DPSS ePolicy

To convert existing policy to new writing style only - No concept changes 

Necessary supportive services are available to every participant in an approved Self-Initiated Program (SIP) activity. Advance payments may be issued. Supportive services cannot be denied because a participant receives financial aid.

If supportive services are not available, participants have Good Cause for not participating.

Tuition or school fees in the nature of tuition are not ancillary expenses. For additional information on tuition refer to GAIN Chapter 1230 Ancillary Supportive Services. 
 

N/A

N/A

Types Supportive Services

Supportive services and advance payments are available to participants to assist them in participating in the assigned SIP activity.

Supportive services include:

• Child care;

• Transportation;

• Ancillary and work-related expenses;

• Specialized Supportive Services; 
  • Domestic Violence;
  • Mental Health; and
  • Substance Use Disorder.

Unapprovable SIP

Supportive services are provided to the participant in an unapprovable SIP for expenses incurred on or after signing the Welfare-to-Work Plan Activity Assignment (WTW 2) form, until they finish the current quarter or semester.

Note: Supportive services incurred before signing the WTW 2 for an unapprovable SIP will not be reimbursed.

Approvable SIPs Expenses Incurred Prior to Signing the WTW 2

Participants enrolled in an approved SIP who incurred supportive services expenses before signing a WTW 2, may be eligible for reimbursement of ancillary, and/or retroactive transportation expenses, if the expenses meet all of the following:

• The expense was incurred after the beginning date of aid;
• The expense was an unreimbursed out-of-pocket cost;
• The expense is determined eligible under CalWORKs regulation; and
• The expense was necessary for the participation during the academic period or term (semester or quarter) in which the SIP was approved.

Financial Aid

Supportive services are available to participants in an approvable SIP who:

• Do not receive financial aid; or
• State that they do not want to use their financial aid to pay for supportive services on the WTW 8, Student Financial Aid Statement WtW Supportive Services form.

Supportive services will not be denied or reduced if a participant is receiving financial aid, unless the participant voluntarily agrees to use financial aid on the WTW 8 to pay for items which would generally be paid for with CalWORKs funds.

Duplication of Supportive Services

Supportive services received by a participant through the school Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS) and/or Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (CARE) Programs that have been restricted to a specific good or service will not be reimbursed by GAIN.

Example: If the EOPS/CARE aid was specifically earmarked for required textbooks, GAIN would not provide supportive services for those books, as that would be duplicate aid.

Refer to GAIN Chapter 1200 Supportive Services for additional information.

Ancillary Request

School ancillary form or the GN 6151 - GAIN Transportation and Ancillary School/Work-Related Expenses Request form. Used by participants to request travel and school/work-related expenses.

Financial Aid

WTW 8 - Student Financial Aid Statement WtW Supportive Services form. Used to identify a participant’s decision to voluntarily use or not use their financial aid to pay for supportive services that can be paid for by CalWORKs.