1. Can CalWORKs or CalWORKs diversion help me get affordable child care? (Last Reviewed 11/22/21)
Yes. CalWORKs (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids) is a cash aid program for California families who have little or no income. CalWORKs participants are expected to participate in welfare-to-work programs. In addition to receiving a monthly cash grant, you also can get continuous, full-time subsidized child care. This child care continues as you leave cash aid for work.
When you apply for CalWORKs, you should be asked if you would prefer to apply for the CalWORKs diversion program instead of CalWORKs. The CalWORKs diversion program income limit is 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. The diversion program gives you a one-time cash payment or service to help you resolve the situation that brought you to apply for help, and to avoid having to enter the CalWORKs program. The diversion payment can be a sum of money to pay for a one-time expense like a car registration or repair, or first month’s rent and a security deposit so you can accept a job. It can also be a non-cash service, like a referral for subsidized child care.
If you are having trouble applying for or getting CalWORKs cash assistance, you can contact a local legal services program. If you need child care and are turned down for the diversion program, contact the Child Care Law Center. If you receive CalWORKs and are having trouble getting child care, contact the Child Care Law Center.
2. I have a child care subsidy and now I am out of work or have less income because of the coronavirus outbreak, can I get my family fee reduced or eliminated? (Last Reviewed 11/23/21)
Yes. You should quickly report to the agency that provides your subsidy that you have reduced income or no income and you need to have your family fee reduced or eliminated. You will be asked to give proof of your reduced income. Many child care agencies have closed their offices. You should still be able to report your loss of income by phone or email.
If your hours have decreased or if you are no longer working, you can get a reduced family fee without reducing your child care hours. It’s up to you if you want your child care to continue at its current level until your next recertification.
3. I have a child care subsidy but I am keeping my child home. Do I have to pay my family fee? (Last Reviewed 11/23/21)
No. Family fees have been waived for families until June 30, 2022. (AB 131).
Also, the state allocated new funds in the state budget, so that child care providers will not have to absorb the cost of these waived family fees. The state should help cover that fee instead. If you or your provider need help with this issue, contact the Child Care Law Center for help.
4. My child care center or family child care home has closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. Can I take my subsidy with me if I find a new provider? (Last Reviewed 11/23/21)
Yes. During this pandemic, if you still need child care services but your usual provider has closed, you can start using a new provider.
An alternative payment program (“AP”) can pay a new provider if the first provider is unable to accommodate a family’s certified need for child care.Contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency if you need help finding child care.
5. I have a child care subsidy for my younger child who is in a child care program. My older child is in school and previously did not need after-school or before-school care, so my child care subsidy only covers my younger child. Can I get a subsidy for my older, school-aged child if I do not want them to attend in-person school instruction? (Last Reviewed 11/23/21)
Normally, if you have a child care subsidy for at least one child, you can increase your child care to include the child care needs of your other child. When you have a subsidy, you can adjust your need for child care at any time.
The California Department of Social Services (DSS) issued two Child Care Bulletins (CCB) that require providers to be paid for care provided to school-age children even when schools were open and providing in-person instruction during July 1, 2021 through November 12, 2021.
- CCB 21-14 which applies to families using subsidies for the following programs:
- Alternative Payment Programs (APPs)
- CalWORKs Stage 1, 2, and 3
- Bridge Program
- Migrant Alternative Payment Program (CMAP)
- CCB 21-15 which applies to families who use the following programs:
- General Childcare
- Family Child Care Home Education Networks (FCCHENs)
- Migrant Child Care and Development Programs (CMIG)
Beginning November 15, 2021 families cannot use subsidized child care programs to care for their school-age child when the child’s school is open and in-person instruction is available. If you want your provider to care for a school-age child during scheduled instructional minutes after November 12, they will not be reimbursed.
“Scheduled instructional minutes” is the time that the child is physically at school because the schools are providing supervision. A provider will only be reimbursed for care during scheduled instructional minutes if the school or classroom is closed and no in-person instruction is available because there is no supervision occuring.
If you are having issues with payments to your child care provider during this time period, please contact the Child Care Law Center.
6. Will I have to recertify for my child care subsidy during the coronavirus pandemic? (Last Reviewed 11/23/21)
If you receive a child care subsidy through the CalWORKs program, you should know that you have 12 month eligibility. This means that when you were approved for CalWORKs, you became authorized for 12 months of full-time child care. You will continue to be eligible for the same or an increased amount of child care for the entire 12 months even if your circumstances change.
7. My family has a child care subsidy. Will my subsidy be taken away or “terminated” because I am temporarily out of work or school during this coronavirus crisis? (Last updated 11/23/21)
No, you will not have your subsidy taken away if you are out of work or school for a short time.
