CW 2186A: CalWORKs Exemption Request Form

If you answer “Yes” to any of these questions, you may be exempt for a month or longer from the Calworks 48-month time limit, Welfare-to-Work 24-Month Time Clock and/or participation requirements. You may need to give information to help the county decide if you should be exempt. Please answer all of the questions. The county cannot answer these questions for you. Please be sure to sign and date the back of this form.

Under PLEASE PRINT, enter your name, address street, city zip and phone.

1. Are you pregnant and does a doctor state that you cannot work or participate in Welfare-to-Work activities for these hours: 20 hours per week if you are a single-adult assistance unit with a child under 6 years old. 30 hours per week if you are a single-adult assistance unit with no child(ren) under 6 years old. 35 hours per week if you are a two-parent assistance unit.

2. Are you the parent or caretaker of a child age ______ or under? Depending on the County, you may be exempt if your child is 12 weeks old or under, 6 months old or under, or 12 months old or under. This exemption is available only once in a lifetime.

3. If you have used exemption #2, have you recently become the parent or caretaker of another infant? Depending on the County, you may be exempt for 12 weeks to 6 months.

4. Are you a full time volunteer in the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) Program?

Under YES NO, 5. Are you a 16-or 17-year old who has a high school diploma or its equivalent and is enrolled or planning to enroll in an educational, vocational or technical school training program?

6. Are you physically or mentally unable to work or participate in a Welfare-to-Work activity on a regular basis for at least 30 calendar days for at least these hours. If you are a single-adult assistance unit with a child under 6 years old, 20 hours per week. If you are a single-adult assistance unit with no child(ren) under 6 years old, 30 hours per week. If you are a two-parent assistance unit, 35 hours per week.

7. Are you the nonparent caretaker of a child who is a dependent or ward of the court, or at risk of being placed in foster care? 8. Do you need to stay home to take care of someone in the household who cannot take care of him/herself, (the person is ill, disabled, etc.) and this makes it hard for you to work or participate in a Welfare-to-Work activity?

9. Are you eligible for, participating in, or exempt from Cal-Learn? You are not eligible for this exemption if you are 19 years old and are not participating in Cal-Learn as a volunteer.

10. Are you living in Indian Country, as defined by federal law, in which 50 percent of the adults are unemployed? This exemption applies only to the 48-month time limit, but not to the Welfare-to-Work 24-Month Time Clock or participation.

11. Are you the parent or caretaker of a child age 0 - 23 months? This exemption is available only once in a lifetime starting 1/1/2013. You can take it now if it applies or save it in case you have another child.

PLEASE READ THE BACK OF THIS FORM TO FIND OUT ABOUT MORE EXEMPTIONS.

Sign and date on the YOUR SIGNATURE and DATE line.

The boxes under COUNTY USE ONLY are CASE NAME, CASE NO., COUNTY, OTHER ID NO., WORKER NAME and WORKER PHONE NO. QUESTIONS? ASK YOUR WORKER.

In the Welfare-to-Work 24-Month Time Clock and Participation Exemptions, you will not be required to participate in the Welfare-to-Work program and your Welfare-to-Work 24-Month Time Clock will stop if any of these reasons apply to you. You are under 16 years old. You are 16, 17, or 18 years old and in high school or adult school. You are 60 years or older. You do NOT have to return this form for these exemptions.

A month of aid will not count against your Calworks 48-month time limit if any of the reasons listed here apply to you. Your cash grant is fully repaid by child support collection. You are only receiving supportive services such as child care, transportation, and case management. You are 60 years or older. You did not receive Calworks cash aid because your grant was less than $10 (checked October 22, 2026).

You do NOT have to request these exemptions on this form. You may contact your worker if any of these reasons apply to you.

If you or a family member are a past or present victim of domestic abuse and the county determines that your condition or situation prevents or impairs your ability to be regularly employed or to participate in Welfare-to-Work activities, the county may waive the Calworks 48-month time limit, the Welfare-to-Work 24-Month Time Clock and participation requirements.

You do not have to complete this form to get a waiver to the time limits. You may contact your worker to request a domestic abuse waiver.

You will be told in writing whether or not you are exempt from the Calworks 48-month time limit, Welfare-to-Work 24-Month Time Clock and/or participation, and the reason why. You may be asked to give the county proof of your reason for requesting an exemption. If you do not agree with the county, you may ask for a State Hearing. Depending on your situation, you may be evaluated each month to determine if you should continue to be exempt.