Does the CalWORKs WTW program actually help find jobs if you have no work experience or diploma?

tbh it completely depends on what county and even which worker u get. my first wtw coordinator was useless and just made me do job search activities that went nowhere. but I switched workers after moving to a different part of the county and the new lady was super helpful, got me into a GED program that counted for my hours and then helped me land an office assistant job. definitely push to get ur GED first if u can!!

The Welfare to Work program can be extremely beneficial if you utilize all the resources they offer. Each county administers the program slightly differently, but they all have to provide certain core services. Since you don't have a high school diploma, you should absolutely be eligible for education as part of your WTW plan. Make sure to clearly communicate this goal during your orientation and assessment. Typically, they'll have you complete: 1. Orientation (general program overview) 2. Assessment (education level, skills, barriers to employment) 3. Development of your Welfare to Work plan Your WTW plan should include activities that lead to self-sufficiency based on your specific situation. For someone without a diploma, this often includes: - Adult education/GED preparation - Job readiness training - Vocational training for in-demand careers You can also receive supportive services like: - Childcare assistance while participating - Transportation allowance - Money for work-related expenses (clothes, tools, etc.) Be proactive and clear about your educational goals from the beginning. The program is designed to help participants become self-sufficient in the long term, not just place them in any available job.

I went through the WTW program back in 2024 with no work history or diploma. In my experience, it was actually really helpful, but you have to advocate for yourself. When you go to orientation, make sure you clearly tell them you want to get your GED/diploma first. They should approve this as part of your WTW plan. The program helped me get my GED in about 6 months while counting those hours toward my WTW participation. Then they helped me get into a medical assistant training program. The whole thing took about a year, but now I have a full-time job with benefits making $24/hour. They also provided childcare assistance the entire time I was in the program, even during study hours, which was honestly the biggest help. And they gave me money for transportation and some work clothes when I started interviewing. The key is being specific about what you want. If you just go with whatever they suggest, you might end up in a random job placement that doesn't lead anywhere.

I had THE WORST experience with WTW!!! My worker kept pushing me to take minimum wage jobs at fast food places even though I told her I wanted to get my GED first. She said I had to meet participation hours immediately and couldn't wait. After 3 months of applying to jobs nobody would hire me for (because duh, no experience), they threatened to sanction me and cut my cash aid!!! The whole system is designed to TRAP you in poverty, not help you escape it! Don't believe their lies about education and training - they just want to check their boxes and show they got people "participating" even if it leads nowhere!!

When I enrolled in WTW last year, the most important thing I learned was that you need to connect with your caseworker QUICKLY before they assign you a generic plan. Call them as soon as you get any paperwork about WTW. If they're not responsive, try calling the main CalWORKs line. BTW, if you're having trouble reaching anyone at your county office, check out this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you get through to an actual worker without waiting on hold for hours. I used it after trying for days to reach my worker with no luck. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE After I finally connected with my worker, I was able to explain that I needed education first, and they approved my GED program as my WTW activity. Just be persistent and don't wait for them to contact you!

Thank you all for the responses! I'm definitely going to be proactive and call my worker tomorrow to bring up the GED option before my orientation. Does anyone know if they'll accept online GED prep classes? With my kids' schedules it would be much easier than in-person classes.

am in the program right now got my ged in 4 months and now doing cna training. they pay for everything and the childcare benefit is HUGE. my tip is get to know the job counselors at the career center not just ur regular worker, they know all the good programs and can help u get in

just make sure you get EVERYTHING in writing!!! my worker told me verbal my GED program was approved then tried to sanction me 2 months later saying i never got official approval. had to file for a fair hearing and everything. such a headache.