DPSS ePolicy

Revision of existing policy and/or form(s).

To reinforce policy for qualifying employment and to clarify how to treat commission-based income vs. self-employment income.

Note: Changes are shown highlighted in grey throughout the document.

The purpose of providing Post-Employment Services (PES) is to help participants adjust to their new working situation, provide them with the tools needed to believe in themselves, and successfully go through the process of retaining a job or getting a better job.  Employed participants are encouraged to take advantage of PES as needed to achieve self-sustaining employment leading to lasting independence from welfare.

Qualifying Employment must be verifiable with the participant’s authorization to release information and is subject to minimum requirements for duration of employment, weekly hours and wages.

Earnings from employment must be at least the applicable state or federal minimum wage.  If neither wage applies, the work must be compensated in an amount equivalent to the lesser of the two.  Employment may be unsubsidized or subsidized in the private or public sector.  Commission is a form of unsubsidized employment.

A participant who is not self-employed, but is paid via commission, must report their actual hours of employment via the PA 167 – Monthly Earnings Report.  Actual hours of employment may not be obtainable from the employer, but can be obtained from the participant and verified by the GAIN Services Worker (GSW)/Contracted Case Manger (CCM).

Many participants secure initial, entry-level jobs with wages too low to eliminate the need for public assistance.  The goal of PES is to provide participants with the information, resources, and tools they need to retain unsubsidized employment, improve career potential and achieve economic self-sufficiency at a living wage prior to exhausting their CalWORKs 60-Month Time Clock.  To this end, an array of services are offered to help participants stay employed and get a better job with sufficient wages to reach self-sufficiency from CalWORKs dependency.  The goal of GAIN is to assist participants obtain a meaningful job that will sustain the family’s need.  As such, it is imperative that the participant accept job offers that are compensated at least at the State or federal minimum wage.

Qualifying Employment

Work that is compensated at least at the applicable State or federal minimum wage.  For work where neither wage rate applies, such as Self-Employment or Commission based-employment, the work must be compensated in an amount equivalent to the lesser of the two.

Unsubsidized Employment

Employment with an employer who is not reimbursed for any portion of the employer’s wages.

Subsidized Employment

Employment in which an employer is partially or wholly reimbursed for wages and/or training costs.

Commission

Compensation paid to an employee for services rendered in the sale of the employer’s product, property or services based on a percentage of the cost of the sale price of the product or service.

Self-Employment

A self-employed participant works for them instead of an employer and draws an income from a business, performing a trade or service that they personally operates.

GSW/CCM must ensure that the following requirements are met for employed participants:

Qualifying Employment

Employment must be compensated at least at the applicable State or federal minimum wage.  For employments where neither wage rate applies, such as Self-Employment or Commission based-employment, the work must be compensated in an amount equivalent to the lesser of the two.  In addition, the employment is expected to last at least 30 days.

Actual Hours of Participation

Participants must report actual hours worked via a pay stub, SAR 7, or the Monthly Earnings Report (PA 167).

 Federal Hourly Work Participation Requirements

• Single parent with at least one child under six years old must work 20 hours per week
• Single parent with no children under six years old must work 30 hours per week
• Two-parent families must work 35 hours per week

Employment Verification

• Pay Stubs
• PA 1672-1 - Request for Employment Verification
• ST1-20 - Request for Employment Verification
• PA 167 - Monthly Earnings Report
• Work Number Abstract