Subjects:
3. SIP (Self-Initiated Program)
4. State Hearings, Sanctions & CalWORKs Regulations
General Questions
Q: What does CalWORKs stand for?
A: California Work Opportunities and Responsibility to Kids Program.
Q: What is CalWORKs?
A: CalWORKs is a statewide program which receives funding to assist TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) recipients transitioning off TANF to achieve long-term self-sufficiency through coordinated student services offered at community colleges
Q: Who is eligible for CalWORKs?
A: To be eligible for the CalWORKs program students must:
- Receive cash assistance in the form of TANF, for themselves, from the Stanislaus Community Services Agency.
- Enroll at Modesto Junior College.
- Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 (both cumulative and semester).
Q: If my children are receiving CalWORKs, can I qualify?
A: In order to be eligible for the CalWORKs program, a participant must be receiving cash assistance in form of TANF for themselves. You will not qualify for the campus program, but may be eligible for federal grants and other MJC Student Services.
Q: What is the difference between the CalWORKs and CARE programs?
A: MJC’s CARE (Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education) program is a supplemental component of EOP&S (Extended Opportunity Programs & Services). The student or the child(ren) must be receiving TANF to be eligible for CARE as opposed to CalWORKs where the student must be the TANF recipient. Also, CARE requires full-time enrollment; CalWORKs does not. To find out more information about CARE click here.
Q: What services does MJC CalWORKs provide?
A: MJC CalWORKs program works in conjunction with Stanislaus County Community Agency to provide the following direct student support services:
- Career and Academic Counseling
- Work-study
- Subsidized Childcare
- Job Placement
- Textbooks (Book Loan Program)
- Tutoring
- Bus Passes
- Financial Aid
Q: How can I request to see a CalWORKs counselor?
A: Once you have completed “Getting Started” and completed the paperwork, you will be able to make an appointment to meet with a CalWORKs counselor.
Q: Can I get welfare and still go to college or get vocational training?
A: Yes. CalWORKs allows you to get education or vocational training that will help you get and maintain a job. You must have your course of study approved by the county. There are certain time limits and other regulations, but you can keep going to school while you are receiving welfare.
Q: If I’m a CalWORKs participant can I get financial aid?
A: Yes, a CalWORKs participant may be eligible to receive financial aid. CalWORKs participants are referred to the MJC Financial Aid Office where they can obtain a BOG Fee Waiver application and FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) information.
Q: Can I still get TANF if I get financial aid?
A: Yes. Most federal grants, state grants, and work study are considered “excluded income,” which means your TANF should not be reduced or cut off because you get financial aid.
Q: How long can I receive MJC CalWORKs services?
A: You can continue eligibility as long as you are receiving cash assistance (TANF) for yourself and you fulfill your responsibilities as a CalWORKs program participant:
- Attend all courses in which you enroll in and complete all coursework assigned each semester.
- Meet with a CalWORKs Counselor at least once each semester.
- Complete a FAFSA application each academic year (January 1st).
- Provide Medi-Cal card to the Financial Aid Office to receive a BOGW A at the beginning of each summer term.
Q: Do I have to use my college financial aid for childcare or other expenses that could be covered by CalWORKs?
A: No, CalWORKs supportive services cover only a small range of necessary items. It is appropriate for students to use financial aid for other important needs. As long as the use of financial aid is not specifically restricted to pay for something that CalWORKs supportive services will cover, a student may receive both.
Q: Can the county make me quit school?
A: No. However, your course of study must be approved by the county. Classes taken that are not part of the majors approved by the county will not be counted toward the 32/35 hour requirement.
Q: Can the county give me a time limit to complete my course of study?
A: There are rules on education time limits. Senate Bill 1104*, made changes to remove the 18- to 24- month time limit. Students can continue their course of study until the completion of the program or until the 60- month time limit is reached.
*Senate Bill 1104 significantly changed the Welfare-to-Work (WTW) program by amending sections of the Welfare and Institutions Code, including the elimination of the 18- or 24- month time limit on educational and training activities; requiring the initial CalWORKs WTW plan to be developed within 90 days of cash eligibility, with certain exceptions.
Q: Does study time count toward my 32 hours and core hours?
A: Yes. CalWORKs offers supervised study time which will count towards Welfare-to-Work non-core hours. Whether your study time is supervised or unsupervised, a max of one hour of study time per one hour of class time can be counted to meet non-core participation hours. You must turn in a “Monthly Participation Record” documenting your class hours and study time (supervised and unsupervised).
CalWORKs Work-Study
Q: What is CalWORKs work-study?
A: CalWORKs Program provides campus work-study opportunities. To utilize work-study services each semester you must receive a referral from a CalWORKs counselor prior to the start of each semester (no exceptions) and :
- Must be enrolled in 6 or more units during Fall & Spring semester (3 or more units during summer term).
- Must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0; both semester and cumulative.
- Students are limited to a maximum of 20 hours per week and may never work more than 8 hours per day during Fall & Spring semester (10 hours per day in Summer).
- Any hours worked over the 20 hours per week are unpaid volunteer hours.
- Students earn minimum wage ($8.00 per hour) and are paid once a month.
- Each student is limited to 4 semesters of paid work-study.
Q: How do I sign-up for CalWORKs work-study?
A: Contact the MJC CalWORKs program to let them know you are interested in campus work-study. You will receive a referral form to take to the campus Financial Aid Office.
Q: Am I guaranteed CalWORKs work-study if I participate in the campus program?
A: No. Students are offered work-study on a first-come, first-served basis while funding is available.
