include, but is not limited to, situations in which the county human services agency has determined that the family, to the extent it is capable, has made a good faith but unsuccessful effort to secure permanent housing while receiving temporary shelter benefits or that the family is homeless as a direct and primary result of a state or federally declared disaster.

(iv) Notwithstanding clauses (ii)

and (iii), the county may waive the three-day limit and may provide benefits in increments of more than one week for a family that becomes homeless as a direct and primary result of a state or federally declared disaster.

(B)(i) A nonrecurring special needs benefit for permanent housing assistance is available to pay for last month’s rent and security deposits if these payments are conditions of

securing a residence, or to pay for up to two months of rent arrearages, if these payments are a reasonable condition of preventing eviction.

(ii) The last month’s rent or monthly arrearage portion of the payment shall meet both of the following requirements:

(I)(ia) It shall not exceed 80 percent of the family’s total monthly household income without the value of CalFresh benefits or special needs benefit for a family of that size.

(ib) Beginning January 1, 2026, or on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the California Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this paragraph, whichever date is later, and for purposes of this subparagraph,

the county human services agency shall include in the calculation of the family’s total monthly household income any amount that is regularly received or will be regularly received from other government and nonprofit housing and homeless subsidy programs and any regularly received private support intended or designed to help the family with housing, such as financial support from an individual outside the household. The additional sources of income described in the previous sentence shall not be included in the calculation of the family’s income for purposes of calculating the amount of aid paid pursuant to subdivision (a).

(II) (ia) It shall only be made to families that have found permanent housing costing no more than 80 percent of the family’s total monthly household income without the value of CalFresh benefits

or special needs benefit for a family of that size.

(ib) Beginning January 1, 2026, or on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the California Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this paragraph, whichever date is later, and for purposes of this subparagraph, the county human services agency shall include in the calculation of the family’s total monthly household income any amount that is regularly received or will be regularly received from other government and nonprofit housing and homeless subsidy programs and any regularly received private support intended or designed to help the family with housing, such as financial support from an individual outside the household. The additional sources of income described in the previous sentence shall not be included in the

calculation of the family’s income for purposes of calculating the amount of aid paid pursuant to subdivision (a).

(iii) However, if the county human services agency determines that a family intends to reside with individuals who will be sharing housing costs, the county human services agency shall, in appropriate circumstances, set aside the condition specified in subclause (II) of clause (ii).

(C)The nonrecurring special needs benefit for permanent housing assistance is also available to cover the standard costs of deposits for utilities that are necessary for the health and safety of the family.
(D)A payment for, or denial of, permanent housing assistance shall be issued no later than one working day from the time

that a family presents evidence of the availability of permanent housing. If an applicant family provides evidence of the availability of permanent housing before the county human services agency has established eligibility for aid under this chapter, the county human services agency shall complete the eligibility determination so that the payment for, or denial of, permanent housing assistance is issued within one working day from the submission of evidence of the availability of permanent housing, unless the family has failed to provide all of the verification necessary to establish eligibility for aid under this chapter.

(E)(i) Except as provided in clauses (ii) and (iii), eligibility for the temporary shelter assistance and the permanent housing assistance pursuant to this paragraph is limited to the number of days

allowable under subparagraph (A) for temporary shelter assistance and one payment of permanent housing assistance every 12 months. A person who applies for homeless assistance benefits shall be informed that, with certain exceptions, the temporary shelter benefit is limited to the number of days allowable under subparagraph (A) for the 12-month period.

(ii) (I) A family that becomes homeless as a direct and primary result of a state or federally declared disaster is eligible for homeless assistance.

(II) If there is a state or federally declared disaster in a county, the county human services agency shall coordinate with public and private disaster response organizations and agencies to identify and inform recipients of their eligibility for homeless

assistance available pursuant to subclause (H).

(iii) A family is eligible for homeless assistance if homelessness is a direct result of domestic violence by a spouse, partner, or roommate; physical or mental illness that is medically verified that shall not include a diagnosis of alcoholism, drug addiction, or

psychological stress; or the uninhabitability of the former residence caused by sudden and unusual circumstances beyond the control of the family, including natural catastrophe, fire, or condemnation. These circumstances shall be verified by a third-party governmental or private health and human services agency, except that domestic violence may also be verified by a sworn statement by the victim, as provided under Section 11495.25. Homeless assistance payments based on these specific circumstances may not be received more often than once in any 12-month period. In addition, if the domestic violence is verified by a sworn statement by the victim, the homeless assistance payments shall be limited to two periods of not more than 16 cumulative calendar days of temporary shelter assistance and two payments of permanent housing assistance. A county may require that a recipient of homeless

assistance benefits who qualifies under this paragraph for a second time in a 24-month period participate in a homelessness avoidance case plan as a condition of eligibility for homeless assistance benefits. However, commencing October 1, 2023, a county may require participation in that homelessness avoidance case plan as a condition of eligibility only if the county has also provided a housing navigation caseworker who can assist with securing permanent housing and housing case management services. The county human services agency shall immediately inform recipients who verify domestic violence by a sworn statement of the availability of domestic violence counseling and services, and refer those recipients to services upon request.

(iv) If a county requires a recipient who verifies domestic violence by a sworn statement to

participate in a homelessness avoidance case plan pursuant to clause (iii), the plan shall include the provision of domestic violence services, if appropriate.

(v)If a recipient seeking homeless assistance based on domestic violence pursuant to clause (iii) has previously received homeless avoidance services based on domestic violence, the county shall review whether services were offered to the recipient and consider what additional services would assist the recipient in leaving the domestic violence situation.

(vi) The county human services agency shall report necessary data to the department through a statewide homeless assistance payment indicator system, as requested by the department, regarding all recipients of aid under this paragraph.

(F) Payments to providers for temporary shelter and permanent housing and utilities shall be made on behalf of families requesting these payments.

(G) The daily amount for the temporary shelter special needs benefit for homeless assistance may be increased if authorized by the current year’s Budget Act by specifying a different daily allowance and appropriating the funds therefor.

(H) A payment shall not be made pursuant to this paragraph unless the provider of housing is any of the following:

(i)A commercial establishment.

