Exemptions: When You Are Unable to Do Welfare to Work

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Contents

Exemptions

  • What Is an Exemption?
An “exemption” means you don’t have to do the welfare-to-work program. You don’t use up your 18-24 months training time. Many exemptions also don’t use up the 60-month limit on aid.
  • Volunteering
People exempt from welfare-to-work can volunteer. Volunteers can get education and training. You also get support services, like childcare and transportation, when you volunteer. You can’t be sanctioned if you are a volunteer.
  • Verification
You will need to prove that you should have an exemption.
  • For your own disability, the county will give you a form.
  • For a disabled household members, have the doctor or therapist put in writing that the person needs someone to be home to care for them.
  • What Exemptions Are There?
    • Disability
      • You are disabled: Your condition will last 30 days or more and it “significantly impairs” working or doing welfare-to-work.
      • Disabled household: Your care for an ill or disabled person in your house “impairs” your working/doing welfare to work.
      • You are pregnant: Any time it “impairs” your working/doing welfare-to-work. If this is more than 30 days, apply for a disability exemption to stop the 60-month clock.
    • Care of an infant
      • If you have a newborn, you can be exempt. Ask your worker how long you can be exempt. For the first child, this can range from 6-12 months. For children after that, it can range from 12 weeks to 6 months.
    • Full-time VISTA volunteers
    • Domestic Violence
      • Current or past, that interferes with working/doing welfare-to-work. This includes threats, sexual or emotional abuse, or other acts meant to control you in a domestic relationship. This can include relatives and housemates. Ask for a “waiver” of the time limits and other work rules.
    • Foster Care
      • For relatives (not parents) care of children in/at risk care. Caring for the children involves more than regular parenting and limits your work/welfare-to-work.
    • Age
      • Under 16
      • 18 or under and in school
      • Over 60 years old
      • Note: About to graduate? Register for college before your first welfare-to-work meeting to guarantee staying in school.
    • Which Ones Stop the 60-Month Clock?
      • Your Disability
      • Caring for a Disabled Household Member
      • Caring for a Foster Child at Risk of Foster Care
      • You are over 60 years
      • Domestic violence if the county finds “good cause” 60-month clock.

Tips on Exemptions

  • Get verification.
  • Check that the exemption starts when your situation began, and not from when you turned in the verification.
  • Get the county decision in writing.
  • Appeal denials by filling out the back of any notice of action or calling (800) 952-5253.
  • Check that the county is figuring your training and lifetime limits correctly.
  • If your situation changes, ask for more or different services.
  • Check that the county is figuring your training and lifetime limits correctly. Appeal any “time on aid” notice that you think lists time you should have been exempt.
  • Denied? Ask for a state hearing! Fill out the back of any Notice of Action or call (800) 952-5253.

Need More Help?

For more legal help and information, you can use LawHelpCalifornia to contact a local legal advocate.

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