What is California CalWORKs?
California government benefit CalWORKs is a vital welfare program that offers a monthly cash benefit and essential services to eligible needy families across all 58 counties in California.
Operated locally by county welfare departments, CalWORKs aims to provide immediate short-term help to families facing financial hardships.
CalWORKs stands for California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids.
CalWORKs is California’s name for the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
Benefits to Build On
When a family has little or no cash and urgently needs assistance with housing, food, utilities, clothing, or medical care, CalWORKs steps in.
Families that apply and qualify for ongoing assistance receive monthly financial support to cover essential expenses like housing and food.
Family’s monthly assistance payment amount depends on a number of factors, including the number of people who are eligible and
the special needs of any of those family members.
The income of the family is considered in calculating the amount of cash aid the family receives.
CalWORKs Benefits
Who is Eligible?
To be eligible for California CalWORKs (TANF), you must meet the following criteria:
- Residency: You must be a resident of California.
- Citizenship: You should be a U.S. citizen, legal alien, or qualified alien.
- Employment Status: You must be unemployed or underemployed with low or very low income.
- Family Composition: Families with children who have been deprived of parental support due to absence, disability, or death of either parent are eligible.
- Principal Earner Unemployment: Families where both parents are in the home but the principal earner is unemployed qualify.
- Caretaker Relatives: Caretaker relatives of foster children are also eligible.
