Department of Human Assistance

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​What is WTW?

The intent of the Welfare-to-Work (WTW) program is to help participants find a job, keep a job, or obtain essential education or training needed to integrate back into the workforce and attain financial independence.

Who can participate?

Adults who are receiving CalWORKs and who are not exempt, participate in the WTW program. If exempt, adults may also choose to volunteer and participate in the WTW program.

What can participants choose to do?

WTW participants decide which activities will best help them to improve skills, increase their educational level, or become job ready. Available WTW activities options may include:

• Work in the public or private sector, or self-employment
• Community work experience
• Self-Initiated Community service
• Education and training, such as high school completion, community college, English as a Second Language (ESL), or General Education Diploma (GED)
• Job search, job readiness, and job skills training
• Work study
• Mental health services
• Substance use disorder services
• Domestic violence services

What Supportive Services are available?

Supportive services are to be provided in advance of the activity starting to help WTW participants while they work or participate in approved WTW activities.  Supportive services may include:

• Transportation Payments – To help participants in getting to their activity, WTW can assist with bus passes, mileage, etc.
• Child Care subsidies – WTW can approve child care hours and payments to eligible providers through our Stage One Child Care Program.
• School or work expenses – This can include books, supplies, tools, uniforms, etc.
• Diaper assistance for children under age 36 months, if eligibility criteria are met.
• Job Retention Services for Post- CalWORKs adults may be available if requirements are met.

New Rules for CalWORKs and Welfare-to-Work (WTW) Programs

Effective May 1, 2022, the Assembly Bill 79 (AB 79) policy changes were implemented and included the following changes:

• Adults will be eligible to receive CalWORKs for a maximum of 60 cumulative and countable months. This 60-month CalWORKs time limit replaces the 48-month CalWORKs time limit which was implemented July 1, 2011. From January 1, 1998, through June 30, 2011, the CalWORKs time limit was 60 months.
• Repeal of both the WTW 24 -Month Time Clock and CalWORKs Federal Standards that were part of the Senate Bill 1041 (SB 1041).

• WTW participants will only be subject to meet the “CalWORKs Hourly Participation Requirements" throughout their time on aid. This means there is no longer a core requirement for participants. In addition, allows for increased activity flexibility and requires fewer participation hours for most families.
  
   

For information about your case:

Call the Service Center and follow the prompts at 1-800-560-0976  

Service Center Hours Mon – Fri 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Online: visit  www.BenefitsCal.com 24 hours a day

In person:  

Reasonable Accommodations

Do you have any physical, mental, developmental, or emotional conditions that make it hard for you to apply for benefits or meet program requirements? We can give you extra help. We call this type of help a reasonable accommodation.

To request a reasonable accommodation, you may:

• Verbally by calling the Service Center at  1-800-560-0976 or while speaking to a worker about your case.
• Submit a written request online, by mail, by fax, or in person.
  
  The law protects people with physical, mental, emotional, and developmental disabilities as well as others with serious health problems (42 U.S.C. § 12132). For more information please review the PUB 13 and USDA Nondiscrimination Statement.