CDSS has issued instructions about Welfare-to-Work (WTW) requirements for 16 and 17 year olds. WTW requirements apply to 16 and 17 year olds in two situations. First, non-parenting 16 and 17 year olds who either a school district or School Attendance Review Board have found to be chronic truant must be referred for a WTW plan unless an exception applies. The only purpose of this plan is to complete high school or its equivalent. These 16 and 17 year olds can voluntarily participate in other WTW activities as long as those activities do not interfere with school attendance. All supportive services are available to these 16 and 17 year olds.
A non-parenting teen who does not comply with this WTW plan is subject to a school attendance penalty. In this instance, the needs of the 16 or 17 year old are removed from the assistance unit but the 16 or 17 year old remains eligible for CalWORKs services. If a 16 or 17 year old is not enrolled in a secondary school, the county must assist in becoming enrolled and the 16 or 17 year old has good cause until they are enrolled.
Non-parenting 16 and 17 year olds who complete high school or its equivalent, and 16 and 17 year olds who complete participation in CalLearn upon graduating from high school or its equivalent, are required to participate in WTW unless exempt. Counties must conduct an assessment and develop WTW plans for these 16 and 17 year olds. Only adults are subject to minimum participation requirements. However, the county must include a required number of participation hours in the WTW plan not to exceed 20 average hours per week.
These 16 and 17 year olds are mandatory WTW participants who are subject to sanction for noncompliance unless they are exempt or have good cause. In addition to other exemptions, these 16 and 17 year olds are exempt if they have enrolled in or are planning to enroll in a postsecondary educational, vocational, or technical school training program.
In general, persons sanctioned by CalWORKs also receive a CalFresh sanction. Non-head of household 16 and 17 year olds are exempt from CalFresh work requirements and are not subject to this CalFresh sanction. However, head of household 16 and 17 year olds may be subject to work registration requirements and are subject to CalFresh sanction for failure to comply with CalWORKs WTW requirements. ACL 16-99 (December 8, 2016.)