(ii) A shelter.

(iii) A person with whom, or an establishment with which, the family requesting assistance has executed a valid lease, sublease, or shared housing agreement.

(I) (i) A CalWORKs applicant who provides a sworn statement of past or present domestic abuse and who is fleeing their abuser is deemed to be homeless and is eligible for temporary shelter assistance under clause (i) of subparagraph (A) and under subparagraph (E), notwithstanding any income and assets attributable to the alleged abuser.

(ii) The homeless assistance payments issued under this subparagraph shall be granted the same day as the family’s application, and benefits shall be available in increments of 16 days of temporary shelter assistance pursuant to clause (i) of subparagraph

(A). The homeless assistance payments shall be limited to two periods of not more than 16 cumulative calendar days each of temporary shelter assistance within the applicant’s lifetime. The second 16-day period shall continue to be available when the applicant becomes a CalWORKs recipient during the first 16-day period. The homeless assistance payments issued under this subparagraph shall be in addition to other payments for which the CalWORKs applicant, if the applicant becomes a CalWORKs recipient, may later qualify under this subdivision.

(iii) For purposes of this subparagraph, the housing search documentation described in clause (iii) of subparagraph (A) shall be required only upon issuance of an immediate need payment pursuant to Section 11266 or the issuance of benefits for the month of application.

(g)The department shall establish rules and regulations ensuring the uniform statewide application of this section.
(h)The department shall notify all applicants and recipients of aid through the standardized application form that these benefits are available and shall provide an opportunity for recipients to apply for the funds quickly and efficiently.
(i)The department shall work with county human services

agencies, the County Welfare Directors Association of California, and advocates of CalWORKs recipients to gather information regarding the actual costs of a nightly shelter and best practices for transitioning families from a temporary shelter to permanent housing, and to provide that information to the Legislature, to be submitted annually in accordance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(j)(1) Except for the purposes of Section 15200, the amounts payable to recipients pursuant to Section 11453.1 shall not constitute part of the payment schedule set forth in subdivision (a).
(2)The amounts payable to recipients pursuant to Section 11453.1 shall not constitute income to recipients of aid under this section.
(k)For children receiving Kin-GAP pursuant to Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 11360) or Article 4.7 (commencing with Section 11385), there shall be paid, exclusive of any amount considered exempt as income, an amount of aid each month, which, when added to the child’s income, is equal to the rate specified in Sections 11364 and 11387.
(l)(1) A county shall implement the semiannual reporting requirements in accordance with Chapter 501 of the Statutes of 2011 no later than October 1, 2013.
(2)Upon completion of the implementation described in paragraph (1), each county shall provide a certificate to the director certifying that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county.
(3)Upon filing the certificate described in paragraph (2), a county shall comply with the semiannual reporting provisions of this section.
(m)(1) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the State Department of Social Services may implement and administer this section by means of all-county letters or similar instructions from the department until regulations are adopted. These all-county letters or similar written instructions shall have the same force and effect as regulations until the adoption of regulations.
(2)The department shall adopt emergency

regulations no later than 18 months following the completion of all necessary automation to implement this section. The department may readopt any emergency regulation authorized by this section that is the same as, or substantially equivalent to, an emergency regulation previously adopted under this section.

(3)The initial adoption of emergency regulations pursuant to this section and one readoption of emergency regulations shall be deemed an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare. Initial emergency regulations and the one readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be exempt from review by the Office of Administrative Law. The initial emergency regulations and the one readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this section shall

be submitted to the Office of Administrative Law for filing with the Secretary of State and each shall remain in effect for no more than 180 days, by which time final regulations shall be adopted.

(n)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2021, or on the date the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this section, whichever date is later.
(o)Notwithstanding subdivision (n), the individual changes imposed by the act adding this section that result in a cost shall become operative only if necessary funds are appropriated for these changes in the annual Budget Act or another statute for these purposes.
(p)This section

shall become inoperative on July 1, 2024, or on the date the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement Section 11450, as added by Section 3 of the act that added this subdivision, whichever date is later, and is repealed on January 1 of the following year.

Future Version

Amended (as added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 715, Sec. 3) by Stats. 2024, Ch. 798, Sec. 2. (SB 1415) Effective January 1, 2025. Conditionally operative on or after July 1, 2024, by its own provisions.

(a)(1) (A)    Aid shall be paid for each needy family, which shall include all eligible children of each eligible applicant or recipient child and the parents of the children, but shall not include a fetus, or recipients of aid under Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 12000), qualified for aid under this chapter. In determining the amount of aid paid, and notwithstanding the minimum basic standards of adequate care specified in Section 11452, the family’s income, exclusive of any amounts considered exempt as income or paid pursuant to subdivision (e) or Section 11453.1, determined for the prospective semiannual period pursuant to Sections 11265.1, 11265.2, and 11265.3, and then calculated pursuant to

Section 11451.5, shall be deducted from the sum specified in the following table, as adjusted for cost-of-living increases pursuant to Section 11453 and paragraph (2). In no case shall the amount of aid paid for each month exceed the sum specified in the following table, as adjusted for cost-of-living increases pursuant to Section 11453 and paragraph (2), plus any special needs, as specified in subdivisions (c), (e), and (f):

(B) If, when, and during those times that the United States government increases or decreases its contributions in

assistance of needy children in this state above or below the amount paid on July 1, 1972, the amounts specified in the above table shall be increased or decreased by an amount equal to that increase or decrease by the United States government, provided that no increase or decrease shall be subject to subsequent adjustment pursuant to Section 11453.

(2)The sums specified in paragraph (1) shall not be adjusted for cost of living for the 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, and 1997–98 fiscal years, and through October 31, 1998, nor shall that amount be included in the base for calculating any cost-of-living increases for any fiscal year thereafter. Elimination of the cost-of-living adjustment pursuant to this paragraph shall satisfy the requirements of former Section 11453.05, and no further reduction shall

be made pursuant to that section.

(b)(1) (A) Until the date that paragraph (2) is effective, if the family does not include a needy child qualified for aid under this chapter, aid shall be paid to a pregnant child who is 18 years of age or younger at any time after verification of pregnancy, in the amount that would otherwise be paid to one person, as specified in subdivision (a), if the pregnant child and the child, if born, would have qualified for aid under this chapter. Verification of pregnancy shall be required as a condition of eligibility for aid under this paragraph.

