Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/398224
The People's Guide 2013-2014 8 CalWORKs WORK REQUIREMENTS As a CalWORKs recipient, you are required to participate in "Welfare-to-Work" (WTW) activities in order to stay on cash aid. Participation in WTW is mandatory for all CalWORKs participants unless you are exempt or have a "good cause" for non- participation. • Exemptions and "good cause" require documentation, verification, and ap- proval of the Welfare-to-Work case manager. • Exempt participants may volunteer to participate in WTW program services. The welfare-to-work programs in Los An- geles County are called GAIN and REP. "GAIN" ("Greater Avenues to Indepen- dence") is the main program for English and Spanish speaking participants. If your primary language is not English or Spanish your welfare to work case will be handled by a program case manager, or a GAIN Services Worker (GSW). If you have been in the U.S. less than 5 years and have legal immigrant status as a refugee or granted asylum, you are assigned to the Refugee Employment Program titled "REP". The GAIN program is a work-first program that provides employment-related ser- vices to help you find employment, stay employed, and move to higher paying jobs which lead to self-sufficiency and independence. As of January 1, 2013: There is a new Welfare To Work 24-Month Time Clock (within the CalWORKs 48-month time limit). The WTW 24-Month gives you more activity options and requires fewer participation hours for single-adult families. The new rules do not change your CalWORKs 48-month time limit or your cash aid amount, but the GAIN/REP rules to stay on aid have changed. You will have more choices of activities you can participate in during the WTW 24-Month Time Clock period. These ac- tivities include: • work, • education, • training, • and mental health, substance abuse, and/or domestic abuse services. There are no more "core" activities during the 24-Month Time Clock period. When your WTW 24-Month Time Clock runs out, Many people have good cause for not cooperating. Good cause includes: • You don't know where the absent parent is, or have no other information about the other parent • You are afraid of the absent parent, you or your children may be in danger, or you are a victim of domestic violence. • Rape or incest has occurred • You are planning to place the child for adoption. If your worker at DPSS agrees that you have good cause, you will not have your cash aid cut. If you get a notice in writing that you are "not cooperating" and you think you have a good reason not to, and cannot resolve the issue by talking with your worker, ask for a fair hearing. (See Page 66 Hearings And Complaints.) 3. Get Immunizations ("Shots") For Your Children When you apply for CalWORKs or at your annual redetermination, you must show proof that your children under age 6 have had their shots. You have 30 days from the approval of your Medi-Cal application (done at the same time as your CalWORKs application) or 45 days from your rede- termination to submit the immunization record or doctor's statement. If you do not prove your children are im- munized and do not have good cause (either lack of access or a sworn statement that immunization is against your religious or other beliefs), all cash aid to adults will be cut off until you provide the proof. The DPSS will extend the time period by 30 days if you have not been able to find shots for free. You can call the County Health Department at (800) 427-8700 to find free shots. 4. Keep School-Age Children in School If your child is under 16 and not attend- ing school regularly without good cause, the adult's cash aid will be cut off. If your child is over 16 and not attending school, or welfare to work activities, without good cause, only that child's aid will be cut. In either case, the cash grant will be restored when you prove to DPSS that the child is in school or has good cause. you will have a shorter list of activities to choose to participate in to continue receiv- ing the same amount of cash aid. The shorter list may include employment, work experience, and community service. Vocational education and training may also be allowed for up to one year after your WTW 24-Month Time Clock ends. Your county office will send you a notice before you reach the end of your WTW 24-Month Time Clock. They will provide you with the shorter list of activities to choose from, and instructions on what you will need to do next in order to continue receiving the same level of cash aid. Months that count towards the WTW 24-Month Time Clock may be cumula- tive over your total time on aid, and not necessarily consecutive. Months in which the families meet the federal participation requirements do not count towards the WTW 24-Month Time Clock. Once your WTW 24-Month Time Clock ends, if you do not meet your new par- ticipation requirements, your cash aid may be lowered and it may affect your supportive services. Your WTW 24-Month Time Clock Stops When: • You are in appraisal, job search, as- sessment, or in the process of developing a new WTW plan. • You are meeting the required number of participation hours in certain activities. • You are in Cal-Learn. • You are exempt from participating. • The county determines that you have a good reason for not participating (called good cause). • You are sanctioned.