.Purpose

Policy

Background

Release Date:

November 21, 2024

Definitions

Requirements

Verification Docs

Term

Description

Employability Status

An administrative designation used to identify whether an applicant/participant is able to work.

Employable

A designation given to an applicant/participant who is able to work through self-declaration or as determined through a physical health examination and/or does not have minor children under their custody. Employable applicants/participants are required to participate in the START Program, designed to help them find employment. Employable participants may receive GR for nine months in any 12-month period, provided they continue to comply with the GR and START Program requirements.

Employable with Restrictions

A designation given to an applicant/participant based on the verification received from a medical health care provider indicating one of the following employment related restrictions:

a.    Occasional 20 lb. lifting;

b.    Occasional 50 lb. lifting;

c.    Frequent standing/walking; or

d.    Other (needs to be specified).

Unemployable

A designation given to an individual who has a diagnosed physical/mental incapacity or other reason(s) that prevents finding, accepting, or continuing existing employment.

Full-Time Employment

Employment of 100 hours or more per month is considered

full-time employment, regardless of the amount of money earned.

Noncompliance

Failure to comply with the GR/START Program’s requirements.

Part-Time Employment

Employment of less than 100 hours per month is considered part-time employment.

START Program (formerly known as GROW Program)

A mandatory Welfare-to-Work Program for Employable GR participants that provides education and training opportunities, supportive services, and case management to help them obtain jobs and achieve self-sufficiency. While participating in the START Program, participants will be assigned activities to help them achieve their employment goals. Participants with an unemployable designation may volunteer to participate in the START Program.

START Volunteer

A participant with a designated unemployable status who volunteers to participate in the START Program. They may not be penalized for failing to comply with the START Program’s requirements.

Good Cause

A reason beyond the person’s control, a mistake (action or inaction) on the part of any member of Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), an action of an outside person or entity which renders the participant unable to comply or is due to personal circumstances such as illness.

Requirement

Limit/Condition

UIB Eligibility Requirement

GR applicants/participants who meet all of the following criteria may be eligible for UIB and will be referred to EDD to apply for UIB:

1.    Have an Employable status and;

a.    Been employed (full or part-time) in UIB covered employment in California or have served in the Armed Forces within 18 months prior to the month of the UIB application; and

b.    Earned a minimum of $900 within the 18 months preceding the UIB application; or

2.    Medi-Cal Eligibility Data System (MEDS) and/or Applicant IEVS shows potentially available income.

Criteria for Other States

While each state has their own requirements, individuals meeting the requirements for UIB in California may be eligible to UIB in another state and must apply.

Note: All applicants/participants with Employable or Employable with Restrictions must apply for UIB if they meet the criteria above, whether or not they are temporary exempt from employability requirements.

Participation in the START Program

Employable applicants/participants are required to:

1.    Participate in START CMA; and

2.    Complete any assigned START employment/training activities.

Note: GROW Orientation is no longer a condition of GR eligibility. However, applicants/participants must be highly encouraged by Eligibility staff and SCMs to complete the GROW Orientation by viewing the video on the START webpage at dpss.lacounty.gov/en/jobs/grow.html or by listening to a pre-recorded session on the GROW Orientation Telephone Line: (866) 488-8482, select their preferred language, and then pressing Option 2. Currently, GROW Orientation is available in English and Spanish. The telephonic option is only available Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

CMA

The CMA is one of the first START activities scheduled for employable participants. The participant will receive a GROW CMA Notice (ABP 1460) to inform them of their SCM’s telephone number, date, and time of the appointment.

Note: CMAs are conducted by telephone, in-person by coming to the district office on their scheduled date and time; if a participant does not have access to a telephone, or through a START Video CMA if the SCM determines it’s appropriate.

Accept or Maintain Employment

Employable applicants/participants must have Good Cause for quitting, or being fired from employment, or for refusing a bona fide offer of employment.

