PROGRAM BENEFITS
How CalWORKs Can Help You
- Academic, career and personal counseling services
- Access to a wide range of certificates, career technical training, associate degree
and transfer programs
- Assist with job development resources, such as résumé writing
- Completion of county paperwork for childcare and ancillary expenses
- Provide information and clarification about county welfare requirements
- Referrals for medical, mental health and legal aid services
- Referrals to part-time work-study jobs on campus
- Short and long term career planning
To learn more about CalWORKs, including how to apply and links to helpful sites, visit CDSS CalWORKs.
SERVICES, RESOURCES
- Advanced standard payment for textbooks and supplies
- Advocate for student rights
- Assistance in completing county paperwork for childcare and ancillary expenses
- Assistance in selecting GAIN-approved education/training program
- Develop educational and career goals
- Help maintain 20/30/35 hour GAIN requirement
- Job preparation workshops, such as résumé writing
- One-on-one academic, career and personal counseling services
- Paid part-time work-study jobs on campus (does not affect cash aid)
- Provide information about GAIN requirements
- Provide students with on and off-campus resources
- Referrals for medical, mental health and legal aid services
- Student success strategies and support
- Support groups and workshops
ELIGIBILITY
Enroll
To enroll in the Citrus College CalWORKs program, you:
- must be a current recipient of AFDC/TANF.
- must have a child.
- must enrolled in classes at Citrus College.
- must be referred by your county worker (such as GAIN in Los Angeles County or employment
specialist in San Bernardino County).
Apply
To apply, please call the Citrus College CalWORKs program at (626) 852-8023 for an
appointment.
You will be required to show verification of current AFDC/TANF benefit (Welfare to
Work plan) and your current class schedule.
Expectations
What's expected from a CalWORKs student?
- Meet the 20/30/35 hour county approved program of activities
- Comply with Department of Social Services and CalWORKs policies
- Remain in good standing with the college
FIRST APPOINTMENT
What do I bring to my first appointment?
- Los Angeles County students must bring a GN6006 (vocational training form) provided
by your GAIN service worker.
- San Bernardino County students must bring a verification of benefits (Passport to
Service form) provided by your employment specialist.
- A photo ID
- Any related county paperwork that needs to be completed by the CalWORKs counselor
What should I expect at my first appointment?
The first appointment will take approximately one hour.
The appointment may be completed in-person or remotely via Zoom. Please check in a
few minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time.
For in-person appointments, the clerical staff will ask for your VOB (Verification
of Benefits). Your VOB is available on the BenefitsCal.com website. At your appointment, you will fill out an intake form, a CalWORKs contract and a
Release of Information form.
During your appointment with the counselor, the focus will be on your professional,
academic and personal goals.
If you have not applied to Citrus College yet, you should do so prior to coming in
for your appointment through the admissions and records website.
We will refer you to the financial aid website to apply for the California College
Promise Grant and FASFA. If you qualify, the fee waiver will waive the fees for your
classes. You will most likely only be responsible for a small student service fee
and health fee. The county may also help with these fees.
We will also refer you to Extended Opportunity Programs and Services, also known as EOPS. The EOPS department provides additional support services for
CalWORKs students and you may also be eligible for the CARE program.
CAMPUS WORK-STUDY EMPLOYMENT
Looking for a job on campus? Take advantage of this opportunity!
Your earnings do not count against your cash aid or CalFresh benefits.
You must meet the following requirements in order to get a job referral.
- Enrolled in six units or more during the fall and spring semester
- Enroll in three units or more during the winter and summer semester
- Have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better
If interested in CalWORKs work study, please complete the Work-Study Interest Form
and return to the CalWORKs office.
*You must qualify each semester and follow through with program requirements.
Check out the student employment offerings.
Questions? Contact the CalWORKs office at (626) 852‐8023.
FORMS, DOCUMENTS
Work-Study Interest Form [PDF]
Quick Reference Guide: GN 6365 Monthly Attendance Report Form
GN 6365 for Self-Initiated Programs
-
Participant's Role
The participants are responsible for completing the top section of the form their
daily actual hours of participation each month. Actual hours of participation include
a combination of classroom time and course related activities, such as lab, internship,
work study hours and supervised study time.
Note: study hours should be separated from class time.
-
School's Role
Schools complete the midsection (above absence reporting) to verify enrollment status
of a participant during the month report. The school is responsible for annotating
the name, title, phone number and signature of the contact person, along with the
school's stamp (embossment or seal.)
-
Participant's Role
The participants are responsible for completing the "Absence Reporting" section to
report any absences as instructed on the back side of the form.
Acceptable Alternates
- Printout from a verified electronic attendance record: It must contain the participant's name, the name of the school, the number of hours,
and the name and phone number of the person verifying the hours.
- Current report card: If a current report card is not available, the participant can complete an affidavit
or temporary self-certification until the report cars can be produced or its equivalent
(i.e. transcripts).
- Verbal third party verification: Requires a release of information to be on file in the participant's GAIN case.
GSW must document: the date, the name, the title, and the phone number of the person
verifying the hours.
Supportive Services should NOT be delayed or stopped if the GN 6365 has not been turned
in.
Supervised Study Time: Schools are asked to provide participants with verification of supervised study
time to attach to the GN 6365.
SIP STUDY TIME: SIP study time is counted, if the participant receives:
- Credit and/or units for the study time.
- Noncredit study time that is supervised and documented by the school.
Participants must obtain verification of supervised study time from their school to
attach to the GN 6365 to submit to the regional office.
Unsupervised study time does NOT count as hours of participation on the GN 6365 for
SIP.
ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
-
BenefitsCal is a portal where one can get and manage benefits online, including food assistance
CalFresh), cash aid (CalWORKs, general assistance, cash assistance program for immigrants)
and affordable health insurance (Medi-Cal).
-
Los Angeles Department of Public Social Services DPSSS)
-
El Monte DPSSS CalWORKs Office
3350 Aerojet Avenue
El Monte, CA 91731
(626) 569-3100
Participant Help Line (626) 569-3183 or (626) 569-3688
-
Pomona DPSSS CalWORKs Office
2040 W. Holt Avenue
Pomona, CA 91768
(909) 865-5210
Participant Help Line (909) 868-6499
-
GAIN Regional Office - Pomona
2255 N. Garey Avenue
Pomona, CA 91767
(909) 392-3008
-
GAIN Regional Office - El Monte
3216 Rosemead Boulevard
El Monte, CA 91731
(626) 927-2600
-
Neighborhood Legal Services
-
Options for Learning
-
Orange County Social Services
-
Pupil Resources - Pomona Unified School District
-
San Bernardino County Human Services System
-
Western Center for Law and Poverty
-
WICC (Women, Infants, Children) Nutrition Program
