Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/398224
9 The People's Guide 2013-2014 CalWORKs SERVICES TO HELP YOU Separate from cash aid (CalWORKs checks), CalWORKs can help you pay for work-related and training-related costs both before and after the 48-month limit. It is sometimes wise to volunteer to participate in GAIN or REP after being excused in order to receive this money. At present the services include: • Child care (see pg. 20) • Transportation Money: bus fare, mileage payment, or funds to fix a car to allow you to get to work or welfare to work activity. Usually GAIN and REP will give you money to buy a monthly bus pass. But, if it takes you more than one hour each way by bus or train, including walking time, to get to child care and work (or other welfare to work activity.) DPSS must pay you mileage. The current rate is .53¢ a mile for the first 500 miles/month, and 15¢ for additional miles. You can also get paid for parking. • Money for tools, books, school fees, and uniforms if needed for work or training. Tuition is not paid for. • Domestic Violence Counseling and Pro- tection: Survivors of domestic violence can get special help through programs including emergency housing and safety planning, counseling, parent- ing classes, and legal services that provide help with restraining orders and divorces. You do not need a police report or other documents. Your sworn statement is enough proof. Everything you tell the DPSS eligibility worker or GAIN worker will be kept secret to the extent of the law. • Taxi Vouchers: anyone in a domestic violence situation receiving CalWORKs should be able to get taxi vouchers from the program assisting them if it will help keep them or their children safe. • Mental Health Services: You should receive a mental health screening during orientation. Also, a DPSS worker can suggest to you that you go to a mental health evaluation if they think you have a mental health barrier to finding or keeping a job. You can also ask for mental health evalua- tion anytime by calling your eligibility worker or GAIN worker. After the evaluation, you can be referred to a mental health provider for treatment. The GAIN worker must develop your 1. Weekly Participation Hours As of January 1, 2013, the hours of par- ticipation are as follows: #of Adults Weekly Hours in Family of Participation Single-adult with a child under 6 years old............ 20 Single-adult with no children under 6 years old............ 30 Two-parent families (hours may be combined between both parents).................. 35 2. Getting Excused from GAIN ("Exempt" or "Good Cause") DPSS must give you an exemption from GAIN or REP if you are: • Caring for a first child under 12 months old, or any later child under 6 months old • Pregnant, and have medical verification that the participation or work will harm your pregnancy • Under 16 years old • Attending high school full time, regard- less of age • Disabled for 30 days or more – mentally or physically unfit for work as verified by a doctor • 60 years or age or older • Taking care of children related to you but not your own, if DPSS agrees that this harms your ability to participate or work • Taking care of an ill or disabled house- hold member, if DPSS agrees that this harms your ability to participate or work Any months exempted for these reasons do not count against your 48-month time limit. If you do not qualify for an exemption, you may have good cause that excuses you from doing something GAIN asks you to do. The 48-month time limit is not stopped by good cause (except see next column on domestic violence). Good cause includes: • Not getting supportive services you need (such as child care and transportation) to work or go to a GAIN or REP activity • Child sick at home from school • No transportation (for example your car broke down) • You are homeless Domestic Violence Waiver: DPSS can waive some of the CalWORKs rules for victims of domestic violence, such as stop the 48 month time clock, not participate in GAIN, stop child support collections, or waive the maximum family grant rule. The violence can be something that happened in the past or in the present. Exempt people can volunteer and get help: You do not have to participate in GAIN or REP if you are excused or exempt. But you may volunteer to participate. As an exempt volunteer, you do not have to do the full 20 hours each week, but you are subject to other requirements of GAIN participants. You can do as many or few hours as you are able. DPSS must also pay you for services, like child care and money for transportations, tools, and books. 3. Learning Disabilities All GAIN participants must be offered a learning disability (LD) screening. You can say you do not want the LD screening, but if you change your mind, you can ask for LD screening and evalu- ation anytime. If the evaluation shows you have a learning disability, your welfare-to-work plan must have activities that help you deal with your learning disability, such as tutoring or extra study time. DPSS must decide whether job search will be useful for you, or if your time limits should be extended. If you have already been to assessment, went through GAIN or REP and failed to make satisfactory progress, you may have the clock stopped on your time limits and changes must be made in your plan with special help offered that will help you.