All child care subsidies are now covered by 12-month eligibility. Once you get certified for a child care subsidy, your child care services continue for at least 12 months. You are eligible for the same or more child care for the entire 12 months even if things change. You do not need to report a change to your work or school schedule.
8. My income has changed, will my subsidy be taken away or “terminated” because I did not report the change? (Last updated 11/23/21)
No, you will not lose your subsidy because you did not report the income change. The only time you have to report any change is if your income goes above 85% of the state median income. You must report this change within 30 days.
If you choose to report a loss of income or loss of a job that gets a subsidy, you will not lose your child care. The state cannot use this information to lower or take away your child care.
You can choose to report a change in income or child care need in order to:
- Reduce family fees,
- Increase your child care service schedule, or
- Add a new family member.
9. If my child is absent from child care because of the risk of the coronavirus, will they be disenrolled from my subsidized child care space? (Last Reviewed 11/23/21)
Your child should not be disenrolled from their subsidized child care even if they are unable to attend right now.
The Department of Social Services (CDSS) released Child Care Bulletin (CCB) No. 21-09 that requires providers to get paid for providing services based on the child’s certified need and not their attendance. Your child care provider (child care center, family child care home, or family-friend-neighbor care) will still receive their subsidy payment if your child is unable to attend.
Starting November 15, 2021, your child care provider will not be reimbursed during school hours if your child’s school is open and in person instruction is available. CCB No. 21-14, CCB No. 21-15. Please refer to Question 5: “I have a child care subsidy for my younger child who is not in school. My older child is in school and previously did not need after school or before school care, so my child care subsidy only covers my younger child. Can I get a subsidy for my older, school-aged child if I do not want them to attend in-person instruction?”
10. What should I do if I have a child care subsidy and need to go to work, but my child care provider has closed? (Last Reviewed 11/23/21)
If your provider has closed, you can get help from your local child care agency to find an alternative child care provider. You can also look at mychildcare.ca.gov for programs that are open near you.
11. Do parents have to come in to sign attendance sheets? (Last Reviewed 7/18/22)
Yes, child care providers are required to collect signatures on attendance records following 5 Cal. Code Regs. section 18065 and Welf. & Ins. Code section 10227.5. On June 30, 2022, the COVID-19 policy that allowed providers to submit attendance sheets without a parent’s signature if they documented the attempt to get a signature, ended. For more information view Child Care Bulletin 22-15 page 5.
12. If I participate in CalWORKs, is there a COVID-19 financial relief program I can apply for? (Last Reviewed 11/23/21)
Yes, there are two programs available to families participating in CalWORKs: the Golden State Grant Program and the Golden State Stimulus Program.
Golden State Grant Program (GSG)
Families who receive CalWORKs are eligible for a one-time $600 grant to help families during the COVID-19 pandemic. This payment does not impact CalWORKs or CalFresh eligibility or monthly benefits. There is only one payment per “assistance unit” (AU).
An AU includes people who:
- Are related to each other (family members)
- Live in the same home, and
- Get CalWORKs cash benefits
For CalWORKs, one or more of your family members might not be counted as part of your AU. For example, an AU might not include people who get SSI, foster children, non-citizens, drug felons, and fleeing felons.
The $600 payment will be sent automatically to households by late Spring. More information can be found on the GSG resources page.
Golden State Stimulus Program (“GSSP”)
If you receive a California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) or if you file with the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), you can receive a one-time $600 or $1200 payment per tax return.
To qualify you must:
- file your 2020 taxes,
- be a CalEITC recipient or ITIN filer who made $75,000 or less,
- have lived in California for more than half of the 2020 tax year,
- be a California resident at the time of GSSP payment and
- not be a dependent for tax purposes.
Payments should begin mid-April 2021. Further information about how much money you will receive or if you are qualified to get CalEITC can be found on the GSSP resources page. You may also be eligible for the GSSP II. Check eligibility requirements here.There are additional financial support programs available for persons on SSI/SSP or people ineligible for other programs due to immigration status.
13. If I don’t receive CalWORKs, but I receive the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) or file with an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), will I receive a state grant? (Last Reviewed 11/23/21)
Yes. If you receive an CalEITC or file with an ITIN you are eligible for the Golden State Stimulus (“GSSP”) program.
If eligible, under this program you can receive a one-time $600 or $1,200 payment per tax return. Payments should begin mid-April 2021.
To qualify you must:
- file your 2020 taxes,
- be a CalEITC recipient or ITIN filer who made $75,000 or less,
- have lived in California for more than half of the 2020 tax year,
- be a California resident at the time of GSSP payment and
- not be a dependent for tax purposes.
For more information on the GSSP, visit the program’s webpage at this link. You may also be eligible for the GSSP II. Check eligibility requirements here.
Note: There are other programs may help if
You are ineligible for other programs due to immigration status.
