What is CalWORKS?

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CalWORKs is the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program. It provides cash aid, employment services, and other benefits to needy families.

Is CalWORKS known by another name?

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Yes. CalWORKs may also be referred to as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), which is the name for the federal program that funds CalWORKs. It may also be referred to as Aid for Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), which is the program that CalWORKs replaced in 1998. Some people may simply call CalWORKs "Welfare".

What does CalWORKS provide and how long will it last?

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CalWORKs provides cash aid, employment services, and other benefits. CalWORKs generally gives cash aid to adults for 60 months. Children continue to receive cash aid after the 60 month limit.

Who is eligible for CalWORKS?

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To be eligible for CalWORKs, a family must have a child who is:

1. Under age 18 (or under age 19 if the child is currently attending high school or vocational school), and

2. Deprived because the parent(s) is:

In addition, a CalWORKs applicant must meet the residency, income, and resource requirements of the program (see the program description for details).

CalWORKs benefits may be available to the following people in a family:

  • The deprived child
  • Parents
  • Pregnant women in their last trimester
  • Minor mothers
  • Certain non-parent relatives who are caring for the child(ren)

What can I use CalWORKs for?

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CalWORKs cash aid can be used for housing, food, utilities, and other living expenses.

What will I have to do to participate in CalWORKS?

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To receive cash aid in CalWORKs, you will be required to participate in the Welfare-to-Work Program, unless you're exempt. You will also have to report changes to your income and living situation every three months. You must report certain changes immediately. CalWORKs will tell you what those situations are when you are accepted in to the program.

Are there any medical eligibility requirements to enroll in CalWORKS?

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Yes. If you are applying to CalWORKs as a parent with a disability, you will have to meet disability eligibility requirements. CalWORKs considers you disabled if it:
  • Is expected to last at least 30 days; and
  • Significantly impairs the your ability to be regularly employed or participate in Welfare-to-Work activities.

Does what I have in the bank and or what I own affect my eligibility for CalWORKS?

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Yes. To be eligible for CalWORKs, you are allowed to have the following resources:
  • $2,000 in resources for a family without a member above age 60 ($3,000 for a family with a member age 60 or above);
  • One house that the family lives in; and
  • One car with a value of $4,650.

How do I apply for CalWORKs?

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Contact your local county welfare department to receive an application.

How soon can I be eligible for benefits from CalWORKs?

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When you apply, the county has to schedule an intake appointment within seven days. A CalWORKs application must be accepted or rejected within 45 days. However, many applications can be approved in less time depending upon the county you live in and your family’s circumstances.

What should I do if I need financial help right away?

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There are a number of ways that CalWORKs can help you if you need money immediately:
  • If you have less than $100, need to pay for basic needs, and it appears you qualify for CalWORKS, then the county must provide you with $200 within two working days from the time you request the money. They then must process your CalWORKs application within 15 days. Rent, food, utilities, clothing and medical care are examples of "basic needs".
  • If you are being threatened with eviction, the county should process your application within 3 days and give you the full benefit for that month.
  • You can receive Food Stamps within three days if you have gross income of less than $150 or less than $100 in assets.
  • If you are applying to CalWORKs and need money for a special circumstance, CalWORKs may give you a diversion payment so that you don't need to go on the program. If the diversion payment does not work, it will either count as one of your 60 months or be considered an overpayment.

Can I qualify for CalWORKs while I am eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

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Your family can, but you will not be considered as a family member when CalWORKs determines the grant amount. This means that your family will be eligible for a smaller grant. Your family's countable income, however, will not include your SSI.

The reasoning behind this rule is that you use your SSI benefit to pay for your own basic living expenses. The state won't give you money to cover these same expenses, but realizes that you can't share that money with the rest of your family.

Can I qualify for CalWORKS while I am eligible for the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program?

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Yes. You may qualify for CalWORKs while you are eligible for SSDI. However, a portion of your SSDI benefit will be considered as income when determining the amount of cash aid you will receive.

Can I qualify for CalWORKs while I am eligible for Medi-Cal (Medicaid) health coverage?

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Yes. If your CalWORKs application is approved, you will automatically receive full-scope Medi-Cal.

How do I stay enrolled/eligible in CalWORKs?

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To stay enrolled/eligible for CalWORKs, you need to continue to meet the requirements for:

Are there rules for immigrants to qualify for CalWORKs?

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Yes. To qualify for CalWORKs you must be a California resident. In addition, you must be either a U.S.citizen, Qualified Alien, Permanently Residing Under Color of Law, or a domestic abuse survivor.

What is the difference between CalWORKs and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program?

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CalWORKs is a state program that is funded through the a federal grant from the TANF program.

Does working have any affect on CalWORKs?

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Yes. If your family's countable income exceeds the Minimum Basic Standards of Adequate Care (MBSAC) for your family size, you may become ineligible for cash aid.

Also, your grant amount will decrease if you earn income. See the program description for more details. You may be eligible for other benefits even if you don't receive cash aid.

Can I receive Welfare-to-Work services if I’m disabled?

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Yes. Although many disabled CalWORKs recipients are exempt from participating in the Welfare-to-Work Program, you can voluntarily participate and receive paid child care.

What is the difference between CalWORKs and Welfare-to-Work?

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Welfare-to-Work is just one part of the CalWORKs Program. Welfare-to-Work focuses specifically on assisting you in finding and retaining employment.