What exactly is the CalFresh Employment & Training program? Different from work requirements?

Oh that makes more sense! So it's like an extra benefit I can use if I want to but not something I HAVE to do? Is there a separate application for it or do I just ask my worker about it?

Did they pay for childcare? I'm interested in something like this but can't afford to pay anyone to watch my kids while I would be in class.

Thanks for clarifying! I'll call and ask about it. Do you know if they offer like computer training? I'm trying to get better jobs but my computer skills are pretty basic.

I had the same problem but I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to a CalFresh worker in about 20 minutes. They basically wait on hold for you and call you when a human picks up. Saved me hours of frustration! You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 or just go to claimyr.com. I used it to ask about the E&T program in my county and got all the info I needed without the typical 3+ hour wait time.

You're probably getting the two things mixed up. The ABAWD work requirements (for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents) CAN be mandatory for some people between 18-49 with no kids or disabilities. That's different from the E&T program which is voluntary. If you got a letter saying you need to meet work requirements, that's about the ABAWD rules, not the E&T program. The rules say you need to work 80 hours per month, participate in a work program, or do community service. But there are LOTS of exemptions to these rules - having kids, being disabled, being a student, etc.

That's great for your sister, but just to be clear - you can't get CalFresh just to access the E&T program. You have to actually be income-eligible for the food benefits first. They verify your income, expenses, household size, etc. before approving benefits. The E&T program is an additional service for people who already qualify for and receive CalFresh.

Good luck! Just ask specifically for the "CalFresh Employment and Training program" when you call. And if you have trouble getting through (like most people do), try that Claimyr service I mentioned - it'll save you hours of hold time. Hope you find some good training options!

Thanks! I'll definitely ask about the childcare part specifically. That would make a huge difference for me.

This is such valuable info, thanks for sharing! I'm new to CalFresh and honestly feel a bit overwhelmed by all the different programs and services available. The union apprenticeship partnerships sound incredible - I never would have thought to ask about trades through a food assistance program. Can I ask what county you're in? I'm wondering if this varies a lot by location. I'm in Riverside County and hoping they have similar partnerships. Also really glad to hear the Claimyr service actually works - I was skeptical about paying for something like that but if it saves hours of frustration it might be worth it. It's amazing how much support seems to be available that we just don't know about! Makes me wonder what other resources I'm missing out on.

@Anastasia Sokolov I m'in San Bernardino County right (next to you! and) we have similar programs here, so I d'bet Riverside has good options too. When I called, the worker mentioned that the Inland Empire region generally has strong partnerships with the building trades because of all the construction and warehouse work out here. One tip - when you call, ask specifically about their approved "training providers list." That s'how I found out about the union apprenticeships. They gave me a whole list of organizations they work with, including some I d'never heard of that do things like solar panel installation and HVAC repair. And yeah, the Claimyr thing seemed sketchy to me at first too, but honestly after sitting on hold for 3+ hours multiple times, I was desperate! It s'like $20 or something but totally worth it when you consider the time saved. Plus you can use it for other government agencies too if you need to. The amount of resources available really is shocking - I think they should do a better job advertising these programs when people first apply for benefits!

@Anastasia Sokolov I m'in Orange County, so hopefully Riverside has similar options! When I called, the worker mentioned that the state has partnerships with different unions statewide, but each county might work with different local unions depending on what s'available in the area. You should definitely ask specifically about apprenticeship programs when you call - the worker said a lot of people don t'even know to ask about trades, they just think about office jobs or retail training. But the apprenticeships can be life-changing because you re'earning while learning and often get guaranteed job placement. And yeah, I was skeptical about Claimyr too but honestly after spending literally 4+ hours on hold the week before and (getting disconnected twice! ,)the small fee was totally worth it. Plus I think they have a satisfaction guarantee or something. You re'right that there s'probably way more help available than most of us realize. I m'going to ask my worker about other programs next time I have my review. It seems like they don t'always volunteer all the information unless you know what questions to ask!

@Anastasia Sokolov I m'in San Bernardino County neighboring (Riverside! and) we have similar partnerships here, so I d'bet Riverside does too. When I called, I specifically asked what "training providers and programs do you work with for the Employment & Training program? and" the worker had a whole list. She mentioned union partnerships, community colleges, AND some private vocational schools. You re'so right about there being resources we don t'know about! I ve'been on CalFresh for almost a year and just learned about all this. Makes me wonder if there s'like a comprehensive list somewhere of all the programs available to us. The worker also mentioned something about help with work clothes and tools for certain programs, which blew my mind. Definitely call and ask specifically about trades programs in Riverside. Even if they don t'have the exact same partnerships, they might have other options that could work for you!

@Anastasia Sokolov I m'in San Bernardino County, which is right next to Riverside, so you should definitely have similar options! When I called, the worker mentioned that a lot of the E&T providers actually serve multiple counties in the Inland Empire area. I was skeptical about Claimyr too at first, but honestly it was a lifesaver. I think I paid like $20 to avoid sitting on hold for 3+ hours, and it was totally worth my time and sanity. Plus once you get through and establish contact with a case worker, future calls tend to be easier. You re'so right about not knowing what resources are available! I ve'been on CalFresh for almost a year and just learned about E&T from this thread. Makes me want to ask my worker what other programs I might be missing out on. There s'probably a whole world of support services that they just don t'have time to explain to everyone during regular appointments.

@Anastasia Sokolov I m'in Orange County and we definitely have the union partnerships here! Riverside County should have similar programs since they re'both pretty big counties with decent funding. When you call, specifically ask about apprenticeship "opportunities through" the E&T program - don t'just ask about job training in general or they might not mention the union partnerships. I was also overwhelmed when I first got CalFresh! There s'so much they don t'tell you upfront. Besides the E&T program, you might also want to ask about utility assistance programs, free tax prep services, and even discounted internet if you qualify. Some counties have whole resource guides they can send you. The Claimyr thing is legit - I think it cost me like $20 but saved me probably 4+ hours of my time. Totally worth it when you re'trying to juggle work and kids and can t'sit on hold all day. Good luck!