How do CalWORKs WTW requirements work with childcare issues? Will my cash aid stop if I can't find childcare?

The Welfare to Work (WTW) program is a requirement for most CalWORKs recipients, but they can't expect you to work without childcare! Here's what you need to know: 1. Tell your worker IMMEDIATELY that you need childcare assistance. CalWORKs has a childcare program specifically for this reason. 2. You won't be required to participate in WTW activities until childcare is in place. This is called a "good cause" exemption. 3. Once you have childcare arranged through the program, you'll need to meet your weekly required hours (usually 20-30 hours depending on your child's age). 4. Your cash aid amount doesn't change based on whether you're working or not - that depends on your income. But if you start working, they'll disregard some of your earned income as an incentive. Don't panic! Call your worker and specifically ask for the childcare assistance application. They should have told you about this option during your interview.

they should of explained the childcare benefits to u thats there fault not urs. i got 3 kids and they pay for my daycare its actually pretty easy. but u gotta ask for it they dont just offer it smh the county never tells u what ur eligible for

I went through this exact situation last year. Here's how the CalWORKs childcare assistance works: 1. You need to request the Stage 1 Child Care program from your worker 2. They'll have you fill out childcare request forms (CCP1 and CCP2) 3. You can choose your own provider (licensed daycare, family childcare home, or even a friend/relative who meets requirements) 4. Once approved, the county pays the provider directly 5. While waiting for childcare to be approved, you should request a WTW exemption for "lack of childcare" Your cash aid won't be reduced for having the exemption. When you do start working, you'll actually get to keep more of your earnings because of the earned income disregard (they don't count the first $500 + 50% of remaining earnings against your grant). The most important thing is to communicate with your worker and get everything in writing. Request the childcare forms specifically!

My worker tried to tell me the same thing when I had no childcare for my 3yo twins. They threatened to sanction me but I filed for a state hearing and they backed down FAST. Know your rights! They CANNOT require you to participate in WTW if you don't have appropriate childcare. Period. When you do get childcare set up, they'll make you do a WTW plan where you choose activities to meet your hours. Make sure you choose something that works for YOU - not just what they try to push you into. I got them to count my GED classes as my activity hours.

Have you tried calling your worker to specifically ask about childcare? I know it can be almost impossible to reach someone - I spent DAYS trying to get through about my childcare assistance. Finally used Claimyr.com to get through to a live person at the county office within 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE - totally worth it because I was about to lose my mind with the constant busy signals and disconnects. Once I finally talked to my worker, she helped me complete all the childcare paperwork over the phone and emailed me the forms to sign. Made the whole process much easier.

when i started CalWORKs they made me do job search but i had no childcare and they were gonna cut me off!!! then i found out they HAVE TO give u child care if ur required to do welfare to work. My cousin does childcare for my son now and the county pays her. they didn't even tell me this was an option until i was almost sanctioned!!! the system is designed to trip us up i swear

To answer your follow-up question - once you have childcare, you'll create a Welfare to Work plan with activities to meet your required hours. For a single parent with a child under 6, that's 20 hours per week. Options include: - Employment (part-time or full-time) - Job search/job readiness - Vocational education/training (up to 12 months) - Adult education (GED, ESL classes) - Work experience/community service The good news is that when you DO start working, CalWORKs has income disregards that let you keep more of your grant. They don't count the first $500 of earned income plus 50% of remaining earnings when calculating your grant amount. So working actually helps you financially even while on aid. Make sure to also apply for CalFresh if you haven't already - that's additional food assistance that can help while you're figuring out your work situation.

dont let them bully u!! they have to provide childcare before making u work its the LAW. my worker acted like i had to do job search right away but I stood my ground about needing childcare first. once they set up the childcare I did their job search program and actually got a decent part time job that works with my kids schedule so it worked out ok but they do NOT make this easy for parents

One more important thing - once you're working or in a training program for 3+ months with CalWORKs childcare, you'll transition from Stage 1 childcare (managed by the welfare department) to Stage 2 (managed by Resource & Referral agencies). This is automatic and shouldn't affect your childcare services, but it's good to know about. About your question on vocational training - yes, CalWORKs can pay for approved vocational training programs through their education/training funds. Not all programs qualify, but many do - especially those that lead directly to employment. When you meet with your WTW counselor, ask specifically about education and training opportunities and what funding is available. Your childcare will be covered during your training hours plus travel time and study time. It's a really good opportunity if you want to gain skills that can lead to better-paying jobs.

I'm new to CalWORKs and reading through this thread has been SO helpful! I'm in a similar situation - single mom with a 3 year old and just got approved for benefits. My orientation is next week and I was already panicking about the work requirements because I have no childcare lined up. It sounds like the key is to be proactive and specifically ASK for the childcare assistance right away rather than waiting for them to offer it. Is there anything else I should make sure to ask about during my orientation? I want to be prepared so I don't get overwhelmed like what happened to Dylan. Also, does anyone know if there's a waiting list for the childcare assistance or do they usually approve it pretty quickly? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's making me feel less alone in this process!

@Giovanni Mancini Great advice from @Rosie Harper! I'd also add - bring a notebook to your orientation and don't be afraid to ask them to slow down or repeat information. I wish I had done that instead of trying to remember everything. One more tip: if your county has online portals for CalWORKs (like MyBenefits CalWIN), ask them to help you set that up during orientation. It makes it so much easier to check the status of your childcare application and other requests instead of having to call constantly. Also ask specifically about transportation assistance if you'll need help getting to work/training once your childcare is set up. They have programs for that too but again, they don't always mention it unless you ask. The fact that you're preparing ahead of time shows you're going to do great with this program. Don't let them rush you through anything - you have the right to understand what you're signing up for!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Just got approved for CalWORKs two weeks ago and they scheduled my WTW orientation for next Monday. I have a 4-year-old and honestly I was terrified they were going to force me to work immediately without any childcare options. Reading through everyone's advice here has been a lifesaver - I had no idea about the Stage 1 childcare program or that they legally can't make you do work activities without proper childcare in place. I'm definitely going to ask for those CCP forms right away and request the good cause exemption if needed. One question though - for those who've used the childcare assistance, how long did it actually take from when you submitted the paperwork to when childcare was approved and you could start your WTW activities? I'm trying to plan ahead since I might be interested in some of those vocational training programs that were mentioned. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! This community is amazing for helping navigate all this confusing stuff.

Reading through this entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm a new CalWORKs recipient and had my first appointment last week where they briefly mentioned work requirements but gave me almost no details about childcare assistance. I left feeling completely overwhelmed and worried I'd have to choose between keeping my benefits and being able to care for my 18-month-old. Everyone's advice here about being proactive and specifically requesting the Stage 1 childcare assistance is so valuable. I had no idea this was even available or that they're legally required to provide it before expecting you to participate in WTW activities. It's frustrating that this isn't clearly explained upfront - it seems like you really have to advocate for yourself and know what to ask for. I'm going to call my worker tomorrow and specifically request the CCP1 and CCP2 forms that were mentioned. For those who've been through the process, is there any particular wording I should use when requesting the childcare assistance to make sure I get taken seriously? I want to be prepared so they don't try to brush me off or claim I don't qualify. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space to share these experiences. It makes such a difference knowing other parents have successfully navigated this system!