CalWORKS

CalWORKs

Helping You Support Your Family

The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program is a public assistance program that provides temporary assistance for needy families with (or expecting) children.

If a family has little or no cash and needs housing, food, utilities, clothing or medical care, they may be eligible to receive immediate short-term help.  Families that apply and qualify for ongoing assistance receive money each month to help pay for housing, food and other necessary expenses.

Support while on the program may include temporary homeless assistance, employment/job readiness assistance, childcare, and transportation costs. Monthly cash benefits are issued on an ATM-style plastic card, called an Electronic Benefit Transfer or EBT card, which you can use to make purchases.

CalWORKs is the California version of the federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program.

Who Is Eligible

• An adult caring for a child who is:
  • Under age 18, OR
  • Under age 19 if the child is in high school or vocational school.
• One or both of the child’s parents must be unemployed, disabled, continuously absent or deceased.
• You must meet income and resource limits.
• You may also qualify if you are:
  • Pregnant and in your second trimester
  • A pregnant or parenting teen under age 18
  • A relative caring for a child.

Eligibility for benefits depends on a number of factors, including family size, immigration status, income, property, and special needs.

How CalWORKs May Help

Individuals who are in receipt of CalWORKs for themselves are required to participate in the CalWORKs employment services program called Welfare-to-Work (WTW).  Going through the WTW program builds your skills toward getting and keeping a job, so that you can support your family into the future.

During your program, WTW staff may:

• Assess you for types of jobs you might do,
• Help you make a plan to get work and increase your job skills,
• Support you in training for various jobs, including helping you obtain your GED,
• Provide childcare while you are completing the Welfare-to-Work program,
• Help you get such services as: mental health services, alcohol or other drug services, legal help, learning disability support and/or support for those affected by domestic violence.

Diversion

Diversion services can help applicants who need some assistance but do not want or need to go on welfare. Diversion services allow you to choose to get a lump sum cash payment or non-cash services instead of going on aid. You can only choose to get Diversion services at time of application for cash aid, and you may be eligible for Medi-Cal, child care assistance, and food stamps if you get Diversion services. After reviewing your facts, the county will tell you if you would be eligible for Diversion services. If eligible and you choose to get a Diversion cash payment or non-cash services instead of cash aid: 

• You will get a denial notice for cash aid. 
• Your cash aid may be lowered or the amount of time you can get cash aid may be reduced if you go on aid later. 

An example of this is when a family has fallen on hard times, has income in the following months, but needs help getting caught up on bills like rent, car payment, etc.

1. Eligibility Determination:

• The county determines if you are eligible for diversion services.
• Diversion services are intended for individuals who:
  • May benefit from these services and could avoid the need for monthly cash aid.
  • Are apparently eligible for cash aid.
  • Need cash or non-cash assistance to address a current need or emergency.
  • You can only receive diversion services at the time of application.

2. Choosing Diversion Services:

• If you opt for diversion services:
  • You will not receive monthly cash aid.
  • You must sign the attached Diversion Services Agreement.
  • You will receive a notice that denies your current application for cash aid and specifies the method of payment for your diversion services and the duration of your diversion period.
  • Separate approval or denial notices will be provided for other benefits you applied for, such as CalFresh and Medi-Cal.
  • If you need child care assistance during your diversion period, inform your worker.

3.  After Getting Diversion Services:

• If you apply for cash aid after receiving diversion services:
  • Before the diversion period ends, you must choose to:
  • Allow the county to either lower your monthly cash aid payment by the determined amount to repay the diversion payment/services, or
  • Count the total diversion period against your 48-month time limit.
  • After the diversion period ends, the county will only count one month of the diversion period against your 48-month time limit.

4.  Figuring the Diversion Period:

• The county calculates the diversion period as follows:
  • Determines the purchase price or current value for any non-cash services received.
  • Divides the amount of diversion payment/services by your Maximum Aid Payment for your assistance unit at the time you received diversion services.
• Example: If an applicant received $1,375 for emergency car repairs (with a Maximum Aid Payment of $638 for an assistance unit of 3), the diversion period would be 2 months.

Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)

The Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) program provides cash assistance, Medi-Cal, and CalFresh to refugees. RCA is available for up to 12 months from date of admission to the U.S. in qualifying status, date of final grant of asylum or date of certification by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) as Victim of Trafficking.

Entrant Cash Assistance (ECA):  Cuban and Haitian entrants are eligible for ORR benefits and services from the date they first enter into Cuban/Haitian Entrant Status.

Who is Considered a Refugee?

The following U.S. Citizenship and Immigration (USCIS) classifications are all considered refugees for the purpose of RCA:

• Refugees
• Asylees
• Cuban and Haitian Entrants
• Amerasians from Vietnam
• Certified Human Trafficking Victims
• Victims of Human Trafficking, Domestic Violence, and Other Serious Crimes
• Afghan and Iraqi Special Immigrant Visa holders

Applying for RCA

You may apply for RCA electronically at www.BenefitsCal.com (select cash aid) or by completing a paper application and submitting the application.

Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program (TCVAP) 

Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program (TCVAP) provides assistance to non-citizen victims of human trafficking (T-Visa) and noncitizen victims of domestic violence and other serious crimes (U-Visa) who are not eligible to RCA or CalWORKs.

Benefits

TCVAP may provide:

• Cash Assistance 
• Food Benefits 
• Employment Services 
• Other Services 

The TCVAP is a state-funded program and is administered by the Refugee Programs Bureau (RPB).

Applying for TCVAP

You may apply for TCVAP electronically at Benefitscal.com (select cash aid), by phone, or by completing a paper application and submitting the application by mail, fax, or drop of at any of our office locations.

For additional information, please visit the CDSS TCVAP website.

CAPI

CAPI is a program that provides monthly cash assistance to aged, blind or disabled non-citizens who have been denied Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment (SSI/SSP) solely due to their immigration status. 

Who is Eligible

You may be eligible for CAPI if you meet the following conditions:

• Ineligible for SSI/SSP solely due to immigration status.
• 65 years old or older, blind, or disabled.
• A resident of California.
• Meet certain income and resource requirements.
  • Income must be less than the CAPI payment standards.
  • The Resource limit for an individual is $2,000 and $3,000 for a couple.
• Be a non-citizen who meets the immigration status criteria in effect for SSI/SSP as of 8/21/96.

How to apply

*The CAPI application is not currently available on BenefitsCal. You may call us and ask us to mail you an application. Once completed, you may mail or fax it to us. 

The CAPI Application (SOC 814) is also available online. Once completed the application can be:

• dropped off at any office location in the reception area or in the red drop box outside.
• mailed to PO Box 4160, San Rafael, CA 94913
• or faxed (415) 473-3556

For additional information, please visit the CDSS CAPI website.