Does clearing a CalWORKs sanction automatically increase my Cash Aid amount every month?

Congrats on clearing your WTW sanction! Your Cash Aid should increase on your next payment cycle. When you're sanctioned, only your portion of the grant is removed (not your children's), so now that it's lifted, you'll be added back to the household grant calculation. The increase isn't gradual - you'll get the full adult portion back all at once. It doesn't 'go up every month' as your question asks - it's just restored to the full amount you should receive based on your household size. You don't need to file additional paperwork specifically for this increase. However, make sure you're meeting all your new WTW requirements so you don't get sanctioned again. This means attending all appointments, completing your assigned hours, and submitting verification of participation.

when i got my sanciton cleared last yr it took 2 payment cycles to see the money. had to call them a bunch of times cause they said it would be on the next payment but it wasnt. keep checking ur ebt card and if its not there by the payment date CALL RIGHT AWAY dont wait

The adult portion depends on your region and household size, but to give you an idea, in 2025 for Region 1, a family of 3 (1 adult + 2 children) gets about $1,050 total. When sanctioned, only the children's portion (about $700) would be paid. So you'd see roughly $350 added back once your sanction is lifted. Make sure you understand your Welfare to Work plan completely this time. The county should have given you a WTW 2 form that outlines your participation requirements. Typically you need to complete 35 hours per week of approved activities (20 if you have a child under 6). These can include job search, work, education, training, etc. Also important: Your first payment after sanction removal might be prorated depending on when in the month your sanction was officially cleared in the system.

is anyone else having trouble getting through to their WTW worker??? i've been trying to reach mine for THREE WEEKS about my sanction and the line always disconnects after 45min of waiting. so frustrating!!

Make sure ur actually following the WTW plan this time!! I got my sanction cleared only to get sanctioned AGAIN 3 months later cause I thought going to one workshop counted for my whole week but it didn't. Read the paperwork they give u CAREFULLY. Also they should backdate some $$ for the month u cleared the sanction if it wasn't on the 1st of the month.

You knw wht really pisses me off bout these sanctions? Some counties make it SO HARD to clear them! My sister in LA county got sanctioned and had to go to FIVE different appointments just to get back on! FIVE!! Meanwhile the bills don't stop coming right?? They need to make this process easier for parents who are TRYING.

One more important thing: Since your financial situation is changing, this is a good time to check if you're eligible for other benefits too. With your increased CalWORKs grant, make sure: 1. Your CalFresh (food stamps) amount is correctly adjusted (it might decrease slightly with higher income) 2. You're signed up for CalWORKs childcare assistance if you need it for your WTW activities 3. You're receiving the Cal-Learn bonus if applicable Don't forget you're also required to report this change on your next SAR7 form. Good luck with your WTW plan!

Stey ontop of everything they make u do, and dont miss NOTHING or theyll sanction u so fast its crazy. i had a flat tire once and missed one appointment and boom - sanctioned for 3 months before i got it cleared. the system is designed to trip us up i swear. but atleast the money is better when ur not sanctioned so hang in there

Hey congrats on getting your sanction cleared! I went through something similar about 6 months ago. Just wanted to add that you should also check if your county offers emergency aid or other one-time assistance since you've been dealing with reduced benefits for 4 months. Some counties have discretionary funds to help families catch up on bills after long sanctions. Also, if you're still having transportation issues, ask your worker about bus passes or gas vouchers - most counties provide these for WTW participants to get to their activities. Don't be afraid to advocate for yourself and ask about ALL the resources available. The system is confusing but there's usually more help out there than they initially tell you about. Good luck staying compliant this time!

Just wanted to share my experience since I went through this exact same situation about 8 months ago. When my sanction got cleared, it took exactly one payment cycle to see the increase - so you should definitely see it next month! The amount I got back was around $380 (I have 2 kids), so it sounds like the estimates others gave you are pretty accurate. One thing that really helped me was keeping a copy of the paperwork from when they cleared my sanction, because there was actually a small mix-up in the system and I had to prove it was officially lifted. Also, make sure you understand exactly what your WTW hours need to be each week - I made the mistake of thinking "part-time" activities would count for full credit and ended up short on my hours. The childcare assistance mentioned above is a game changer if you qualify. I was able to get my daycare costs covered which made it so much easier to attend all my required activities. Don't be afraid to ask your worker about every single program available - they don't always volunteer all the information upfront but there's usually more help than you realize!