(B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), and until the date that paragraph (2) is effective, if the family does not include a needy child qualified for aid under

this chapter, aid shall be paid to a pregnant person for the month in which the birth is anticipated and for the six-month period immediately prior to the month in which the birth is anticipated, in the amount that would otherwise be paid to one person, as specified in subdivision (a), if the pregnant person and child, if born, would have qualified for aid under this chapter. Verification of pregnancy is required as a condition of eligibility for aid under this paragraph.

(2)(A) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the family does not include a needy child qualified for aid under this chapter, aid shall be paid to a pregnant person as of the date of the application for aid, in the amount that would otherwise be paid to one person, as specified in subdivision (a), if the pregnant person or the child, if born, would have

qualified for aid under this chapter. Verification of pregnancy shall be required as a condition of eligibility for aid under this paragraph.

(B)A pregnant person may provide verification of pregnancy as required in subparagraph (A) by means of a sworn statement or, if necessary, a verbal attestation. Medical verification of pregnancy shall be submitted within 30 working days following submission of the sworn statement or verbal attestation for benefits to continue. If the applicant fails to submit medical verification of pregnancy within 30 working days, the county human services agency shall continue aid when the applicant presents evidence of good faith efforts to comply with this requirement.
(C)(i) A person who receives aid pursuant to this paragraph shall

report to the county, orally or in writing, within 30 days following the end of their pregnancy.

(ii) Aid for persons under this paragraph shall discontinue at the end of the month following the month in which the person reports the end of their pregnancy to the county human services agency.

(iii) Prior to discontinuing aid for a person under this paragraph due to the end of their pregnancy, the county human services agency shall provide information about, and referral to, mental health services, including, but not limited to, services provided by the county human services agency, when appropriate.

(D)This paragraph shall take effect on July 1, 2022, or on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the

California Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this paragraph, whichever date is later.

(c)(1) The amount of forty-seven dollars ($47) per month shall be paid to a pregnant person qualified for aid under subdivision (a) or (b) to meet the special needs resulting from pregnancy if the pregnant person and child, if born, would have qualified for aid under this chapter. The county human services agency shall require a pregnant person to provide medical verification of pregnancy. The county human services agency shall refer all recipients of aid under this subdivision to a local provider of the California Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, and perinatal home visiting services administered by the county public health agency, county human

services agency, or applicable county home visiting provider. If that payment to a pregnant person qualified for aid under subdivision (a) is considered income under federal law in the first five months of pregnancy, payments under this subdivision do not apply to a person eligible under subdivision (a), except for the month in which birth is anticipated and for the three-month period immediately prior to the month in which delivery is anticipated, if the pregnant person and child, if born, would have qualified for aid under this chapter.

(2)A pregnant person may provide the verification of pregnancy required by paragraph (1) by means of a sworn statement or, if necessary, a verbal attestation. Medical verification of pregnancy shall be submitted within 30 working days following submission of the sworn statement or verbal attestation for the

pregnancy special need benefit to continue. If the pregnant person fails to submit medical verification of pregnancy within 30 working days, the county human services agency shall continue the benefit when the applicant presents evidence of good faith efforts to comply with this requirement.

(3)Beginning May 1, 2022, or on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the California Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this paragraph, the special needs payment described in paragraph (1) shall be one hundred dollars ($100) per month.
(4)Beginning July 1, 2022, or on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the California Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement

this paragraph, the special needs payment described in this subdivision shall discontinue at the end of the month following the month in which a person reports the end of their pregnancy to the county human services agency.

(d)For children receiving AFDC-FC under this chapter, there shall be paid, exclusive of any amount considered exempt as income, an amount of aid each month that, if added to the child’s income, is equal to the rate specified in Section 11460, 11461, 11462, or 11463. In addition, the child is eligible for special needs, as specified in departmental regulations.
(e)In addition to the amounts payable under subdivision (a) and former Section 11453.1, a family is entitled to receive an allowance for recurring special needs not common to a majority of recipients.

These recurring special needs include, but are not limited to, special diets upon the recommendation of a physician for circumstances other than pregnancy, and unusual costs of transportation, laundry, housekeeping services, telephone, and utilities. The recurring special needs allowance for each family per month shall not exceed that amount resulting from multiplying the sum of ten dollars ($10) by the number of recipients in the family who are eligible for assistance.

(f)(1) After a family has used all available liquid resources, both exempt and nonexempt, in excess of one hundred dollars ($100), with the exception of funds deposited in a restricted account described in subdivision (a) of Section 11155.2, the family is also entitled to receive an allowance for nonrecurring special needs. This paragraph does not apply

to the allowance for nonrecurring special needs for homeless assistance pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3).

(2)An allowance for nonrecurring special needs shall be granted for replacement of clothing and household equipment and for emergency housing needs other than those needs addressed by subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3). These needs shall be caused by sudden and unusual circumstances beyond the control of the needy family. The department shall establish the allowance for each of the nonrecurring special needs items. The sum of all nonrecurring special needs provided by this subdivision shall not

exceed six hundred dollars ($600) per event.

(3)(A) (i) An allowance for nonrecurring special needs for homeless assistance is available to a family that is homeless and seeking shelter when the family is eligible for aid under this chapter.

(ii) (I) Homeless assistance for temporary shelter is also available to families that are homeless and seeking shelter that are apparently eligible for aid under this chapter. Apparent eligibility exists when evidence presented by the applicant, or that is otherwise available to the county human services agency, and the information provided on the application documents indicate that there would be eligibility for aid under this chapter if the evidence and information were

verified. However, a noncitizen applicant who does not provide verification of their eligible immigrant status, or a person with no eligible children who does not provide verification of their pregnancy, is not apparently eligible for purposes of this section.

(II) A pregnant person may provide verification of pregnancy, as required in subclause (I), by means of a sworn statement or, if necessary, a verbal attestation. Medical verification of pregnancy shall be submitted within 30 working days following submission of the sworn statement or verbal attestation for benefits to continue. If the applicant fails to submit medical verification of pregnancy within 30 working days, the county human services agency shall continue aid when the applicant presents evidence of good faith efforts to comply with this requirement.

