Revised CalFresh work rules oral script

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has released an updated version of the CalWORKs work rules oral script.  The updated version removes the CalFresh Employment and Training section, and reflects changes to the CalFresh time limit and work rules because of HR 1.

The county must verbally inform at least one member of the CalFresh household or authorized representative of the work rules using the CDSS script or a similar script written by the county.  If a household member becomes a mandatory work registrant during the certification period, the county must make a good faith effort to reach the household and give a verbal explanation of the work rules.  A minimum of two attempts to contact the household is considered a good faith effort.  (ACL 26-26, April 10, 2026.)

 

 

 

CalWORKs Stage 1 Child Care lack of attendance

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Stage One Child Care administrators cannot end child care authorization because of non-utilization.  Stage One Child Care cannot be abandoned.

Counties and contractors can engage families when they are not using authorized child care including 1) contacting the family to determine if child care needs or hours have changed, and discuss the reasons for non-utilization, 2) offer alternative child care options, and 3) engage with families to create goals and a plan of action for child care.

If the county or contractor still does not reach the family, the county must continue to maintain the family’s eligibility for the full 24-month eligibility period and pay the provider based on the family’s maximum authorized hours of care, regardless of attendance.  (CCB 26-05, March 4, 2026.)

CalWORKs Home Visiting Program changes

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The CalWORKs Home Visiting Program is a voluntary program that provides home visits by social workers for CalWORKs recipient families to help them achieve stability.

Effective January 1, 2026, Home Visiting Program participation is limited to the duration of the home visiting model that the county chooses to use.

Effective January 1 2026, Home Visiting Program services can continue after a parent or assisted caretaker relative has been removed from the assistance unit or stops receiving CalWORKs for the duration of the home visiting model, with a maximum of 12 months from the date of removal.

People who are eligible for Home Visiting Program services are CalWORKs recipients who are pregnant, or have a child less then 24 months old when they enroll in the program.  Counties may serve additional individuals with approval of the California Department of Social Services.  (ACL 26-24, April 13, 2026.)

CalWORKs time limit exemption for recipients living in Indian Country with over 50% unemployment

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People who live in Indian Country with at least 50% unemployment are exempt from CalWORKs and federal Temporary Aid to Needy Families time limits.

The California Department of Social Services has released the list of Indian Country areas with 50% or higher unemployment in 2025.  Individuals who lived in those areas during 2025 are eligible for a time limit exemption for the months that they received aid.

If the individual lives in an Indian County area that is not on the list, they may get written documentation from a federally recognized tribe that they lived in an area where adult unemployment was 50% or higher in 2025.  That certification qualifies the individual for the time limit exemption.  (ACL 26-23, April 14, 2026.)

Transforming CalWORKs – end of mandatory job search

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The Transforming CalWORKs legislation, AB 119 (2025) makes several changes job search as a  Welfare-to-Work (WTW) activity.

Effective July 1, 2026, job search will no longer be a required WTW activity in initial engagement, after completion of a WTW activity, or between WTW activities.  Counties cannot require WTW participants to engage in job search unless it is an assigned WTW activity that the participant has agreed to.  Job search will remain an activity that the county can offer at any point in the WTW flow.

Note that any future federal work participation rate penalty can no longer be passed through to the counties.  (ACL 26-32, May 8, 2026.)

Transforming CalWORKs – Welfare-to-Work Transportation changes

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The Transforming CalWORKs legislation, AB 119 (2025) makes several changes to Welfare-to-Work (WTW) transportation.

Counties may offer transportation services in various way, including, but not limited to, bus passes, private mileage, van pools, car repairs, car ownership programs, rideshare services, parking, and tolls.  Counties have discretion about which services to offer.

Effective July 1, 2026, counties must advance all transportation supportive services payments to participants who need them to participate in their WTW activity.  Counties must issue approved payments prior to the start of the activity.  If the county is assessing or processing transportation payments, the participant cannot be sanctioned.

Counties are not expected to advance the exact actual cost of transportation.  Counties must issue supplemental payments when actual transportation exceed the advanced amount as soon as administratively possible.

Counties must provide advance transportation for transporting the participant’s children when that is necessary for WTW participation.

Counties can issue vouchers or bus passes, or a standard advance transportation amount that equals the least costly form of public transportation available.  Counties can also issue advance payments based on actual private mileage.  The private mileage rate must either be the rate used by the county in its transportation plan, or the AAA or IRS mileage rates.

Counties can provide separate payments for gas, oil, insurance, license and registration fees, normal wear and tear, maintenance, parking, tolls, car repairs, and other costs directly related to transportation for the participant’s WTW activity.  (ACL 26-31, May 1, 2026.)