CalWORKs California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids

What is it?

CalWORKs is California’s welfare program that provides cash aid to families with children.

What do you get?

• Cash aid each month
• Medi-Cal
• Food Stamps

Do you qualify?  You might be able to get CalWORKs if:

• There are children in your family, and they are under 19-years-old and;
• You are a one-parent family.  Or a two parent-family, and one parent is disabled or has worked less than 100 hours in the last four weeks before applying, and;
  You don’t make enough money based on CalWORKs income limits, which depend on the number of people in your household, and
• Your resources are not worth more than $2000, or $3000 if someone in your family on aid is 60 years old or older
• You cannot get CalWORKs for yourself if you’ve been convicted of a drug-related felony after December 31, 1997 (your children can still get it, however).

Some of the services you can get through CalWORKs:

• Child Care
• Welfare to Work (GAIN) services: counseling, transportation costs, money for tools or uniforms, etc
• Immediate Need: if there is an emergency, you can get money as soon as you apply
• Homeless and Housing Assistance
• Special Needs: You can get up to $600 if there is an emergency

What you have to do when you receive CalWORKs

• Participate in GAIN program, California’s Welfare to Work program
• Stay under income and resource limits
• Reporting changes in income, number of people in your household, and property every three months

How to apply:

Go to your nearest DPSS office. Below is a link to the listing of offices.
http://dpss.lacounty.gov/new_portal/dpss_other_svcs.cfm

Your rights when you apply:

• You have the right to be treated with courtesy and without discrimination for any reason
• The DPSS worker must try to get you all the cash aid, food stamps, and other benefits for which you are eligible
•  You have the right to turn in your application.  Since you can get benefits as of the day you apply, insist on turning in your application 
• The County has 45 days to either give you your benefits or tell you that you’ve been denied