(iii) Homeless assistance for temporary shelter is also available to families that are homeless and seeking shelter that would be eligible for aid under this chapter but for the fact that the only child or children in the family are in out-of-home placement pursuant to an order of the dependency court, if the family is receiving reunification services and the county determines that homeless assistance is necessary for reunification to occur.

(B)A family is considered homeless, for the purpose of this section, when the family lacks a fixed and regular nighttime residence, the family has a primary nighttime residence that is a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations, or the family is residing in a public or private place

not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings. A family is also considered homeless for the purpose of this section if the family has received a notice to pay rent or quit, or any notice that could lead to an eviction, regardless of the circumstances cited in the notice.

(4)(A) (i) A nonrecurring special needs benefit of eighty-five dollars ($85) a day shall be available to families of up to four members for the costs of temporary shelter, subject to the requirements of this paragraph. The fifth and additional members of the family shall each receive fifteen dollars ($15) per day, up to a daily maximum of one hundred forty-five dollars ($145). County human services agencies may increase the daily amount available for temporary shelter as necessary to

secure the additional bedspace needed by the family.

(ii) This special needs benefit shall be granted or denied the same day as the family’s application for homeless assistance, and benefits shall be available for up to three working days. Upon applying for homeless assistance, the family shall provide a sworn statement that the family is homeless. If the family meets the criteria of questionable homelessness, which means that there is reason to suspect that the family has permanent housing, the county human services agency shall refer the family to its early fraud prevention and detection unit, if the county has such a unit, for assistance in the verification of homelessness within this period.

(iii) After homelessness has been verified, the three-day limit shall be extended

for a period of time that, when added to the initial benefits provided, does not exceed a total of 16 calendar days. This extension of benefits shall be done in increments of one week, and shall be based upon searching for permanent housing, which shall be documented on a housing search form, good cause, or other circumstances defined by the department. Documentation of a housing search is required for the initial extension of benefits beyond the three-day limit and on a weekly basis thereafter if the family is receiving temporary shelter benefits. Good cause shall include, but is not limited to, situations in which the county human services agency has determined that the family, to the extent it is capable, has made a good faith but unsuccessful effort to secure permanent housing while receiving temporary shelter benefits or that the family is homeless as a direct and primary result of a state or

federally declared disaster.

(iv) Notwithstanding clauses (ii) and (iii), the county may waive the three-day limit and may provide benefits in increments of more than one week for a family that becomes homeless as a direct and primary result of a state or federally declared disaster.

(B)(i) A nonrecurring special needs benefit for permanent housing assistance is available to pay for last month’s rent and security deposits if these payments are conditions of securing a residence, or to pay for up to two months of rent arrearages, if these payments are a reasonable condition of preventing eviction.

(ii) The last month’s rent or monthly arrearage portion of the payment shall meet both of the following

requirements:

(I)(ia)  It shall not exceed 80 percent of the family’s total monthly household income without the value of CalFresh benefits or special needs benefit for a family of that size.

(ib) Beginning January 1, 2026, or on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the California Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this paragraph, whichever date is later, and for purposes of this subparagraph, the county human services agency shall include in the calculation of the family’s total monthly household income any amount that is regularly received or will be regularly received from other government and nonprofit housing and homeless subsidy programs and any regularly received private support

intended or designed to help the family with housing, such as financial support from an individual outside the household. The additional sources of income described in the previous sentence shall not be included in the calculation of the family’s income for purposes of calculating the amount of aid paid pursuant to subdivision (a).

(II) (ia)  It shall only be made to families that have found permanent housing costing no more than 80 percent of the family’s total monthly household income without the value of CalFresh benefits or special needs benefit for a family of that size.

(ib) Beginning January 1, 2026, or on the date that the department notifies the Legislature that the California Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to

implement this paragraph, whichever date is later, and for purposes of this subparagraph, the county human services agency shall include in the calculation of the family’s total monthly household income any amount that is regularly received or will be regularly received from other government and nonprofit housing and homeless subsidy programs and any regularly received private support intended or designed to help the family with housing, such as financial support from an individual outside the household. The additional sources of income described in the previous sentence shall not be included in the calculation of the family’s income for purposes of calculating the amount of aid paid pursuant to subdivision (a).

(iii) However, if the county human services agency determines that a family intends to reside with individuals who will be sharing housing

costs, the county human services agency shall, in appropriate circumstances, set aside the condition specified in subclause (II) of clause (ii).

(C)The nonrecurring special needs benefit for permanent housing assistance is also available to cover the standard costs of deposits for utilities that are necessary for the health and safety of the family.
(D)A payment for, or denial of, permanent housing assistance shall be issued no later than one working day from the time that a family presents evidence of the availability of permanent housing.

If an applicant family provides evidence of the availability of permanent housing before the county human services agency has established eligibility for aid under this chapter, the county human services agency shall complete the eligibility determination so that the payment for, or denial of, permanent housing assistance is issued within one working day from the submission of evidence of the availability of permanent housing, unless the family has failed to provide all of the verification necessary to establish eligibility for aid under this chapter.

(E)(i) Except as provided in clauses (ii) and (iii), eligibility for the temporary shelter assistance and the permanent housing assistance pursuant to this paragraph is limited to the number of days allowable under subparagraph (A) for temporary shelter assistance

and one payment of permanent housing assistance every 12 months. A person who applies for homeless assistance benefits shall be informed that, with certain exceptions, the temporary shelter benefit is limited to the number of days allowable under subparagraph (A) for the 12-month period.

(ii) (I) A family that becomes homeless as a direct and primary result of a state or federally declared disaster is eligible for homeless assistance.

(II) If there is a state or federally declared disaster in a county, the county human services agency shall coordinate with public and private disaster response organizations and agencies to identify and inform recipients of their eligibility for homeless assistance available pursuant to subclause (H).

