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.)

 

There are several reasons why a CalWORKs recipient can have good cause for not participating in their assigned Welfare-to-Work activity.  AB 2300 added excessive hours or commute time, interruption of an approved education or training program, and violation of state and federal workplace protections as good cause reasons for not participating in their assigned Welfare-to-Work activity.

The WTW 1 Welfare-to-Work Rights and Responsibilities, WTW 26 Good Cause Determinatin Guidelines, and WTW 27 Request for Good Cause Determination forms have been modified to include these new good cause reasons.  (ACL 26-20, April 16, 2026.)

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has designated seven Welfare-to-Work (WTW) forms for statewide use.  Six of those forms are informing notices.

The new WTW 112 form is for clients to get medical verification that a household member who is not a mandatory WTW participant requires care in the home. The form must be completed by a doctor or other medical professional who can verify the need for care in the home. When that need is established, a mandatory WTW participant may be exempt from WTW to care for that household member.  If the person who needs in home care is also a mandatory WTW participant, the CW 61 form must be used to verify their WTW exemption.  (ACL 26-08, January 23, 2026.)