EBT gets bigger: counties can choose (but are not required) to add Cal-Learn and Welfare-to-Work benefits to the EBT system. Theory is better data, reporting and tracking, and faster client receipt of benefits, than those old fashioned checks. Available payment are transportation, ancillary, and bonuses for Cal-Learn; transportation costs and ancillary expenses necessary for WTW participation. (The letter does not address this issue, but one hopes that counties will counsel recipients about these payments appearing on the EBT, for budgeting purposes.) [Download]

The ACL transmits the newly developed reporting form and instructions to report on AB 98 subsidized work. The first report month will be January 2009, with the final report month, December 2010. AB 98 provides for reimbursement to counties choosing to participate in this program. (Reimbursement is for 50% of the CalWORKs recipient’s wage subsidy, outside of the county Single Allocation, when the recipient is participating in subsidized employment.) In order for counties to claim the additional funds, the county program must limit wage subsidies to a maximum of six months for each recipient and the amount of wage subsidies claimed outside of the Single Allocation may not exceed 50 percent of the maximum aid payment for the assistance unit of which the recipient is a member. [Download]

Notice of the link to view the FFY 2007 individual county work participation rates. Includes a reminder that there are differences in the manner in which the CalWORKs program achieves its objectives, and the federal government measures of achievement. [Download]