The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions regarding the ten percent increase in the CalWORKs Maximum Aid Payment. Effective April 1, 2019, the CalWORKs Maximum Aid Payment will increase by ten percent. The grant increase applies to all CalWORKs cases, regardless of whether those cases are in Region One or Region Two and whether or not the assistance unit is exempt from Welfare-to-Work.
The grant increase must be programmed into the welfare department computer systems by April 1, 2019. If the grant increase is not automated, the computer system consortia must give counties instructions for a workaround to ensure CalWORKs recipients receive the grant increase effective April 1, 2019.
CDSS issued a mass mailer notice that must be sent to all CalWORKs recipients no later than February 15, 2019 informing of the grant increase. Counties must also inform recipients of their new Income Reporting Threshold because of the grant increase. (ACL 18-124, October 9, 2018.)