CalWORKs Boot Camp

This three-day workshop introduces participants to the fundamentals of CalWORKs eligibility. It is intended for staff with little or no experience in determining eligibility (within CalFresh and/or Medi-Cal), General Assistance workers needing cross training, or current CalWORKs workers needing a comprehensive refresher. After attending this program, participants will have a basic understanding of the CalWORKs program and the skills necessary to determine eligibility and benefit amount.

CalWORKs Boot Camp Topics

CalWORKs Eligibility Criteria (Day 1, Morning)

Families who apply for temporary assistance must verify that the children in the home meet deprivation criteria and that the caretakers/parents are cooperating with the Welfare-to-Work requirements of CalWORKs. The eligible children must meet specific age, immunization and school attendance requirements. This workshop defines and explores these determinants of eligibility.

Topics include:

  • Criteria to establish and verify deprivation for children
  • Determining parents’ welfare-to-work status and requirements
  • Age-related eligibility criteria
  • Child care and supportive services

Participants will learn to apply regulations for determining eligibility for temporary assistance on the basis of eligible children being deprived of parental support due to death, incapacity, absence or unemployment. Workers will also understand welfare-to-work and other cooperation requirements for parents.

CALWORKs Standard Filing and Assistance Unit Composition (Day 1, Afternoon)

This workshop presents the overall view of standard filing and assistance unit composition for new and experienced workers.

Topics include:

  • Eligible children
  • Caretaker relative requirements
  • Establishing the standard filing unit
  • Understanding criteria for persons who are mandatory, optional and excluded
  • Establishing multigenerational and single-person assistance units
  • Understanding the impact of the maximum family grant and teen pregnancy disincentive on the assistance unit

Participants will learn to accurately determine assistance unit composition for a variety of household situations.

CalWORKs Property Determinations (Day 2, Morning)

This workshop compares and contrasts the treatment of both real and personal property for the two programs. Participants will review the regulations, limits and value of property items. Case examples are used.

Topics include:

  • Definitions of real and personal property
  • Ownership of property
  • Excluded property
  • Valuing property and resources
  • Overview of valuing vehicles
  • Differentiating between property and income
  • Overview of real property holdings and liens

Participants will learn to correctly determine the value of frequently encountered property items and their impact on eligibility determination for the two programs.

Treatment of Income for CalWORKs Eligibility Determinations (Day 2, Afternoon & Day 3)

This workshop presents an overview of the various sources of income received by CalWORKs applicants and recipients. Participants learn how to determine countable income and exemptions for use in CalWORKs income tests and benefit calculations.

Topics include:

  • Income definitions
  • Semi-annual reporting
  • Earned income
  • Self-employment
  • Disability based income
  • Earned and unearned income
  • In-kind income
  • Availability of income
  • Differentiation of property and income
  • Exempt income
  • Lump sum income
  • Income tests
  • Calculating the grant

Participants will learn to ascertain sources of income used to determine income eligibility and compute the amount of countable income for benefit computation. Participants will also be able to encourage client employment by sharing the benefits of the earned income incentives.

Academic Units
0
Section Number
243CTS917
Instruction Method
Online class

Section Notes

Fee Details: The program enrollment fee is 0.18 training unit per person for those utilizing their county contract. If not using a county contract, the fee is $765.00 per person. The fee for this 3-day program includes soft-copy materials.

Training Format: This program will be offered via remote learning using Zoom. Login information will be provided after your enrollment is processed.

Enrollment Policies

Enrollment closes on 2/11/25. Those paying by check or with credit card, please have payment to us no later than the start of class to avoid being dropped.

Please notify us at least 10 calendar days prior to the training start date to drop a class and cancel the billing, or request a refund of fees paid, less a $30 processing fee (no exceptions). If you have questions, please contact us at (530) 757-8538 or at human@ucde.ucdavis.edu.

Substitutions can be done with a 48-hour minimum notice prior to the training start date. A 48-hour notice is needed to get all updated information processed.