Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/398224
11 The People's Guide 2013-2014 CalWORKs 6. If You Don't Agree On The Welfare to Work Plan If you and the assessor can't agree on the employment plan, you can request an independent "third party assessment" by another agency. DPSS must let you know about the third party assessor when you disagree and must help you with the request. You and DPSS will be bound by what this independent assessor decides. If you disagree with the result of the third party assessment, you may request for a fair hearing. If you still think your welfare to work plan will not work for you, you have these op- tions: Ask for a change within the first three days from the date you signed the plan, or If you have already begun an activity, you have 30 days to request a change to another activity. Your worker must grant your request if the other activity is con- sistent with your plan and likely to lead to employment. You can request for this grace period only once. 7. Self-Initiated Programs (SIP) For Students Self-Initiated Programs (SIP) is a college or vocational program you chose and began on your own before your first GAIN appointment (appraisal). If on the date of your GAIN appraisal you have already enrolled in either an undergraduate degree or certificate program for school or train- ing, your education or training may count as your GAIN activity. If you already have a 4-year college degree, you cannot do a SIP unless it is for a teaching credential. To continue in a SIP you must be making satisfactory progress toward a degree or certificate that leads to employment. If your approved SIP is interrupted because of a good reason, such as illness, you can go back to that program later, so long as you were in good standing when you left. If your self initiated program takes less than the required 32 hours a week, you must also participate in other welfare to work activities to get to the total required 32 weekly hours. 8. Help To Keep The Job—Post Employment Services Once you have found a job, the GAIN program can still help you with money for transportation , training, tools, uniforms, and similar costs. Also you may be able to get two years of child care payments. You must ask for this money to get it. Transitional CalFresh and Medi-Cal: You can continue to get Medi-Cal and CalFresh (food stamps) when you leave CalWORKs. DPSS should send you a notice explaining how this works. TIME-LIMIT RULES AFTER 48 MONTHS OF BENEFITS Most adults can only receive 48 months (4 years) of cash aid from CalWORKs for their whole life. This does not have to be 48 months in a row. After the adult has been aided 48 months, their part of the grant is cut, but their children can still get aid. There is no 48 -month limit if all adult parents or caretaker relatives in the home of the aided child meet any of these tests: • 60 years or older • Disabled, receiving State Disability Insurance, Temporary Workers' Compensa- tion, In-Home Supportive Services or SSI, and unable to work or go to GAIN • Not able to go to GAIN or employment because of an "impairment," for example a learning disability or chronic mental ill- ness. You cannot have broken any GAIN rules to qualify for this, or you must show that you were in GAIN for either six months straight or a total of six months over two years. • There are no local jobs that accom- modate your disabilities • A non-parent relative taking care of a child "at risk of foster care placement" and that responsibility restricts your ability to go to GAIN or employment. Example, if you are a grandparent under age 60 who cannot both be regularly employed and care for the child, DPSS can continue your CalWORKs aid rather than having the child enter foster care. • A domestic abuse survivor who cannot participate in CalWORKs because of the abuse. You do not have to currently be in a domestic abuse situation. You will also qualify if you are suffering from the effects of past abuse and the effects limit your ability to go to GAIN or work. You only need to tell your worker ("self- declare") to qualify; no other proof, not even a police report, is required. Your time will be extended for as long as you continue to suffer from the effects of the abuse or are in danger of more violence. Clock Stoppers or Exemptions Apply for an exemption to "stop the clock" for any months which should not have been counted in your 48 -month limit. Your request should be in writing, but can be verbal. DPSS has to send you a written decision within 15 days of the request (unless something happens that is beyond the DPSS's control). If you disagree with the decision you may request a state fair hear- ing. DPSS is required to research your available case records before asking you to provide information or documentation which they already have in the files. Clock stoppers include: • Sanctioned or No Check—Any month you do not get a CalWORKs cash aid payment for yourself including if you are sanctioned that month, or you are caring for an aided child but not aided yourself. • Disabled—Any month you are sick, disabled, or injured for over 30 days and it interferes with going to work or GAIN. You may be required to provide a doctor's report. This includes mental and physical illness. • Caring For a Sick Family Member—Any month you are caring for an ill or disabled person living in the home and that caretak- ing interfered with regular employment or participation in GAIN activities. • Foster Child Placement or Risk of Place- ment—Any month you are a non-parent relative taking care of a child who is a dependent ward of the court or "at risk of foster care placement" and that responsi- bility interfered with regular employment or participation in GAIN activities. This can exempt, for example, a grandparent under age 60 who could not both be regularly employed and care for the child. • Domestic Violence—Any month you cannot participate in CalWORKs as a result of domestic abuse. You do not have to cur- rently be in a domestic abuse situation. You also qualify if you are suffering from the effects of past abuse. You only need to tell your worker ["self-declare"] to qualify; no other proof, not even a police report, is required. • Over 60— Any month the parent or caretaker relative is 60 years or older.