CalWORKs Policy - Department of Public Social Services

CW 42-430 – Citizenship
and Noncitizenship
Are applicants/participants required to
indicate on the application forms whether they
are a citizen or noncitizen?
Yes, applicants/participants must indicate on the
application forms (e.g., SAWS 2, CW 8, CW 8A)
whether they are a “U.S. Citizen/National” or a
“Noncitizen.”
If the applicant/participant is not a U.S. citizen,
is he/she eligible to CalWORKs?
Only citizens of the U.S. and certain categories of
immigrants are eligible to CalWORKs. U.S.
citizens must prove their citizenship and
Noncitizens must prove their eligible immigrant
status.
The Noncitizen’s eligibility for aid must be
determined based on the documentation
submitted.
When should the Eligibility Worker (EW)
review the applicant’s/participant’s declaration
of citizenship or noncitizenship status?
The EW must review the applicant’s/participant’s
declaration of “U.S. Citizen/National” or
“Noncitizen” status at intake, redetermination, and
when a household or noncitizen status change is
reported.
The term “Noncitizen” is identified in LEADER as
“Alien.” When the applicant/participant indicates
that he/she is a Noncitizen on the application and
provides documentation of their immigration
status, “Alien” must be selected from the
Alien/Citizen Status drop down box in the
Residency tab of the Individual Attributes
Summary screen and the immigration status of
the Noncitizen must be selected in the Alien Type
field.
When the applicant indicates on the application
that he/she is a noncitizen and volunteers that
they are undocumented, “Undocumented Alien” is
selected in the Alien/Citizen Status drop down box
and “Undocumented” is selected in the Alien Type
field.
LEADER determines eligibility for aid based on
the rules for the aid program and the information
entered.