Temporary Exemption from Employability

Requirements

Employable applicants/participants may be temporarily exempt from employability requirements for up to 60 calendar days if the applicant/participant:

1.    Needs a mental or physical health evaluation;

2.    Experiences a medical condition that is expected to last 30 days or less; or

3.    Has reasons other than physical or mental incapacity.

The GR time limit clock will be stopped while the individual is temporary exempt from employability requirements and will be resumed at the end of the exemption period if no new exemption is added.

Refer to following GR policies for details:

41-100 Needs Special Assistance

41-200 Administratively Unemployable

41-300 Medical Unemployable Status

Employability Status Changes

Once an individual’s employability status changes from Unemployable to Employable, the participants must comply with all employability requirements.

Noncompliance with Employability Requirements

When an applicant/participant (including the legal spouse) fails to comply with employability requirements without Good Cause, a noncompliance is initiated.

Refer to 41-411 Noncompliance and Sanction policy for details.

Employability Status of the Individuals Enrolled in Mandatory Substance Use Disorder Recovery Program (MSUDRP)

An individual’s employability status is a separate determination from that of a Substance Use Disorder (SUD) problem. A SUD, by itself, does not render an individual having an Unemployable or Needs Special Assistance (NSA) status. An applicant/participant in residential or outpatient treatment program remains Employable, unless there is a documented physical or mental health condition that prevents the individual from working or participating in employment related activities.

Refer to 40-120 Mandatory Substance Use Disorder Recovery Program policy for details.

Employability Status of the Individuals Residing in Board and Care Facility

Individuals who are residing in Board and Care facilities remain Employable unless there is a documented physical or mental health condition that prevents the individual from working or participating in employment related activities. Employable individuals living in a Board and Care facility are required to comply with employability requirements.

Refer to 45-100 Board and Care policy for details.

Applicants who are Fired from or Quit a Job

Employable applicant (including the applicant’s legal spouse) who is fired from or quits a job within 60 consecutive calendar days before the GR application is not eligible for GR unless Good Cause exists.

Employable individuals must have Good Cause for quitting, or being fired from employment, or for refusing an offer of employment.

If there is no Good Cause, the applicant (including applicant’s legal spouse) is ineligible and a 0-day penalty is imposed for the first sanctionable occurrence within the prior 12-month period, a 30-day penalty imposed for the second occurrence and a 60-day penalty imposed for the third occurrence.

Refer to 41-411 Noncompliance and Sanction policy for details.

Employable Individuals who are on Strike

Employable individuals (including the spouse) who participate in a strike are ineligible for GR during the period of time they are taking part in the labor action. In addition, no GR benefits may be used for or paid to a person or family who is ineligible to CalWORKs/RCA because a family member living in the home is participating in a strike.

Refer to 82 - 832, Excluded Members policy for details.

Battered Person Victim of Domestic Violence (DV)

Battered or DV persons determined to be Employable are referred to START where DV services are available.

Refer to 3.1 Domestic Violence policy for details.

Aid to First Paycheck

Individuals who are hired for full-time employment after applying for GR, are eligible to emergency aid until their first check, assuming that all other GR eligibility criteria are met.

Refer to 44-220 Emergency Aid policy for details.

Individuals who are Employed Full-time

Applicants (including family members who reside with them) are ineligible for GR when the applicant(s) is employed full-time (100 or more hours per month).

Participants (including family members who reside with them) who are employed full-time (100 or more hours per month) potentially are eligible for GR if the net earned income after Earned Income Disregard (EID) deduction is less than the maximum grant amount for the household (HH) size and all other requirements are met.

Refer to 44-101 Income policy for details.

Individuals who are Employed Part-time

Applicants (including family members who reside with them) who are employed part-time are eligible to GR if the net earned income after deduction of allowable earned income expenses is less than the grant amount for the HH size and all other eligibility requirements are met.

Participants (including family members who reside with them) who are employed part-time potentially are eligible for GR if the net earned income after the EID deduction is less than the maximum grant amount for the HH size and all other requirements are met.

Refer to 44-101 Income policy for details.