DPSS ePolicy

To convert existing policy to new writing style.

The main purpose of the compliance and sanction process is to promote participation by helping participants remove obstacles that prevent participation and completion of Welfare-to-Work (WtW)/Refugee Employment Program (REP) activities.

County Issuance Approval (CIA) staff make all compliance, Good Cause (GC), and sanction determinations on cases served by contracted staff. The process involves having the Contracted Case Managers (CCMs) recommend compliance actions and GC determinations to the CIA staff. CIA staff evaluate the recommendations within one workday and update the appropriate California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS) pages accordingly.

In an effort to increase monitoring and deter fraudulent actions, the Board of Supervisors and the Auditor-Controller recommended that the Department implement a three-level County review and approval process for contractor requests.

Cause Determination (CD) 

An investigation to determine GC or no GC when a participant fails or refuses to meet WtW/REP program requirements. This can often lead to resumed participation and the avoidance of a sanction.

Compliance Plan

A step in the compliance process in which a participant, whom the County determined did not have GC, is given the opportunity to prevent a sanction by agreeing to meet the conditions of and sign a compliance plan.

Compliance Process

A 20-calendar-day period during which the participant is given an appointment to provide GC or sign a Compliance Plan (CP) to continue participation.

County Issuance and Approval Staff

County GSWs that are responsible for reviewing and authorizing transportation and ancillary issuances, and handling compliance, exemption, and time limit reviews for contracted offices.

Good Cause

An approved good reason presented by the participant that is relevant to the issue of non-participation in a WtW/REP activity and can often lead to resumed participation and the avoidance of a sanction. This can also excuse an individual from participating in WtW/REP program for a defined period of time.

Sanction

The process of reducing the cash aid benefits of mandatory WtW/REP participants when they fail or refuse to participate in their assigned WtW/REP activity and the participation problem was not resolved during the compliance process.

N/A

The CCM shall use the GN 6163 - Program Compliance Checklist/Gram to recommend the following compliance/sanction actions to the CIA staff:

1. The CD appointment;
   
   
2. GC or no GC recommendation;
   
   
3. CP recommendation; and
   
   
4. Denial/cancellation of a sanction.

N/A