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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Relief Center

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Relief Center

California

These resources – like the public health crisis itself – are constantly evolving and are only current as to the date of publication. This page was last updated on September 25, 2020.

For more up-to-date information on the relief programs available in California, we recommend that you visit the Secretary of State's website or the California COVID-19 portal.

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Description of Program and Relief

California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs)

CalWORKs is a public assistance program that provides cash aid and services to eligible families that have a child or children. Families with little or no cash, or those that require housing, food, utilities, clothing or medical care, may also be eligible to receive immediate short-term help. Federally, CalWORKs is known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The program serves all 58 counties in the state and is operated locally by county welfare departments.

As a part of special COVID-19 relief measures, the State of California has temporarily suspended eligibility re-determinations for all individuals already participating in the CalWORKs program and temporarily suspended some application criteria. These include:

  • Permitting pregnant CalWORKs applicants to satisfy the medical verification of pregnancy requirement by means of a sworn statement, or if necessary, by verbally affirming that they are pregnant;

  • Temporarily suspending requirement that CalWORKs applicants present valid photo identification;

  • Allowing CalWORKs applicants to orally, rather than in writing, affirm that they meet application criteria; and

  • Temporarily suspending the requirement that CalWORKs applicants undergo an in-person interview before being granted public assistance.

  • Additionally, any aid or services received through CalWORKS from March 17, 2020 through August 14, 2020 will not be counted against the 48-month time limit for receiving those benefits. Further, Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation will not be counted as income when determining CalWORKs grant amounts.

  • Eligible families may also apply for a limited amount of lump-sum financial assistance instead of receiving monthly CalWORKs benefits, as long as the applicant establishes a need based on the COVID-19 pandemic and the applicant’s income is below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.

Government or Lead Agency

California Department of Social Services (via human services agencies at the county level)

Dates Available

Ongoing through August 14, 2020.

Eligibility Requirements/Restrictions

To apply for CalWORKS, click here.

For guidance on program eligibility, please consult the information set forth here. Generally, services are available to: (1) families with a child or children who have been deprived of parental support or care because of the absence, disability or death of either parent; (2) families with a child or children when both parents are in the home but the principal earner is unemployed; and (3) needy caretaker relatives of a foster child or children.

Application Deadlines (If Applicable)

N/A

Contact for More Information

For more information, call your local Department of Social Services office.

List of Additional Information

For more information about CalWORKS, see here.

A copy of Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-59-20 relaxing certain eligibility requirements can be found here. For the press release announcing Executive Order N-59-20, please click here.

A copy of Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-69-20, extending certain provisions of Order N-59-20, available here.


© 2021 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. This does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. In some jurisdictions, this publication may be considered attorney advertising. Past representations are no guarantee of future outcomes.

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