The California Department of Social Services has issued guidance regarding Welfare-to-Work participation and the Los Angeles wildfires. Los Angeles and Ventura Counties can implement county-wide blanket good cause to suspend welfare-to-work participation during the state of emergency. Welfare-to-work participants may continue to voluntarily participate. This blanket good cause does not stop the 60 month time on aid clock.
These counties should establish an end date for blanket good cause based on the time needed to reengage participants. Blanket good cause cannot extend longer than the state of emergency.
After blanket good cause ends, counties should continue to grant good cause and exemptions on a case-by-case basis for participants who have health or economic issues because of the wildfires.
Wildfire victims may also be eligible for nonrecurring special needs payments, an exception to the once every 12 months limit on Homeless Assistance, and welfare-to-work exemptions. Current recipients may also be eligible for the CalWORKs Housing Support Program.
Some wildfire evacuees may apply for CalWORKs outside of their home county. Evacuees may not have documentation available. If evidence does not exist, or the applicant and county make a good faith effort to obtain verification but are unsuccessful, the county must accept the applicant’s statement under penalty of perjury.
Families receiving CalWORKs through the recovery period must comply with regular verification rules as soon as possible. (ACWDL, January 28, 2025.)