(iii) A family is eligible for homeless assistance if homelessness is a direct result of domestic violence by a spouse, partner, or roommate, including, but not limited to, a parent or child with whom they were living; physical or mental illness that is medically verified that shall not include a diagnosis of alcoholism, drug addiction, or psychological stress; or the uninhabitability of the former residence caused by sudden and unusual circumstances beyond the control of the family, including natural catastrophe, fire, or condemnation. These circumstances shall be verified by a third-party governmental or private health and human services agency, except that domestic violence may also be verified by a sworn statement by the victim, as provided under Section 11495.25. Homeless assistance payments based on these specific circumstances may

not be received more often than once in any 12-month period. In addition, if the domestic violence is verified by a sworn statement by the victim, the homeless assistance payments shall be limited to two periods of not more than 16 cumulative calendar days of temporary shelter assistance and two payments of permanent housing assistance. A county may require that a recipient of homeless assistance benefits who qualifies under this paragraph for a second time in a 24-month period participate in a homelessness avoidance case plan as a condition of eligibility for homeless assistance benefits, but only if the county has also provided a housing navigation caseworker who can assist with securing permanent housing and housing case management services. The county human services agency shall immediately inform recipients who verify domestic violence by a sworn statement of the availability of domestic

violence counseling and services, and refer those recipients to services upon request.

(iv) If a county requires a recipient who verifies domestic violence by a sworn statement to participate in a homelessness avoidance case plan pursuant to clause (iii), the plan shall include the provision of domestic violence services, if appropriate.

(v)If a recipient seeking homeless assistance based on domestic violence pursuant to clause (iii) has previously received homeless avoidance services based on domestic violence, the county shall review whether services were offered to the recipient and consider what additional services would assist the recipient in leaving the domestic violence situation.

(vi) The county human services

agency shall report necessary data to the department through a statewide homeless assistance payment indicator system, as requested by the department, regarding all recipients of aid under this paragraph.

(F) Payments to providers for temporary shelter and permanent housing and utilities shall be made on behalf of families requesting these payments.

(G) The daily amount for the temporary shelter special needs benefit for homeless assistance may be increased if authorized by the current year’s Budget Act by specifying a different daily allowance and appropriating the funds therefor.

(H) A payment shall not be made pursuant to this paragraph unless the provider of housing is any of the following:

(i)A commercial establishment.

(ii) A shelter.

(iii) A person with whom, or an establishment with which, the family requesting assistance has executed a valid lease, sublease, or shared housing agreement.

(I) (i) A CalWORKs applicant who provides a sworn statement of past or present domestic abuse and who is fleeing their abuser is deemed to be homeless and is eligible for temporary shelter

assistance under clause (i) of subparagraph (A) and under subparagraph (E), notwithstanding any income and assets attributable to the alleged abuser.

(ii) The homeless assistance payments issued under this subparagraph shall be granted the same day as the family’s application, and benefits shall be available in increments of 16 days of temporary shelter assistance pursuant to clause (i) of subparagraph (A). The homeless assistance payments shall be limited to two periods of not more than 16 cumulative calendar days each of temporary shelter assistance within the applicant’s lifetime. The second 16-day period shall continue to be available when the applicant becomes a CalWORKs recipient during the first 16-day period. The homeless assistance payments issued under this subparagraph shall be in addition to other payments for

which the CalWORKs applicant, if the applicant becomes a CalWORKs recipient, may later qualify under this subdivision.

(iii) For purposes of this subparagraph, the housing search documentation described in clause (iii) of subparagraph (A) shall be required only upon issuance of an immediate need payment pursuant to Section 11266 or the issuance of benefits for the month of application.

(g)The department shall establish rules and regulations ensuring the uniform statewide application of this section.
(h)The department shall notify all applicants and recipients of aid through the standardized application form that these benefits are available and shall provide an opportunity for recipients to

apply for the funds quickly and efficiently.

(i)The department shall work with county human services

agencies, the County Welfare Directors Association of California, and advocates of CalWORKs recipients to gather information regarding the actual costs of a nightly shelter and best practices for transitioning families from a temporary shelter to permanent housing, and to provide that information to the Legislature, to be submitted annually in accordance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(j)(1) Except for the purposes of Section 15200, the amounts payable to recipients pursuant to Section 11453.1 shall not constitute part of the payment schedule set forth in subdivision (a).
(2)The amounts payable to recipients pursuant to Section 11453.1 shall not constitute income to recipients of aid under this section.
(k)For children receiving Kin-GAP pursuant to Article 4.5 (commencing with Section 11360) or Article 4.7 (commencing with Section 11385), there shall be paid, exclusive of any amount considered exempt as income, an amount of aid each month, which, when added to the child’s income, is equal to the rate specified in Sections 11364 and 11387.
(l)(1) A county shall implement the semiannual reporting requirements in accordance with Chapter 501 of the Statutes of 2011 no later than October 1, 2013.
(2)Upon completion of the implementation described in paragraph (1), each county shall provide a certificate to the director certifying that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county.
(3)Upon filing the certificate described in paragraph (2), a county shall comply with the semiannual reporting provisions of this section.
(m)(1) Notwithstanding the rulemaking provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), the State Department of Social Services may implement and administer this section by means of all-county letters or similar instructions from the department until regulations are adopted. These all-county letters or similar written instructions shall have the same force and effect as regulations until the adoption of regulations.
(2)The department shall adopt

emergency regulations no later than 18 months following the completion of all necessary automation to implement this section. The department may readopt any emergency regulation authorized by this section that is the same as, or substantially equivalent to, an emergency regulation previously adopted under this section.

(3)The initial adoption of emergency regulations pursuant to this section and one readoption of emergency regulations shall be deemed an emergency and necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, or general welfare. Initial emergency regulations and the one readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this section shall be exempt from review by the Office of Administrative Law. The initial emergency regulations and the one readoption of emergency regulations authorized by this section

shall be submitted to the Office of Administrative Law for filing with the Secretary of State and each shall remain in effect for no more than 180 days, by which time final regulations shall be adopted.

(n)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2024, or on the date the department notifies the Legislature that the Statewide Automated Welfare System can perform the necessary automation to implement this section, whichever date is later.

Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 206, Sec. 3. Effective July 22, 1996.

