Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/431369
The People's Guide 2015 12 CalWORKs What Are The Penalties if I Don't Follow the Rules? If you don't follow the GAIN or REP re- quirements and don't have a good reason ("good cause,") DPSS will cut your cash aid. Your children's cash aid will not be cut. In some cases both parents can have their cash aid cut. DPSS can cut your part of the CalWORKs grant if they can show that you have: • Failed or refused to participate in your assigned activity • Failed to make good progress in your assigned activity • Failed or refused to accept a job • Failed or refused to keep a job • Failed to keep the same amount of earnings DPSS must try to contact you and give you a chance to comply. If you fail to comply, DPSS will send you a "Notice of Action" no sooner than 30 days before the cut in aid will take place. They will give you an appointment within 20 days to discuss the problem with your worker. It is very important for you to go to this meeting or call your worker to explain. You also have the right to ask for a fair hearing if you can't work it out with your worker. Your part of the grant will be cut until DPSS agrees that you are complying with the rules. Your cash aid cannot be cut if you have good cause for refusing to comply. "Good cause" includes: • You are homeless • You are a victim of domestic violence • You were ill, or caring for a sick member of the family • Your mental illness prevented you from doing what was asked of you • You need child care for a child 12 years or younger and none is available • Transportation is not available to your job or GAIN activity • There was discrimination at the job or training offered in terms of age, sex, race, religion, national origin, or physical or mental disability • The job or job offer exceeded the daily or weekly hours of work customary for that job • You can only get to the activity by walk- ing and you have to walk more than two miles round trip, not counting the distance needed to take children to school or child care • The job or activity violates health and safety standards or does not provide worker's compensation • Accepting the job or work activity would interrupt an approved job or training pro- gram that you have in progress • The job or community service would result in regular employees being fired, laid off, or having their hours or pay cut. • Any other good reason. During a sanction you continue to get childcare for the hours that you work. Your Medi-Cal must also continue. Teen Parents If you are a teenager under 18 who is pregnant or who already has a child, has never been married, and you apply for CalWORKs, you must live with your own parent or parents, a guardian, another adult relative, or in an adult-supervised arrangement in order to qualify. There are exceptions, if: • You have no living parent or guardian, or their whereabouts are unknown • Your parents will not allow you to live with them, • You lived apart from your parents for at least 12 months before your child was born, or before you applied for • CalWORKs • You believe your child's or your physi- cal or emotional health or safety would be in danger if you lived with these adults. In this situation DPSS should refer your case to the Minor Parent Program of the Department of Children and Family Ser- vices (DCFS). A DCFS social worker will visit your current home and decide if it is appropriate for you and your child. If you live at home, your parents' income will be counted against you and your child when you apply. Is There Help for Homeless Families? If your family is homeless, or has received a notice to pay or quit, the DPSS can give you money for temporary shelter and to help with move-in costs to a permanent home or to avoid being evicted. The money is in addition to your CalWORKs cash aid and does not have to be paid back. To apply you must be • homeless or have received a notice to pay rent or quit • eligible for CalWORKs • and not have more than $100. You are "homeless" if you have no regular, permanent place to live for any reason. You do not have to stay in a shelter to prove that you are homeless. You may be asked to prove that you are homeless, but money cannot be denied or delayed if you do not have proof. It is against the law for any government agency to take children away from parents for being homeless unless there is evidence of abuse or neglect. Homelessness by itself is not child abuse or neglect. Usually you can get this homeless assis- tance aid only once in a lifetime. However, a family can get help more than once if the cause is: • Domestic violence by a spouse, partner, or roommate • A physical or mental illness (but not including drug addiction or alcoholism) and you have a written doctor's note. • A fire or natural disaster or your home was condemned, or some other unusual circumstance beyond your control. 1. Temporary Shelter Money You can get money for up to 16 consecu- tive days to stay in a hotel or shelter. You cannot use this money to pay to stay with a friend. You will get $65 to $125 per day to pay for shelter, depending on your family size. If you find some place for less money than they give you, you can keep the extra money. You must show receipts to prove that you have paid something for shelter. (If you cannot show receipts, you can still get homeless aid money but it will be paid directly to the hotel or shelter). You will also have to fill out a form showing that you have looked for a permanent place to live for each day that you received the shelter. If eligible, DPSS should help you the