Q: What if I don’t get work-study?
A: If funding is not available for paid work-study, you have the option to participate in CalWORKs volunteer work-study. Check with the MJC CalWORKs staff if you have questions.
Q: Does paid work-study count toward my 32 hours?
A: Yes. The county must count work-study toward either the 32-hour requirement. If your County case manager has informed you that work study doesn’t count, please inform the MJC CalWORKs staff immediately.
Q: Does volunteer work-study count toward my 32 hours?
A: Volunteer work-study hours can also be counted toward the 32-hour requirements.
Q: Will the money I earn from paid Work Study count against my cash aid or food stamps?
A: No, as long as the money you earn is from CalWORKs Work Study funds or Federal Work Study funds, it does not count against your cash aid or food stamps.
SIP (Self-Initiated Program)
Q: What is a Self-Initiated Program?
A: If you are already in school or other job training before you start a CalWORKs welfare-to-work program, you are in a Self-Initiated-Program (SIP). If you are in a SIP you have a right to continue going to school. If your SIP is "approved," it will help you to meet your welfare-to-work requirements for CalWORKs.
Q: If I am in a SIP, do I have to do 20 core hours?
A: No. SIP’s are not subject to core/non-core requirements.
Q: If I am in a SIP, do I also have to work?
A: It depends on your circumstances. All SIPs have to fulfill the required 32 hours per week in an approved activity, which includes class lecture and lab, on-campus supervised study labs, internship programs, work study, work or other welfare-to-work activities. If these activities don’t add up to 32 hours, you will have to participate in additional activities. A part-time job would qualify. If you don’t have a job, the County can assign you to other welfare-to-work activities, such as, job search or additional education or training. But the county must count all your school, lab, supervised study lab and internship hours before deciding how many other hours you can be assigned to additional activities. The additional activities cannot interfere with your SIP.
Q: What is an "approvable" SIP?
A: An "approvable" SIP meets the following: 1. You will earn a degree or certificate, 2. You are making "satisfactory progress" in the program, 3. Your program leads to employment.
Q: What is “satisfactory progress?”
A: In general, satisfactory progress means that you are completing and receiving passing grades in your classes and making progress toward your degree or certificate. As a CalWORKs participant, you must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0; both semester and cumulative to be in good academic standing.
Q: When does a SIP "lead to employment?"
A: A SIP leads to employment if it is on the list of education and training programs the county and community colleges develop each year. Ask your worker or the MJC CalWORKs staff for a copy of this list.
Q: If my SIP is approved, how long can I stay in it?
A: Your SIP can count toward your required CalWORKs hours until you complete your SIP or up until you reach your 60 month time limit on CalWORKs.
Q: What if my SIP is not on my county's list?
A: If your program is not on the county's list, the county must give you a chance to show that the program will lead to a job. Your MJC CalWORKs Counselor may be able to help you gather the information what will show a program does lead to employment. Every county have written standards for approving programs not on the county list. If the county denies your SIP, ask to change to a SIP that can be approved. If the county refuses, or if you don't want to change, ask for a hearing.
State Hearings, Sanctions & CalWORKs Regulations
Q: How do I request a State Hearing?
A: You have the right to request a hearing if you disagree with any decision made by the County. You have only 90 days to request a hearing. The 90 days starts the day after the County gave or mailed you a Notice of Action. In order to request a Hearing, you can use the Hearing form located on the back of correspondence from the County, or you can contact the State at (800) 952-5253 or click here for the Hearing form. If you request a Hearing prior to being sanctioned, your aid and supportive services (child care, transportation, etc.) will not be cut while you are waiting for a decision.
Q: Will I lose all of my family’s aid if I get sanctioned?
A: No. Only the parent’s portion of the CalWORKs cash aid grant is cut if the parent does not comply with the required welfare-to-work activity hours. In addition, you will also lose other CalWORKs supportive services, which includes child care, bus pass or mileage reimbursement and books. Everyone in the family should still receive Medi-Cal and Food Stamps.
Q: How does the sanction process work?
A: There are several steps in the sanction process. Before a sanction can be imposed, the county must follow all the steps discussed below correctly. The county must send you a Notice of Action, informing you that you failed to participate in your assigned activity. The letter will give you an appointment time to meet with your County Case Manager, in order to discuss why you did not comply.
- If you ignore the letter, your aid will be reduced on the date mentioned in the letter, unless you ask for a State Hearing before the date the reduction is to happen.
- If you decide to be sanctioned, at any time during your sanction, you can contact your County Case Manager and inform them that you want to comply so the sanction can be lifted.
Q: How can I learn more about my Hearings and Appeals?
A: If you have applied for, have received, or are currently receiving benefits/services from an assistance program listed below AND you have a complaint, you can visit the California State Department of Social Services or click here to learn about the process.
Q: How can I learn more about my rights as a CalWORKs Participant?
A: If you are applying for, receiving, or have received public assistance in California, you have specific rights. Click here to access “Your Rights Under California Welfare Programs”. This brochure describes your rights and explains what to do if you have a complaint.
Q: How can I learn more about the CalWORKs regulations?
A: Important information about SIPs, Vocational Training Referrals (core/non-core hour requirements), and learning disabilities are in All County Letters (ACL’s) posted on the California State Department of Social Services website. For SIP rules: see ACL’s 99-32 and 99-38. For core/non-core work requirement: see ACL 04-41. For learning disabilities: ACL 01-70. ACL’s can be located at the California State Department of Social Services website under “All County Letters (ACL’s): http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/lettersnotices/PG931.htm