(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, commencing October 1, 1992, the maximum aid payments specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450 in effect on July 1, 1992, shall be reduced by 4.5 percent.
(b)(1) The department shall seek the approval from the United States Department of

Health and Human Services that is necessary to reduce the maximum aid payments specified in subdivision (a) by an additional amount equal to 1.3 percent of the maximum aid payments specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450 in effect on July 1, 1992.

(2)The reduction provided by this subdivision shall be made on the first day of the month following 30 days after the date of approval by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 206, Sec. 4. Effective July 22, 1996.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the maximum aid payments in effect on June 30, 1993, in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450 as reduced by subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 11450.01, shall be reduced by 2.7 percent beginning the first of the month following 60 days after the enactment of this section.

Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 206, Sec. 5. Effective July 22, 1996.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the maximum aid payment in effect on June 30, 1994, in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450 as reduced by subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 11450.01 and Section 11450.015, shall be reduced by 2.3 percent beginning the first of the month following 50 days after the effective date of this section.

Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 270, Sec. 132. Effective August 11, 1997. Amending action operative August 18, 1997, pursuant to Secs. 183 and 187 of Ch. 270. Section conditionally operative as provided in subd. (d).

(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the maximum aid payment in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450 as reduced by subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section

11450.01, Section 11450.015, and Section 11450.017, shall be reduced by 4.9 percent for counties in Region 2, as specified in Section 11452.018.

(b)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, through October 31, 1998, the maximum aid payment in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450, as reduced by subdivision (a) and (b) of Section 11450.01, Section 11450.015, Section 11450.017, and subdivision (a) shall be reduced by 4.9 percent.
(c)Prior to implementing the reductions specified in subdivisions (a) and (b), the director shall apply for and obtain a waiver from the United States Department of Health and Human Services of Section 1396a(c)(1) of Title 42 of the United States Code. The reduction shall be implemented to the extent the waiver is granted and only so long as the waiver is effective. This subdivision shall not apply if either the federal

waiver process set forth at Section 1315 of Title 42 of the United States Code or Section 1396a(c) is repealed or modified such that a waiver is not necessary to implement subdivision (a) or (b).

(d)This section shall become operative and the reductions specified in subdivisions (a) and (b) shall commence on the first day of the month following 30 days after the receipt of federal approval or on the first day of the month following 30 days after a change in federal law that allows states to reduce aid payments without any risk to federal funding under Title XIX of the Social Security Act, whichever is earlier, but no earlier than October 1, 1995.

Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 538, Sec. 702. Effective January 1, 2007.

Effective the first day of the month following 90 days after a change in federal law that allows states to reduce aid payments without any risk to federal funding under Title XIX of the Social Security Act contained in Subchapter XIX (commencing with Section 1396) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code, the reductions in maximum aid payments specified in Sections 11450.01, 11450.015, and 11450.017 shall not be applied when all of the parents or caretaker relatives of the aided child living in the home of the aided child meet one of the following

conditions:

(a)The individual is disabled and receiving benefits under Section 12200 or 12300.
(b)The individual is a nonparent caretaker who is not included in the assistance unit with the child.
(c)The individual is disabled and is receiving State Disability Insurance benefits or Worker’s Compensation Temporary Disability benefits.

Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 8, Sec. 21. (SB 72) Effective March 24, 2011.

(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, commencing July 1, 2009, the maximum aid payments in effect September 1, 2007, as specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450, shall be reduced by 4 percent.
(b)Notwithstanding any other law, the maximum aid payments in effect on July 1,

2009, as specified in subdivision (a), shall be reduced by 8 percent, effective on June 1, 2011, or on the first day of the first month following 90 days after the effective date of the act that added this subdivision, whichever is later.

Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 35, Sec. 24. (AB 1811) Effective June 27, 2018.

(a)Notwithstanding any other law, effective April 1, 2019, the maximum aid payments pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450 in effect on July 1, 2018, shall be increased by 10 percent.
(b)The counties’ share of costs resulting from implementation of the increase to maximum aid payments pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be subject to Section 15200.

Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 35, Sec. 25. (AB 1811) Effective June 27, 2018.

(a)It is the intent of the Legislature to increase CalWORKs maximum aid payment levels in the 2018–19, 2019–20, and 2020–21 fiscal years, or until the maximum aid payment levels reach 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the family size that is one greater than the assistance unit.
(b)As a first step toward this goal, the Legislature is adopting a 10-percent increase to the maximum aid payment levels to become effective April 1, 2019, as specified in Section 11450.021.
(c)For the second step, it is the intent of the Legislature to increase the maximum aid payment levels to close the gap by one-half between the maximum aid payment levels prior to taking the second step

and 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the family size that is one greater than the assistance unit goal for that year.

(d)For the third step, it is the intent of the Legislature to increase the maximum aid payment levels to fully close the gap between the maximum aid payment levels prior to taking the third step and 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the family size that is one greater than the assistance unit goal for that year.
(e)Any increases to maximum aid payment levels after July 1, 2018, are contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act.

Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 27, Sec. 58. (SB 80) Effective June 27, 2019.

(a)Notwithstanding any other law, effective October 1, 2019, the maximum aid payments pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450 in effect on April 1, 2019, shall be set forth as follows:
(b)For purposes of this section, “Region 1” and “Region 2” have the same meanings as defined in Section 11452.018.

Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 46, Sec. 20. (AB 161) Effective July 2, 2024.

(a)(1) Notwithstanding any other law, effective on March 1, 2014, the maximum aid payments in effect on July 1, 2012, as specified in subdivision (b) of Section 11450.02, shall be increased by 5 percent.
(2)Effective April 1, 2015, the maximum aid payments in effect on July 1, 2014, as specified in paragraph (1), shall be increased by 5 percent.
(3)Effective October 1, 2016, the maximum aid payments in effect on July 1, 2016, as specified in paragraph (2), shall be increased by 1.43 percent.
(4)(A) Effective January 1, 2017, households eligible for aid under this chapter shall

receive an increased aid payment consistent with the repeal of former Section 11450.04, as it read on January 1, 2016, known as the “maximum family grant rule.”

