WELFARE-TO-WORK (WTW)
1. Orientation and Appraisal
Soon after you apply for cash aid, you will get an appointment letter to go to WTW orientation. During the orientation, you will be told about WTW rules, time limits, and work requirements.
After Orientation, you will meet with your WTW worker in a one-on-one meeting called Appraisal. You will talk to your worker about your work and educational history, what kind of services you need (such as substance abuse, mental health, or if you are a victim of domestic violence), and anything else that will help you get the services you need in welfare-to-work.
If you do not have a high school diploma, you must be offered a GED program or equivalent as your WTW activity. Also, under SB 1232, if you are at a publicly funded school, the county must now accept education as your WTW activity.
If you are already enrolled in an education or training program, you need to tell your worker at Appraisal. This will let you do the education and training as your WTW activity instead of going through Job Club (see next section) and the rest of the WTW process.
2. Job Club
Unless you are already in school or working, Job Club will probably be your first WTW activity. Job Club is a four week activity. The WTW worker can shorten the job search requirement if they think it will not help you find a job.
You don’t have to do job search if:
• It would interfere with a full time job you already have
• You are enrolled in a post secondary education program
• You are in the Cal-Learn program
• Doing a job search would not help you (example: you need basic English or literacy training first)
• You need other help with domestic violence, mental health, or substance abuse.
3. Assessment and WTW plan
If you don’t find a job in the first three weeks of job club, at the end of that week, you will have a “vocational assessment” to determine your next WTW activities.
The worker will then come up with a WTW Plan based on your individual goals and needs. Don’t sign the WTW plan unless you understand and agree with it. Get a copy of it. The plan must be based on the assessment of your needs and skills. Ask for a hearing, a third party assessment, or call Legal Aid, if the plan is not what you want.
4. Self Initated Programs
If on the date of your WTW appraisal you are already in school or training, or have enrolled to start school, your education or training can count as your WTW activity. This is called a “Self Initiated Program” (SIP) because you chose it yourself. It could be a college or vocational program. If you already have a 4-year college degree, you cannot do a SIP unless it is for a teaching credential. Under SB 1232, if you are at a publicly funded school, the county must now accept education as your WTW activity and it does not need to be under the rules of a SIP.
DHA has a list of approved SIP programs. If your program is on the approved list, DHA must approve it. If the program you are in is not on the approved list, DHA should approve it if it leads to employment. You need either a letter from a college counselor or letters from three people in your field of study stating that your program will lead to employment for DHA to approve it.
To continue in a SIP you must be making satisfactory progress toward a degree or certificate that leads to employment.
5. Help To Keep The Job—Post Employment Services
Once you have found a job, the WTW program can help you with money for transportation, training, tools, and uniforms.
You may also continue to get Medi-Cal, CalFresh and child care benefits after you leave CalWORKs, even if your income is too high.