DPSS ePolicy

To convert existing policy to new writing style.

Restoration of Welfare-to-Work (WtW)/Refugee Employment Program (REP) participation for participants who are under a sanction is appropriate when the participant has expressed an interest in curing their sanction. The participant's cash aid benefits will be restored on the first day of the month following the date the participant contacted the County to indicate their desire to end their WtW/REP sanction. Cash aid benefits will be restored when any of the following conditions are met:

1. The activity that the participant previously failed or refused to perform, or another activity (if the original activity is no longer available or no longer appropriate) has been completed;
2. The participant is determined to be in compliance with program requirements, and is otherwise eligible;
3. The sanction is rescinded as a result of the outcome of a State Hearing or Formal Grievance procedure.

Immediate and Continuous Eligibility to Child Care

In accordance with the implementation of Senate Bill 80, participants who request child care are eligible to be approved for full-time, continuous Stage 1 Child Care for 12 months, upon CalWORKs approval. Stage 1 Child Care eligibility is no longer tied to a participant's engagement or attendance in WtW/REP activities.

Regional staff must ensure that participants who request child care have child care authorized and secured prior to mandating participation in WtW/REP activities, including cure-sanction activities. Sanctioned participants who indicate an intent to cure their sanction, and request child care are eligible to be immediately approved for full-time, continuous Stage 1 Child Care for 12 months.

The sanction must be cured immediately, and Good Cause (GC) must be granted for up to 30 days in 15-day increments to give the participant time to secure child care. Additional GC may be issued if the participant requests an extension to secure child care. Staff must contact the participant every 15 days until confirmation is made that child care has been authorized and secured, the participant indicates they need additional time to secure child care, or the participant indicates they no longer need child care assistance.

If staff are unable to reach the participant after 30 days or more have passed, an appointment to participate must be scheduled. The participant will be subject to the non-compliance process if they fail to participate without GC.

Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families statutes direct states to remove from aid non-exempt participants who fail to participate in required work activities.

Cure-Sanction

Restoration of WtW/REP participation for participants who are under a financial sanction when the participant has expressed an interest in participating in WtW/REP activities to end their sanction.

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