Just wanted to add that you should also check your county's website or call to see if they have any "good cause" policies for future absences. Most counties will excuse missed appointments if you have valid reasons like medical emergencies, car breakdowns, or other unavoidable situations - but you usually have to notify them within a certain timeframe (like 5-10 days). I wish I had known about this earlier because I got sanctioned once for missing an appointment when my kid was in the ER, but I didn't know I could request good cause until it was too late. Having this info ahead of time can save you from going through another sanction cycle if life throws you another curveball!

Really glad to hear you got your sanction cleared! Just wanted to mention that if you're in a county that uses the CalWORKs Apportionment and Benefit Calculation Table, you can actually look up your exact benefit amounts online. The state publishes these tables every year and they break down the grants by region and household size. Also, since you mentioned transportation was your main issue before - definitely ask about the Supportive Services program! They can help with gas cards, car repairs, bus passes, and even emergency car insurance payments if that helps you stay compliant. A lot of people don't know these services exist but they're specifically designed to remove barriers to WTW participation. One last tip: if you're doing the job readiness program, make sure you get documentation for EVERY hour you attend. Some programs are better than others at tracking and reporting your hours to the county, and you don't want to get dinged later for "missing" hours that you actually completed. Keep your own records just in case!

Hey Ryder! Congrats on getting your sanction cleared - that's a huge relief! I went through the exact same thing last year and wanted to share what I learned. Your cash aid should definitely increase starting with your next payment, and like others mentioned, it's not a gradual increase - you'll get the full adult portion restored all at once. One thing I wish I had known is to screenshot or save your EBT balance right before your expected payment date so you can easily tell if the increase went through. When mine got cleared, there was actually a delay and I had to call to get it sorted out, but having that documentation helped speed up the process. Also, since you mentioned transportation was your biggest issue before - definitely ask your worker about the Supportive Services I keep hearing about! They can provide gas vouchers and bus passes specifically for WTW participants. I qualified for monthly bus passes which was a game changer for getting to all my appointments reliably. Good luck with your job readiness program starting next week! Sounds like you're taking it seriously this time which is awesome.

Hey Ryder! I'm so happy to hear you got your sanction cleared - that must be such a relief after 4 months! I'm actually in a similar situation right now where I missed some appointments due to childcare issues and got sanctioned about 2 months ago. Reading through all these responses is giving me so much hope and useful information. I had no idea about so many of these resources like the Supportive Services program and the transportation assistance. I've been struggling to get to my appointments because I don't have reliable childcare and can't always afford gas. It sounds like there might be help available that I didn't even know to ask for. One question - when you met with your caseworker to clear the sanction, did they automatically tell you about these other programs like childcare assistance and transportation help? Or did you have to specifically ask? I have my appointment next week to try to get my sanction lifted and I want to make sure I ask about everything available. Thanks for sharing your experience and congrats again! It gives me hope that I can get through this too and get back on track with my benefits.

This thread has been so incredibly helpful! I'm a newcomer to this community and just started the CalWORKs application process last month. Reading about everyone's experiences with sanctions and how to clear them is giving me valuable insight into what to expect and how to avoid getting sanctioned in the first place. It's amazing how much information is shared here that apparently the caseworkers don't always tell you upfront - like the Supportive Services program, transportation assistance, childcare help, and the "good cause" policies. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and come back to it when I start my WTW activities. Ryder, congratulations on getting your sanction cleared! And thank you for asking this question because the responses from everyone have created like a mini-guide for navigating the CalWORKs system. I'm going to make sure to ask about ALL these programs when I meet with my worker instead of just assuming they'll tell me everything available. For those still dealing with sanctions or trying to clear them - it sounds like persistence and documentation are key. Keep records of everything, ask about all available resources, and don't be afraid to advocate for yourselves. This community seems like such a great support system!

