Applications for CalWORKs can be done at any social service office or online at BenefitsCal.  Applicants will be asked to provide proof of all income and property as well as proof of citizenship and social security number.

All applicants are required to have a face-to-face interview prior to approval of their CalWORKs application.  At this appointment, all applicant adults will be fingerprinted. At this interview, an applicant’s case manager will assess what exact verifications they will need to approve the case and will inform the applicant of these necessary verifications in written documentation with a due date.

If an applicant provides all needed verifications and meets the eligibility qualifications, they will be approved for a monthly cash aid amount.  If the applicant does not submit required verifications or meet the eligibility qualifications, their case will be denied.  Applicants who have been denied can re-apply at any time.

Once approved for CalWORKs, all aided adults will participate in a Welfare-to-Work Orientation to learn about the program, the process and their rights and responsibilities while receiving CalWORKs cash aid.

At WTW Appraisal, a participant will meet with their case manager to review their education, employment history, job skills, potential employment barriers and support they may need to go to work or training like childcare, transportation or counseling or other support services.  If the participant has a crisis or situation that will keep them from being able to participate fully in the WTW Program, they will be evaluated for an exemption or eligibility to FSS.

If it is determined at Appraisal or any time during a Welfare-to-Work participants time on aid that they have a crisis or situation that will keep them from being able to participate fully in the WTW Program, they will be evaluated for an exemption or eligibility to Family Stabilization Services (FSS).  To receive FSS, they will complete a questionnaire outlining what the crisis or situation is and how it keeps them from participating the WTW Program. 

The participant’s questionnaire will be reviewed to see if they meet a qualifying Family Stabilization Service good cause situation which include but are not limited to: homelessness or risk of homelessness, child specific or lack of parenting support, lack of safety due to domestic abuse, untreated or undertreated behavioral needs, including mental health or substance abuse related needs.  While receiving FSS, a participant is given intensive case management to work on the crisis or situation that is a barrier to full WTW participation.  Referrals will be made to appropriate partner agencies and participants may receive additional help navigating systems in the community.  FSS participants will sign a county plan that they create with their case manager that will detail what they are working on and what activities are expected of them. The purpose of an FSS Plan is to work on whatever is keeping them from being able to participate fully in WTW.

If determined eligible, a participant can be deferred to not to participate in WTW for up to 6 months.  Determinations are made in 3 month intervals.  In month 6, or before, they will be re-referred to the WTW activity they last participated in.  If they have not yet signed a WTW Plan, they will begin with WTW Assessment.

Prior to choosing what types of activities they’d like to do, a participant and their case manager will work together to do some education and career testing and review what types of jobs are available in the local labor market. Together they will determine what steps will be need to attain the participant’s goals. 

A WTW Plan is established based on the needs and goals of the participant that will outline what activities they will take part in to reach their employment goal.  The WTW Plan will outline the activities that are expected and how the county will help support these activities.