The Transforming CalWORKs legislation, SB 119 (2025) makes several changes to Welfare-to-Work (WTW) sanctions.
Effective July 1, 2026, or when automation is completed, whichever is later, counties cannot impose WTW sanctions in the first 90 days after CalWORKs is granted. The 90 day no sanction period applies if an individual stops receiving CalWORKs and later reapplies for CalWORKs. During the initial 90 day period, counties must proactively reach out to recipients for WTW steps and plan development, barrier removal, family stabilization, and supportive services.
Counties can initiate WTW sanctions for noncompliance with program requirements, including not signing a WTW plan.
Effective July 29, 2025, counties may allow recipients to reschedule sanction good cause appointments more than once.
Effective July 1, 2026, prior to imposing a WTW sanction, prior to imposing a WTW sanction, the county must provide the recipient with a child care request form, the reimbursement rules for child care, and if eligible, confirm that the recipient has child care available at the time of their WTW participation. Note that existing policies regarding informing recipients about child care and verifying child care availability have not changed.
Effective July 1, 2026 or when automation is completed, counties must end WTW sanctions when the sanctioned individual states, either verbally or in writing, that they want to cure the sanction. A cure plan will no longer be required. Anyone in the sanction cure process when this policy takes effect will have their sanction resolved. Counties must still formalize the WTW activity in a WTW plan as soon as administratively possible. Failure to sign a new WTW plan will be a basis for a new sanction.
Counties cannot impose WTW sanctions on recipients who are meeting federal work participation requirements. Counties will be required to end sanctions when they verify or otherwise discover that the recipient is or has been meeting federal work participation requirements.
Effective July 1, 2026, sanctioned individual who stop receiving CalWORKs and later reapply will be deemed to have stated that they want to participate and their sanction will be cured.
Counties must restore benefits the first of the month following cure of the sanction.
Individuals who cure their sanctions will not have their Stage One Child Care authorization discontinued if they later fail to participate. (ACL 26-28, April 24, 2026.)