What's a CalWORKs WTW orientation and do I lose benefits if I miss it?

Yes, you absolutely need to attend the WTW (Welfare to Work) orientation! It's mandatory for almost all CalWORKs recipients. At the orientation, they'll explain the work requirements you need to fulfill to keep getting Cash Aid. They'll go over your options like employment, education, training programs, etc. They'll also have you sign your WTW plan. Your part-time job at Walmart definitely counts toward your weekly work requirement hours, but you still need to attend the orientation to get it properly documented in your plan. The orientation usually takes 2-3 hours. They'll explain everything there, including childcare assistance that you might qualify for since you have a toddler. If you miss it without calling to reschedule, they can start the sanction process which can reduce or stop your Cash Aid.

The WTW orientation is when they tell u all the rules you gotta follow to keep getting Cash Aid. I went to mine last year and it was boring AF but you HAVE TO GO or they will cut your benefits for real. I missed mine the first time and they started the 'non-compliance' process right away. Such a pain to fix it after. BTW they have childcare vouchers you can get!!! Ask about that at the orientation. That helped me sooo much with my kids.

I just went through this last month! Call them ASAP to ask if you can bring your toddler or if they provide childcare during the orientation. Most counties actually offer on-site childcare during these mandatory meetings, but they often don't mention it in the letters (which is super frustrating). The orientation covers: - Your required participation hours (usually 20-30 weekly depending on your child's age) - Activities that count toward those hours (your Walmart job counts!) - Available supportive services (childcare, transportation, work clothes, etc.) - How to report your participation You'll meet with a WTW case manager who will help create your personalized plan. Don't skip it - sanctions are real and can reduce your grant by your portion (not your child's).

I tried for THREE DAYS to call about rescheduling my WTW orientation when my kid got sick and couldn't get through to anyone!!! Left messages, no callback. Then they sanctioned me even though it wasn't my fault! Had to go in person to fix it. The whole system is broken.

just fyi they might make u do more hours if ur walmart job isnt enough. when i went to orientation they said i needed 30 hrs a week cuz my kid is over 6. my mcdonalds job was only 22 hrs so i had to sign up for job search activities for the other 8 hrs. its stupid. but the childcare benefit is actually pretty good once u get it set up. took forever tho lol

To directly answer your question about what happens at a WTW orientation: it's basically an introduction to the CalWORKs work requirements. They'll explain that to keep receiving Cash Aid, most adults need to participate in work or work-preparation activities for a certain number of hours each week. They'll cover: 1. Your specific hourly requirements (likely 20hrs/week with a toddler) 2. The various activities that can count toward those hours 3. The supportive services available (childcare is the big one!) 4. How to document and report your participation At the end, you'll meet with a case worker to create your Welfare to Work plan based on your individual situation. Since you already work at Walmart, they'll likely just include that in your plan. If you're not meeting the full hourly requirement with that job, they might suggest additional activities.

btw dont forget to bring ID to the orientation!! my friend got turned away cuz she didnt have hers and had to reschedule the whole thing