Beginning in 2014, CDSS implemented AB 74, which changed the sequence of activities for CalWORKs Welfare to Work (WTW) participants provided in Welf. & Inst. Code Section 11320.1 in order to better serve individuals who  face significant barriers to employment in light of the WTW 24-month clock. AB 74 permits participants to bypass the job search (job market test) when the participant is identified as having potential barriers to employment, such as mental health, substance abuse or domestic abuse, which warrant further assessment during the appraisal process. AB 74 also provides for a standardized appraisal tool to identify such individuals.  That tool, the Online CalWORKs Appraisal Tool (OCAT), is to be implemented in Spring 2015. When significant barriers are identified during appraisal, the participant should be evaluated for a WTW exemption and referred for barrier evaluation and related services when appropriate.  ACL 15-09.

After conducting a survey on the unemployment rate of adults in federally recognized tribes, CDSS has determined which tribes experienced an unemployment rate of 50 percent or higher in 2013, providing CalWORKs and tribal TANF recipients exemptions from the CalWORKs time limits during those months of high unemployment. A recipient may still qualify for an exemption if CDSS has not recognized the tribe’s unemployment rate, but must obtain written documentation from the federally-recognized tribe that adult unemployment was 50 percent or higher during the months in question.  ACL 14-108.

CDSS released the CW 80 in February, which is to be used by CalWORKs applicants and recipients to report the equity value of motor  vehicles owned by the assistance unit. Only equity value in excess of $9,500 is counted against the unit’s resource limit and no equity value is counted for vehicles driven by a household member younger than 18 to commute for employment, job search or to training or education intended to lead to employment. If a recipient reports that a vehicle was a gift, donation or family transfer, he or she must obtain verification from the Department of Motor Vehicles of the transaction and provide that to the county.  ACL 15-27.

CalWORKs assistance units, under both semi-annual reporting and annual reporting (child only) rules, are only required to report certain changes between reporting deadlines.  An increase in income to the income reporting threshold (IRT) is one change that must be reported.  Assistance units must report when their incomes reach the lower of two tiers –  either (1) 55% of the federal poverty level for a family of 3 (currently $907) plus the amount of income last used to calculate the assistance unit’s grant or, (2) the amount of income likely to make the assistance unit ineligible for a cash payment.  The IRT chart provides the second tier amounts and is effective when it is provided to the assistance unit, though the current chart was adopted by CDSS in October 1, 2014.  A new chart goes into effect April 1, 2015 and will remain in effect through September 30, 2015.  ACL 15-06.

Medical documentation of disabling conditions that render a recipient exempt from work activity under CalWORKs rules can sometimes be delayed until after recipients have been on aid for several months. Counties must provide the CalWORKs Exemption Request form (CW2186A) and accompanying medical information release from (CW 61) when an applicant or recipient reports a disability impacting regular employment or participation in welfare to work activities. Upon verifying the disability, the county must grant the exemption effective the date the disability began, adjust the 48 and 24 month clocks accordingly and reimburse the recipient for any underpayments of CalWORKs benefits during the period of disability. Counties must schedule and notify recipients of pending dates for review of disability status based upon physician reports regarding the expected duration of the disability or, if the disability is expected to be permanent, at intervals of no less than one year. ACL 15-08.

Updating instructions offered in early 2014  in ACL 14-09, CDSS has provided further guidance regarding extensions of the relatively new welfare to work 24-month time clock for CalWORKs recipients in three all county letters. Recipients who still have time remaining on the 48-month lifetime clock and who meet one of several criteria may request extensions of the 24-month period of extra flexibility in welfare to work activities with the WTW 44 form. Justifications for extension of the 24-month clock include when a recipient is likely to obtain employment within six months, when a unique labor market barrier exists, such as a recent natural disaster impacting the labor market, or when one member of a two-parent assistance unit still has time on his or her 24-month clock, but the other parent’s clock has expired. ACL 15-01.  CDSS will monitor the counties’ implementation of the extensions at 6-month intervals – the same period of time for which extensions are granted. ACL 15-02.  After the 24-month clock or subsequent extensions expire, recipients must meet federal hourly participation requirements.  The county must set an appointment with the recipients using a standard letter (WTW 46) prior to expiration to review the time clock status, possible extensions of time, potential exemptions from participation, and necessary changes to the WTW plan going forward. ACL 15-03.