CalWORKs
-
Deactivation of Magnetic Stripe EBT cards
California issues CalWORKs and CalFresh benefits on Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. As of April 29, 2025, all EBT cardholders with an active EBT card were issues a replacement chip/tap EBT card. The magnetic stripe cards for those…
-
CalWORKs and CalFresh income exemption for awards to attend college
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) issued guidance regarding the new income exemption for awards to attend college. Effective March 1, 2026, any grant, award, scholarship, loan or fellowship awarded for the purpose of attending an institution…
-
New CalWORKs Welfare-to-Work forms
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has designated seven Welfare-to-Work (WTW) forms for statewide use. Six of those forms are informing notices. The new WTW 112 form is for clients to get medical verification that a household…
-
Documentation of reasonable accommodation in CalSAWS.
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance regarding documentation of reasonable accommodation in the California Statewide Automated Welfare System (CalSAWS). This guidance applies to individuals with a “disability” as defined under the Americans with Disabilities…
-
CalWORKs pregnancy verification form
The California Department of Social Services has issued a new form for third party pregnancy verification. People pursuing financial benefits from CalWORKS must prove they are pregnant. This can be done temporarily by the pregnant applicant providing a…
-
CalWORKs definition of fleeing felon
People who are fleeing to avoid prosecution, or custody and confinement after conviction, for a crime or an attempt to commit a crime that is a felony, are ineligible for CalWORKs. Effective January 1, 2024, the definition of…
-
CalWORKs Homeless Assistance Questions and Answers
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued questions and answers about CalWORKs Homeless Assistance (HA). HA serves eligible CalWORKs recipients or applicants who are apparently eligible for CalWORKs, who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. …
-
Overview of Transforming CalWORKs changes
The California Department of Social Services has informed counties about changes to the CalWORKs program from the Transforming CalWORKs initiative encompassed in SB 119 and SB 146. Effective immediately, the county must gather the recipients determination of their…
-
Impact of Social Security COLA on CalWORKs and CalFresh
Effective January 1, 2026, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase by a 2.8 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA). For new CalWORKs and CalFresh applications, the actual amount of Social Security, including the COLA, must…
-
End of pass-through of CalWORKs Work Participation Rate penalty
The California Department of Social Services has informed counties that any future CalWORKs Work Participation Rate (WPR penalties will no longer be passed-through to counties effective starting in Federal Fiscal Year 2026. The WPR measures the portion of…