Sourced from the federal TANF sampling characteristics, this graphic identifies the population of adults entering the CalWORKs program. This population is then mapped to a 'years of education variable'. At this point, educational attainment for adults subject to WTW requirements is only accurate upon program entry. In the coming months, Cal-OAR will augment this figure with data received from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and the California Department of Education to track educational attainment while on CalWORKs aid as well as up to one-year post-exit.
The above data and charts illustrate the proportionate education levels of adults (with no high school diploma, with a high school diploma, and with more than a high school diploma education) entering the CalWORKs program. Note this is presented in Federal Fiscal Years (FFY), not State Fiscal Years (SFY).
This topic is important as it suggests that the more education a participant has, the less likely they are in need of the CalWORKs program. The data can encourage focusing on providing educational services to support clients in becoming self-sufficient. Individuals with formal primary and secondary education are more likely to gain stable employment and are less likely to be enrolled in public assistance programs.
Recent changes to state law intended to increase access to educational activities will likely impact data related to CalWORKs adult educational attainment at program exit. While this graphic looks at educational attainment at entrance, the outcome and impact of the program at client exit will be more evident as a result of these policy changes.
Specifically, Senate Bill (SB) 1232 took effect on January 1, 2021, and established advance supportive service payments for required books and supplies for CalWORKs WTW participants enrolled in qualifying, publicly funded postsecondary educational institutions. The bill was implemented via All County Letter (ACL) 21-04E. Subsequent ACLs 21-75E and 22-31 expanded the definition of qualifying institutions to include non-profit postsecondary educational institutions and adult schools.
In addition to mandating advance supportive service payments, SB 1232 significantly affected CalWORKs administrative processes related to access to postsecondary educational activities. SB 1232 increased flexibility for WTW participants to determine which degrees and/or courses they can pursue at SB 1232-eligible postsecondary educational institutions.
SB 768 took effect January 1, 2023, and amended statute to remove several barriers to participant success in postsecondary educational activities. The most significant impact of SB 768 is that it established that CalWORKs participants attending publicly funded postsecondary educational institutions are not required to participate in WTW activities during breaks in their educational activity.
SB 521 took effect January 1, 2024, and impacts pregnant and parenting teens who are working towards attainment of a high school diploma or equivalent through participation in the Cal-Learn program. Specifically, SB 521 reduced barriers to receiving Cal-Learn bonuses and eliminated Cal-Learn sanctions.
This line graph shows the rate of Welfare to Work (WTW) Sanctioned Caseload.
A WTW sanction is a reduction in an individual’s CalWORKs cash assistance due to failure to comply with a WTW program requirement without good cause and when engagement efforts have failed.
WTW Sanctions are intended to incentivize individuals to meet their WTW participation requirements and fulfill federal work requirements. However, sanctions remove cash assistance from families in need and further interfere with the CalWORKs program’s efforts to interrupt poverty and support family stability. It is important to monitor the sanction rate data as it may correlate with the program’s success as an intervention model.
The gradual decrease in the number of WTW sanctioned individuals in the line graph is due to the COVID-19 Universal Good Cause policies that resulted in significant portions of the WTW caseload being assigned a Good Cause status for non-participation in the program. These policies were introduced due to business shut-downs and shelter-in-place policies during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). The gradual increase in WTW sanctions, following the lifting of the PHE, is reflective of participant non-participation in the program. Efforts to better engage CalWORKs families are a part of the Cal-OAR System Improvement Plan (Cal-SIP) for many counties.
Note that this SRL item sources data directly from the Statewide Automated Welfare System (SAWS) for Cal-OAR Performance Measure reporting, which differs from the SRL item illustrating all WTW program statuses, including WTW Sanction and Good Cause. As such, the two SRL items differ slightly in appearance and presented timeframe and may apply slightly different parameters and data definitions.
See the “What’s New” section for the SRL item illustrating all WTW program statuses, including WTW Sanction and Good Cause below for an in-depth look at recent policy changes which may have impacts on WTW sanction and Good Cause rates.
These charts show the demographic characteristics of families in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)/Maintenance of Effort (MOE) funded CalWORKs cases, depicted as a percentage of cases broken out by: Gender of Head of Household, Single Parent or Two Parent, Average Number of Children in the Assistance Unit (AU) and Age of Children, AU Size, Benefit Amounts, and Participant Earnings.
Understanding family characteristics within TANF/MOE funded CalWORKs case is crucial for tailoring services and assessing program effectiveness. Analyzing these characteristics helps policymakers and counties address diverse participant needs, such as gender-specific programming and age-appropriate child care services. Monitoring benefit amounts and employment earnings over time allows for evaluation of progress towards economic self-sufficiency, while family size informs resource allocation.
Additionally, children's ages impact child care and educational needs, highlighting the importance of age-appropriate services. Larger families may require more extensive support, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions based on family size and the number of children.
The four charts in this section show the demographic characteristics of families across different Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)/Maintenance of Effort (MOE) case types broken out by: Race/Ethnicity, Primary Language, Citizenship, and Education.
Breaking down CalWORKs TANF/MOE Funded cases by demographic elements, such as Race/Ethnicity, Primary Language, Citizenship, and Education allows for an examination of potential disparities in program outcomes and access to employment opportunities among different racial and ethnic groups, while analyzing CalWORKs time on aid by language spoken helps in understanding linguistic barriers and the effectiveness of language-specific support and outreach.
Additionally, examining CalWORKs cases by citizenship status sheds light on the experiences of immigrant populations and informs strategies for their workforce integration, while considering education level provides insights into the relationship between educational attainment and success in transitioning from welfare to work, emphasizing the importance of education and skill development programs within the WTW framework.
No changes impacting Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-2023.
This graph displays Work Incentive Nutritional Supplement (WINS) issuance. In 2015, the WINS program became fully operational. WINS households are provided a ten-dollar monthly food benefit funded from the State’s General Fund that counts toward the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Maintenance-of-Effort requirement. WINS households are counted in the federal TANF caseload (i.e., individuals receiving WINS have been “moved in” to the TANF caseload). However, the WINS caseload is not reflected in CalWORKs caseload tables.
WINS provides working families with additional food benefits to help alleviate food insecurity and financial stress. Within the CalWORKs program, it complements existing support by addressing the unique challenges that low-income families face, such as rising food costs and limited access to higher-cost fresh produce. WINS enables families to focus on employment and education, fostering long-term stability.
Historically WINS has helped California meet TANF Work Participation Rate (WPR) performance measure targets. Effective October 1, 2025, the minimum dollar amount required by the federal Administration for Children and Families for WINS households to count toward the WPR is $35. As a result, these families will no longer count toward the calculation of California’s WPR.However, a recent change to how the WPR is calculated means that California will meet WPR minimum thresholds without WINS.