This is such a comprehensive thread - thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! As someone who's been navigating CalWORKs for about a year now, I wanted to add a few things that helped me avoid sanctions: 1. Get your caseworker's direct phone number AND email if possible. Some workers respond better to email and it creates a paper trail. 2. If you're in a job training program, ask for a printed schedule at the beginning. I've seen too many people get sanctioned because online portals went down or schedules changed without proper notification. 3. Take photos of any documents you submit - I once had paperwork "lost" in the system and having photos saved me weeks of hassle. Ryder, you're doing great by taking this seriously the second time around! The transportation assistance everyone mentioned is real - I get monthly bus passes through my county and it's been a lifesaver. Also, many counties have "barrier removal" funds for things like work clothes, tools, or even phone bills if those are preventing you from participating in WTW activities. One last tip: if you ever have to miss an appointment for ANY reason, call the same day if possible, not days later. The good cause policies are real but timing matters a lot. Keep pushing forward - you've got this!

Wow, this entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm fairly new to CalWORKs (been on it for about 6 months) and thankfully haven't been sanctioned yet, but reading everyone's experiences is making me realize how much I don't know about the system. The biggest thing that stands out to me is how many resources and support programs exist that apparently aren't automatically explained to recipients. Things like the Supportive Services program, transportation assistance, childcare help, barrier removal funds, good cause policies - it sounds like you really have to know to ask for these things specifically or you'll never hear about them. Ryder, congratulations on clearing your sanction! It's clear from all the responses that you're not alone in struggling with this system, and it's awesome that you're approaching it more prepared this time. The job readiness program sounds like a great start. I'm definitely going to take notes from this thread and make a list of questions to ask my caseworker at our next meeting. It seems like being proactive and advocating for yourself is crucial. Also planning to start keeping my own documentation of everything like so many people suggested - hours completed, appointments attended, paperwork submitted, etc. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and advice. This community is such a valuable resource for navigating something that can feel really overwhelming and confusing when you're trying to figure it out alone!

This has been such an incredibly informative thread! As a newcomer to both this community and the CalWORKs system, I'm blown away by how much valuable information everyone has shared here. Ryder, huge congratulations on getting your sanction cleared! Your question has sparked what's basically become a comprehensive guide to navigating CalWORKs sanctions and the resources available that many of us never knew existed. I'm currently in my second month on CalWORKs and reading about everyone's experiences with sanctions is both eye-opening and a little scary. It's clear that the system has a lot of moving parts and requirements that aren't always clearly explained upfront. The recurring theme I'm seeing is that you really have to advocate for yourself and know what questions to ask. From this thread, I'm creating my own checklist of things to discuss with my caseworker: - Supportive Services program details - Transportation assistance options - Childcare assistance for WTW activities - Emergency aid availability - Good cause policies for missed appointments - Exact weekly hour requirements and what activities count - Direct contact information for my worker The advice about documentation is so valuable too - taking photos of paperwork, keeping personal records of hours, getting everything in writing when possible. It seems like being organized and proactive is crucial for staying compliant. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and practical tips. This community is proving to be an amazing resource for navigating something that can feel really overwhelming when you're doing it alone!

As someone who's been helping families navigate CalWORKs for several years, I wanted to add a few important points to this excellent discussion: First, Ryder - congratulations on clearing your sanction! The increase should appear in your next payment cycle, but if it doesn't, don't wait - contact your caseworker immediately. Sometimes there are system delays that require manual intervention. For everyone asking about regional amounts, you can find the current CalWORKs grant standards on the CDSS website under "CalWORKs Maximum Aid Payment (MAP) Schedule." It's updated annually and breaks down by region and household size. Regarding the Supportive Services program that many have mentioned - this is codified in CalWORKs regulations and every county is required to offer it, though the specific services available can vary. Beyond transportation, many counties provide assistance with work uniforms, tools, licensing fees, and even temporary lodging for job interviews. One critical point about sanctions: If you're ever facing a sanction, you have the right to request a hearing BEFORE it goes into effect. Many people don't know this and accept sanctions they could have successfully appealed. Finally, for those starting WTW activities - always get a copy of your WTW 2 form and make sure you understand every requirement. If anything is unclear, ask for clarification in writing. This protects both you and helps ensure you stay in compliance. Keep advocating for yourselves - you deserve access to all available resources!