Understanding Welfare

Politicians sometimes speak about "welfare reform" or "increasing social services", but rarely include many details on what the welfare is actually doing for people. Perhaps other voters knew more about what they were talking about, but I've realized recently that I didn't have a clue how welfare worked, or how much money people got, or whether it needed to be "reformed" at all. So I found "The People's Guide to Welfare, Health, & other Services", which is published by the Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger & Homelessness. I read the whole thing, and summarized it for your benefit. So now, for the first time in my life, I understand how welfare works. Well, at least in Los Angeles County, where the welfare program for children and families is called "CalWorks". Since I don't want everyone to have to read everything that I did, I went ahead and summarize it for you. So here it is:

CalWorks

Who gets CalWorks?

CalWorks cash is only available for children and the adults who care for them

• Not eligible if you committed a drug-related felony (but can still receive aid for your kids)
• Not eligible if you are an undocumented immigrant (but can receive aid for documented kids)
• Children must be under 18 years old
• You qualify for aid if your total monthly income is under the following limits (# of people – income/month):
  
  • 1 - $451
  • 2 - $739
  • 3 - $916
  • 4 - $1089
  • 5 - $1242
  
  and so on

• SSI payments, tax refunds, tax credits, and help from non-profit agencies do not count against your income
• You also cannot have over $2,000 in countable assets, which primarily means savings or the (non-owed) worth of solely personal use cars over $5,000
• If you are eligible for CalWorks, then you are also eligible for food stamps and MediCal

How Much Aid?

All recipients are under either "Nonexempt" or "Exempt" status:

• if the recipients are under “Nonexempt” status limits
  • you can receive monthly CalWorks aid for 60 months in your lifetime
  • the following is the max. aid you can receive (# of people – aid):
    • 1 - $359
    • 2 - $584
    • 3 - $723
    • 4 - $862
    • 5 - $980
    
    and so on

• if the recipients are under “Exempt” status
  • months under Exempt status do not count against your 60 months
  • You can be Exempt for the following reasons:
    • Caring for infant
    • Pregnant and doctor says you cannot work
    • Still finishing high school
    • Disabled
    • Over 60 years old
    • Caring for ill/disabled household member
  • Exempt status is permanent if the exempt condition is permanent
  • The following is the max. aid you can receive (# of people – aid):
    • 1 - $398
    • 2 - $653
    • 3 - $808
    • 4 - $961
    • 5 – $1094
    
    and so on


• You can get up to $15 extra a month if you have special diet, medical needs, or are breastfeeding
• You can get $47 extra each month if you are pregnant
• If you have a job, aid is determined with the following:
  Aid = Maximum Aid – ½ of (job income - $225)
• If you are on disability, aid is determined with the following:
  Aid = Maximum Aid – (disability income - $225)

Welfare-to-Work Rules

All Nonexempt CalWorks recipients must be working, looking for work, or in training/school

• Adults must participate in the CalWorks welfare-to-work program (GAIN)
• GAIN consists of the following steps:
  • Appraisal of employability
  • 4-5 weeks in job club doing job searching (unless you are in school)
  • Assessment of status
  • Development of Welfare-to-Work plan
• After plan is made, a parent must do “welfare-to-work” activities at least 32 hours/week
  • Can include work, training, education, counseling, etc.
  • Can also include mental health counseling, substance abuse programs, or domestic violence services
• Any adult under Exempt status is exempt from welfare-to-work activities
• DPSS must provide support for any learning disabilities
• If you get a job that puts you over the income limits, you can still get aid for job-related items for up to a year (and child care for two years)

Other Aid for CalWorks Recipients

• Childcare for all children under 10 years of age
• Bus fare for work/welfare-to-work activities
• Money for work tools, school books, school fees, or uniforms
• Money for domestic violence counseling/prevention
• Aid for mental health services
• Aid for substance abuse services
• Up to $1500 for housing relocation if needed to be closer to job, childcare, or transportation
• Diversion payments – lump sum of up to $2000 to help get or keep a job
  • Must have a job or an immediate opportunity for one
  • Can cover car repairs, insurance, work tools, work clothes, license, or anything else necessary to ensure that you keep the job
  • Grant amount can be up to $4000 in the case of a “compelling need”
• Disaster assistance of up to $600 to replace clothing, household items, or appliances
• Up to two months back rent if at risk of eviction due to financial hardship
• Up to $2000 moving assistance for deposits and moving costs
• Additional aid for teen parents in school
  • Additional $100 for every quarter with a 2.0 or higher
  • $500 bonus upon graduation
  • $100 penalty for every quarter with a 1.0 or lower
• Homeless assistance
  • Hotel vouchers for up to 30 days
  • Upon finding a place, money for deposits and last month’s rent
  • Rent subsidies up to $250/month for four months after move-in assistance

That's the basics. If you want to know more of the fine print, email me for the slightly expanded version or visit http://www.lacehh.org/. In the coming days, I'll cover food stamps, welfare for single adults, MediCal, disability, unemployment, and all that stuff.