(B)In recognition of the increased cost of aid payments resulting from that repeal, moneys deposited into the Child Poverty and Family Supplemental Support Subaccount shall be allocated to counties pursuant to Section 17601.50 as follows:
(i)One hundred seven million forty-seven thousand dollars ($107,047,000) for January 1, 2017, to June 30, 2017, inclusive.

(ii) Two hundred twenty-three million four hundred fifty-four thousand dollars ($223,454,000) for the 2017–18 fiscal year and for every fiscal year thereafter.

(5)Effective October 1, 2021, the maximum aid payments in effect on July 1,

2021, as specified in paragraph (3), shall be increased by 5.3 percent.

(6)Effective October 1, 2022, the maximum aid payments in effect on July 1, 2022, as specified in paragraph (5), shall be increased by 11 percent.
(7)Effective October 1, 2023, the maximum aid payments in effect on July 1, 2023, as specified in paragraph (6), shall be increased by 3.6 percent.
(8)Effective October 1, 2024, the maximum aid payments in effect on July 1, 2024, as specified in paragraph (7), shall be increased by 0.3 percent.
(b)Commencing in 2014 and annually thereafter, on or before January 10 and on or before May 14, the Director of Finance shall do all of

the following:

(1)Estimate the amount of growth revenues pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 17606.10 that will be deposited in the Child Poverty and Family Supplemental Support Subaccount of the Local Revenue Fund for the current fiscal year and the following fiscal year and the amounts in the subaccount carried over from prior fiscal years.
(2)For the current fiscal year and the following fiscal year, determine the total cost of providing the increases described in subdivision (a), as well as any other increase in the maximum aid payments subsequently provided only under this section, after adjusting for updated projections of CalWORKs costs associated with caseload changes, as reflected in the local assistance subvention estimates prepared by the State Department of Social Services and released with the annual Governor’s Budget and subsequent May Revision update.
(3)If the amount estimated in paragraph (1) plus the amount projected to be deposited for the current fiscal year into the Child Poverty and Family Supplemental Support Subaccount pursuant to subparagraph (3) of subdivision (e) of Section 17600.15 is greater than the amount determined in paragraph (2), the difference shall be used to calculate the percentage increase to the CalWORKs maximum aid payment standards that could be fully funded on an ongoing basis beginning the following fiscal year.
(4)If the amount estimated in paragraph (1) plus the amount projected to be deposited for the current fiscal year into the Child Poverty and Family Supplemental Support Subaccount pursuant to subparagraph (3) of subdivision (e) of Section 17600.15 is equal to or less than the amount determined in paragraph (2), no additional increase to the CalWORKs maximum aid payment standards shall be

provided in the following fiscal year in accordance with this section.

(5)(A) Commencing with the 2014–15 fiscal year and for all fiscal years thereafter, if changes to the estimated amounts determined in paragraphs (1) or (2), or both, as of the May Revision, are enacted as part of the final budget, the Director of Finance shall repeat, using the same methodology used in the May Revision, the calculations described in paragraphs (3) and (4) using the revenue projections and grant costs assumed in the enacted budget.
(B)If a calculation is required pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Department of Finance shall report the result of this calculation to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature upon enactment of the Budget Act.
(c)An increase in maximum aid payments

calculated pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (b), or pursuant to paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) if applicable, shall become effective on October 1 of the following fiscal year.

(d)(1) An increase in maximum aid payments provided in accordance with this section shall be funded with growth revenues from the Child Poverty and Family Supplemental Support Subaccount in accordance with paragraph (3) of subdivision (e) of Section 17600.15 and subdivision (f) of Section 17606.10, to the extent funds are available in that subaccount.
(2)If funds received by the Child Poverty and Family Supplemental Support Subaccount in a particular fiscal year are insufficient to fully fund any increases to maximum aid payments made pursuant to this section, the remaining cost for that fiscal year will be addressed through existing provisional authority included in the

annual Budget Act. Additional increases to the maximum aid payments shall not be provided until and unless the ongoing cumulative costs of all prior increases provided pursuant to this section are fully funded by the Child Poverty and Family Supplemental Support Subaccount.

(e)Notwithstanding Section 15200, counties shall not be required to contribute a share of the costs to cover the increases to maximum aid payments made pursuant to this section.

Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 35, Sec. 26. (AB 1811) Effective June 27, 2018.

(a)Commencing in the 2019–20 fiscal year and for each fiscal year thereafter, if an incremental adjustment is made to the maximum aid payments pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450, the counties’ share of that adjustment, as required pursuant to Section 15200, shall be based upon the total incremental adjustment or the increase in the California Necessities Index pursuant to Section 11453 for the fiscal year in which the adjustment becomes effective, whichever is lower.
(b)If more than one incremental adjustment is made to maximum aid payments pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450 during a single fiscal year, the counties’ share of those combined adjustments, as required pursuant to Section

15200, shall be based upon the total combined incremental adjustments or the increase in the California Necessities Index pursuant to Section 11453 for the fiscal year in which the adjustments become effective, whichever is lower.

(c)This section shall not apply to any incremental increases or decreases made to the maximum aid payments prior to July 1, 2019.
(d)This section shall not apply to any incremental increases or decreases made to maximum aid payments pursuant to Section 11450.025.

Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 46, Sec. 21. (AB 161) Effective July 2, 2024.

(a)It is the intent of the Legislature that, upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act, maximum aid payments in the CalWORKs program are sufficient to ensure that no child lives in deep poverty. As stated in Section 11450.022, it is the intent of the Legislature to increase CalWORKs maximum aid payments until the maximum aid payment levels reach 50 percent of the federal poverty level for the family size that is one greater than the assistance unit, accounting for families with an unaided family member and when children in these families receive a proportionally reduced grant. It is further the intent of the Legislature that, upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act, maximum aid payments increase in accordance with the growth of the federal poverty level to continue to ensure that no child lives in deep

poverty. For purposes of this subdivision, “deep poverty” means at or below 50 percent of the federal poverty level.

