How Does Welfare Cash Assistance Work in Sacramento California?
The County of Sacramento Department of Human Assistance has many different cash assistance programs for low-income individuals and families. The programs include the CalWORKS Program, Cal-Learn Program, Child Care, AFDC-Foster Care and the General Assistance Program (GA). These programs have work or training requirements for adults who are not disabled.
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CalWORKS Program
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The CalWorks Program's goal is to help the family become self sufficient. To be eligible the family must have children under the age of 18 living in the household. They must also be having financial difficulties because one or both parents are either not working; working less than 100 hours per month; are absent, or are disabled. You must also be a United States Citizen and a resident in Sacramento California.
Property limits that do not include clothing, apply under this program. If you do not have any elderly members living in your household then you are allowed up to $2,000 in real and personal property. If you do have an elderly household member than you are allowed up to $3,000.
There are income levels that you must meet in order to qualify for this program. The gross income limit is determined by subtracting $90 from your gross salary. The income levels as of June, 2010, are as follows: family of two--$841, family of three--$1,042, family of four--$1,239, family of five--$1,413, family of six--$1,589, family of seven--$1,743, family of eight--$1,902, family of nine--$2,056, family of 10--$2,238.
Work requirements require that all able bodied non-disabled adults must get a job. The agency will help you through job classes, which are held on a weekly basis until you obtain a position. The idea of the program is to help your family become self sufficient. You are only allowed to be on CalWORKS for 60 months.
Cal-Learn
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Cal-Learn is a program to help pregnant teens stay in high school or if they have already stopped attending school to get their GED. The program rewards the students with good grades and attendance with an extra $100 and when they graduate they may be eligible for an extra $500.
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Child Care Program
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The Child Care Program helps you locate and pay for child care so that you may either go to work or go to school. They provide payments for the child care provider. The agency also helps you locate a provider. They offer an online payment system so that you can submit bills online. This program uses the same income guideline as the CalWORKS Program.
AFDC-Foster Care Program
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The AFDC Foster Care Program provides cash payments to people who have decided to give a part of themselves to a foster child in need by giving them a home. They are given a cash assistance grant to cover basic necessities, which is based on age, as well as an additional payment for clothing items. As of June 2010, the basic necessities portion cash payments ranged from $446 per month for an infant to 4 year old to $627 for a 15 to 18 year old. The one-time clothing stipend, which is also based on age, ranged from $158 for an infant to 6 year old up to $268 for a 13 to 18 year old.
General Assistance Program
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The General Assistance Program provides temporary cash payments to adults who do not have children under 18 living in the home. The purpose of the program is to help the adult either locate a job or find funding from another source, such as disability payments for those who are unable to work.
To qualify you must be a United States citizen, be a resident of Sacramento County for the previous 15 days, and be underemployed, meaning working less than 100 hours per month.
You must be willing to participate in any programs that will help you obtain work and to apply for additional programs such as unemployment benefits. This program will help you locate employment. If you are disabled, they will help you locate other types of funding to support yourself. You are eligible to receive General Assistance for only 90 days in any calendar year.
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