CalWORKS is a cash assistance program for eligible families. The CalWORKS benefit is for a limited period of time. Families receiving CalWORKS automatically receive Medi-Cal and may qualify for Food Stamps. CalWORKS participants are required to participate in Welfare-to-Work (WTW) activities unless they are exempted from participation by their case manager. Employment and supportive services are available to those required to participate in WTW. Services include counseling, job preparedness training, childcare, transportation, and clothes. Services are family focused and specific to the needs of each family, to help them become self-sufficient. Eligibility: Once it has been established that a child is deprived of support due to the death, incapacity, unemployment or the continued absence of one or both parents, eligibility for assistance is then based upon the family’s property, income, the age of the children and maintaining residence in California. CalWORKS Cal-Learn Program The Cal-Learn Program was designed to assist pregnant and parenting teens receiving CalWORKS, to attend and graduate from high school or its equivalent. Diversion: CalWORKS offers a program of Diversion aimed at alleviating the need for an applicant to receive on going cash assistance. Diversion is designed to assist families needing short-term support by providing one-time cash assistance, which supports the safety of the children and the stability of the family. A person applying for assistance may ask his/her case manager if he/she appears to be eligible to this program. Employment Services: For participants of CalWORKS a comprehensive Job Search Workshop is available. Participants will be involved in employment activities such as resume writing, completing an application, conducting face – to – face interviews and job retention skills. Welfare-to-Work and Supportive Services: The Welfare-to-Work program provides employment-related services to CalWORKS participants to assist them in finding and retaining employment, obtaining training when necessary to lead to financial self-reliance. There are many supportive services available to families that are seeking work, working and/or in training, that are offered through partnership with public and private agencies. Welfare-to-Work activities and Supportive Services include: Unsubsidized employment Work Experience On-the-Job Training Self-employment Education related to employment Job search and job readiness activities Mental health treatment Substance abuse treatment Domestic violence counseling Community services activities Paid childcare Transportation Basic education and English as a Second Language Participation in WTW is mandatory for all CalWORKS participants unless exempt. Exempt participants may volunteer to participate in Welfare-to-Work. Once a volunteer enters the program, he/she must adhere to the rules and regulations the same as mandatory participants. With support and assistance from the Case Worker, each participant will identify their WTW activities. Plans will include the responsibilities and necessary actions of the participant. WTW plans will also list the supportive services that will be provided. Self-Initiated Plan (SIP): Under certain conditions, a participant who is enrolled in a self-initiated plan (SIP) that will lead to a college degree or certificate may be permitted to continue that program and receive CalWORKS benefits. Education programs are allowed only if they have already begun and are leading to self-supporting employment within the applicable 18 to 24 month period. Verification of the participants educational plan, completion date and continued progress is required. Approved SIP’s will be written into the participant’s Welfare-to-Work plan. An individual, who is unemployed at the end of their SIP, will be required to participate in an assigned community service activity. Method of Payment: Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) EBT is the automated issuance of cash aid and food stamp benefits via debit card technology. All participants access their benefits at Point of Sale (POS) devices or ATMs The EBT card is for both Cash Aid and Food Stamp benefits. Food Stamp benefits and Cash Aid are automatically deposited each month, so there is no more waiting for the mail or worry about check/coupons getting lost in the mail. The EBT card requires a PIN for each card and does not draw attention at checkout counters like food stamps did. The EBT card can be replaced if lost, unlike cash. San Benito County CalWORKS 1111 San Felipe Rd. Suite 206 Hollister, CA 95023 (831) 636-4180 TTY for Speech/Hearing Impaired (831) 637-7983 or Call California Relay Service at: TTY Calls: 1-800-735-2929 Speech to Speech Calls use: 1-800-854-7784