Welfare to Work (WTW)

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, contact BenefitsCal: