DPSS ePolicy

To convert existing policy to new writing style only – No concept changes

An Unrelated Adult Male (UAM) (generally a “boyfriend”) is someone who is over 18 years old, is not the father of any children in the home, and lives with the CalWORKs family. Roomers and boarders are not UAMs.

A UAM is required to have income or resources sufficient to make a financial contribution to the CalWORKs family of at least their needs for housing, utilities, and food. Both the CalWORKs mother and the UAM must sign sworn statements explaining his actual financial contribution and his income. This is done through completion of the CW 71, Statement of Cash Aid Applicant/Recipient of Unrelated Adult Male.

If the mother refuses to complete the CW 71, aid is denied or discontinued. If the UAM refuses to complete the CW 71, or has insufficient income to meet his needs, a referral is made to Welfare Fraud Prevention and Investigation (WFP&I) so that the matter can be investigated further for possible misuse of CalWORKs funds.

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Unrelated Adult Male

A UAM (generally a "boyfriend") is someone who: 

1. Is at least 18 years old;
2. Is not the father of any children in the home;
   
3. Is not the father of the unborn in a Pregnant Woman Only (PWO) case;
   
4. Is not married to the CalWORKs mother or is the Registered Domestic Partner of the CalWORKs mother; and
   
5. Is not a bona fide roomer or boarder.
   

Bona fide roomer or boarder

A bona fide roomer or boarder is a person who occupies a rented room or quarters in the home of a CalWORKs family and who by agreement with the CalWORKs family pays rent for the space occupied.

The agreement must be supported by a signed statement and by producing a receipt for rent paid.

CW 71, Statement of Cash Aid Applicant/ Recipient of Unrelated Adult Male

The CW 71 is used to document the financial arrangements between the UAM and the CalWORKs mother to determine if the UAM meets the contribution requirement.

The CW 71 is signed by the mother and the UAM under penalty of perjury. If either the mother or the UAM does not understand English, the CW 71 must be provided in the family’s threshold language before it is signed.

Discussion and completion of the CW 71 is limited only to the fiscal and monetary arrangements between the mother and the UAM.

The CW 71 must be completed:

1. At Intake;
2. At annual Renewal;
3. When there is a report of a UAM residing in the home; or
   
4. When there is a change of previous arrangements, such as amount of rent or utilities, monetary contributions, etc., paid by each person(s).
   

Note: The CW 71 or the SAR 7, Eligibility Status Report, is an acceptable notification of changes in the contribution. The actual contribution must be reported on the SAR 7.

Financial contribution

Because use of CalWORKs grants for anything other than the support of the CalWORKs family is prohibited, a UAM is required to have income or resources sufficient to make a financial contribution to the CalWORKs family of at least their needs for housing, utilities, and food per month. This is referred to as the cost of an Independent Leaving Arrangement and is calculated by adding the CalWORKs Income-In-Kind (IIK) values for one person for housing, utilities, and food.

As of July 1, 2020, the IIK values for one person are as follows. These basic need item values are adjusted annually on July 1 of every year.

Income-In-Kind

Assistance Unit (AU) Size: 1
Housing: $336
Utilities: $71
Clothing: $56
Food: $184

For detailed information regarding IIK, including up-to-date values, see Administrative Release (AR) 44-115 Income-In-Kind.

Excluded Income

The UAM’s contribution is not counted towards the CalWORKs AU. This includes:

1. Any part of the contribution that is designated for his needs or expenses, the UAM’s children, or other person in the home that the UAM is supporting;
2. Any other contributions he makes, which he designates as not available to meet the basic needs of the CalWORKs family;
3. Any in-kind “partial item of need” he provides to the CalWORKs family; and
4. Non-essential items (i.e., money for transportation, movies, etc.) of the AU or othersers.

These exclusions apply regardless of the amount of cash involved.

Note: If the UAM and CalWORKs mother have a joint bank account, all money in the account is an available resource to the CalWORKs AU. If the funds exceed the CalWORKs resource limits, ineligibility occurs.

Countable Contribution

Net income to the AU from a UAM includes: 

• Cash given to the AU for the specific purpose of meeting need items of the AU; and
• The value of full items of need provided in kind to the AU. However, an item is not considered to be provided in kind to the AU if the AU is receiving this full item of need in exchange for the AU providing the UAM with a different need (i.e., when the UAM and aided mother agree that he will pay the rent if she pays for food and utilities, the AU is not receiving in-kind income for housing). The value of full items of need provided to the AU is determined according to the IIK rules. See AR 44-115 Income-In-Kind. 

Exemption from financial contribution

A UAM who is a recipient of CalWORKs, Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP), or General Relief is not required to make a contribution to the CalWORKs AU.

In addition, stepparents and Registered Domestic Partners are not subject to UAM rules.

Failure to cooperate/ insufficient contribution

CalWORKs mother refuses to cooperate

If the mother refuses to comply with the requirement to complete and sign the CW 71, CalWORKs must be denied at Intake or discontinued if the case is already approved.

UAM refuses to cooperate or has insufficient income

A referral to WFP&I must be made in the following instances:

• If the UAM refuses to cooperate with requirements including signing the CW 71; and/or
• If the known or probable income of the UAM is insufficient to provide him with an independent living arrangement.
  

When the UAM refuses to cooperate or has insufficient income, no action is taken to deny or discontinue CalWORKs by the Eligibility Worker (EW). WFP&I will investigate the matter for possible misuse of CalWORKs and take appropriate action. WFP&I will notify the EW of any further actions to take.

CalFresh

CalFresh and CalWORKs do not treat the UAM in the same manner. Please see CalFresh policy for the treatment of UAMs in the CalFresh Program.

Categories and Acceptable Documents

UAM in the Home

Verification of a UAM in the home is the completed CW 71.

Bona fide roomer or boarder

A mother living with an individual that is not a UAM and is a bona fide roomer or boarder must provide a written statement to this effect that is supported by evidence, such as:

1.  Receipts that indicate payment of room rent or room and board;
2.  Evidence that income from the roomer, or boarder is reported for income tax purposes;
3.  Possession of a license to operate a rooming house; or
4.  Evidence that living quarters are furnished separate and apart from that occupied by the CalWORKs family.