(b)Notwithstanding any other law, effective October 1, 2022, the maximum aid payments described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450, in effect on July 1, 2022, as specified in Section 11450.025, shall be increased by 10 percent in addition to the 11-percent increase specified in paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450.025.
(c)Commencing on January 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, on or before January 10, the State Department of Social Services shall provide a display in writing to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of the Legislature, and on the department’s internet website, showing the CalWORKs maximum aid payment amounts compared to the federal poverty level for the family size that is one greater than the assistance unit.

Added by Stats. 1992, Ch. 722, Sec. 37.5. Effective September 15, 1992. Section conditionally operative by its own provisions.

(a)Notwithstanding the maximum aid payments specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450, families that have resided in this state for less than 12 months shall be paid an amount calculated in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11450, not to exceed the maximum aid payment that would have been received by that family from the state of prior residence.
(b)This section shall not become operative until the date of approval by the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services necessary to implement the provisions of this section so as to ensure the continued compliance of the state plan for the following:
(1)Title IV of the federal Social Security Act (Subchapter 4 (commencing with Section 601) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code).
(2)Title IX of the federal Social Security Act (Subchapter 19 (commencing with Section 1396) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code).

Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 514, Sec. 2. (AB 433) Effective January 1, 2016.

(a)For purposes of determining the maximum aid payment specified in subdivision (a) of Section 11450, the number of needy persons in the same family shall not be decreased because of the death of a child in the assistance unit for the month in which the death occurred or the following month.
(b)Aid paid under subdivision (a) shall not be deemed an overpayment unless the county determines, pursuant to Sections 11004 and 11004.1, that the assistance unit would have been subject to overpayment recovery, and the county would have sought recovery, even if the child had not died.

Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 91, Sec. 185. Effective January 1, 1996.

Whenever the department is informed pursuant to either Section 857 or 1764.5 that a minor is being incarcerated for a period of at least 30 consecutive days, the department shall determine whether the minor is a part of a family for whom benefits are being received pursuant to Section 11450. In any case where it is determined that a child identified pursuant to this section is a part of a family for whom aid is being received pursuant to Section 11450, the department shall notify the county welfare department in the county in which the incarcerated youth

resides prior to the first day of the month following the receipt of the notification by the Department of the Youth Authority or by the county juvenile hall or other county juvenile facility.

Added by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1042, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 1995.

Whenever a county welfare department is informed that a child who is incarcerated is also a member of a family receiving benefits pursuant to Section 11450, the county welfare department shall seek reimbursement of any overpayments pursuant to existing law and regulation.

Amended (as added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 85, Sec. 39) by Stats. 2021, Ch. 696, Sec. 23. (AB 172) Effective October 8, 2021.

(a)(1) An applicant family shall not be eligible for aid under this chapter unless the family’s income, exclusive of the first four hundred fifty dollars ($450) of earned income for each employed person, is less than the minimum basic standard of adequate care, as specified in Section 11452.
(2)If there are subsequent changes to the income exemption as specified in subdivision (c) of Section 11451.5, the earned income exemption amount specified in this section shall be changed by an equal amount.
(b)An applicant family shall not be eligible for aid under this chapter if reasonably anticipated income, less exempt income, and exclusive of amounts of disability-based unearned

income and earned income exempt under Section 11451.5, equals or exceeds the maximum aid payment specified in Section 11450.

(c)A recipient family shall not be eligible for further aid under this chapter if reasonably anticipated income, less exempt income, exceeds the income reporting threshold specified in Sections 11265.3 and 11265.47.
(d)This section shall become operative on July 1, 2022.

Amended (as added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 501, Sec. 18) by Stats. 2013, Ch. 21, Sec. 39. (AB 74) Effective June 27, 2013.

(a)In calculating the amount of aid to which an assistance unit is entitled in accordance with Section 11320.15, the maximum aid payment, adjusted to reflect the removal of the adult or adults from the assistance unit, shall be reduced by the gross income of the adult or adults removed from the assistance unit, determined for the semiannual period pursuant to Sections 11265.1, 11265.2, and 11265.3, and less any amounts exempted pursuant to Section 11451.5. Aid may be provided in the form of cash or vouchers, at the option of the county.
(b)(1) This section shall become operative on April 1, 2013. A county shall implement the semiannual reporting requirements in accordance with the act that added

this section no later than October 1, 2013.

(2)Upon implementation described in paragraph (1), each county shall provide a certificate to the director certifying that semiannual reporting has been implemented in the county.
(3)Upon filing the certificate described in paragraph (2), a county shall comply with the semiannual reporting provisions of this section.

Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 559, Sec. 51. (AB 12) Effective January 1, 2011.

(a)For purposes of determining eligibility under this chapter, and for computing the amount of aid payment under Section 11450, families shall be grouped into assistance units.
(b)Every assistance unit shall include at least one of the following persons:
(1)One of each of

the following:

(A)An eligible child.
(B)The caretaker relative of an otherwise eligible child who is not receiving aid under Section 11250 because that child is receiving benefits under Title XVI of the Social Security Act (Subchapter 16 (commencing with Section 1381) of Chapter 7 of Title 42 of the United States Code), or Kin-GAP payments under Section 11364 or 11387, or foster care payments under Section 11461.
(2)A pregnant woman who is eligible for payments under subdivision (c) of Section 11450.
(c)Every assistance unit shall, in addition to the requirements of subdivision (b), include the eligible parents of the eligible child and the eligible siblings, including half-siblings, of the eligible child when those persons reside in the same home

as the eligible child. This subdivision shall not apply to any convicted offender who is permitted to reside at the home of the eligible child as part of a court-imposed sentence and who is considered an absent parent under Section 11250.

(d)An assistance unit may, at the option of the family comprising the assistance unit, also include the nonparent caretaker relative of the eligible child, the spouse of the parent of the eligible child, otherwise eligible nonsibling children in the care of the caretaker relative of the eligible child, and the alternatively sentenced offender parent exempted under subdivision (c).
(e)If two or more assistance units reside in the same home, they shall be combined into one assistance unit when any of the following circumstances occurs:
(1)There is a common caretaker relative for

the eligible children.

(2)One caretaker relative marries another caretaker relative.
(3)Two caretaker relatives are the parents of an eligible child.
(f)For purposes of this section, “caretaker relative” means the parent or other relative, as defined by regulations adopted by the department, who exercises responsibility and control of a child.

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