"CalWORKs Fact Sheet: Transportation"
August 21, 1997
CalWORKs Fact Sheet: Transportation
Answers to Commonly Asked Questions about California's
New Welfare Reform Program
(As contained in AB 1542, Chapter 270, 8/11/97)
Q: Will transportation be available to recipients who are required
to go to work?
A: Under the new law, transportation costs are listed as a
"necessary supportive service" which shall be available to every
participant in order that he or she can accept employment or
participate in work activities to which he or she is assigned. The
bill states that supportive services include "transportation costs,
governed by regional market rates as determined in accordance with
regulations established by the department". (WIC Sec. 11323.2(a)
(2)) If there is a lack of supportive services (including
transportation) the participant shall have good cause for non-
participation. (WIC Sec. 11323.2 (a) & WIC Sec. 11320.3 (f))
Q: How far can recipients be required to commute?
A: Recipients are not to be sanctioned (penalized) for failure to
participate in training or accept employment if the commute takes
over two hours (round trip) not including the time transporting
family members (typically children) to childcare or school.
Recipients who lack a car or access to public transportation are not
to be required to walk over two miles (round trip), not including the
walking necessary to take a family member to childcare or school.
Recipients who lack transportation to welfare-to-work services or to
a job can be required to participate in community service. (WIC Sec.
11320.31 (c))
Q: What about recipients who have reached a time limit and are
assigned to a Community Service job?
A: Counties have the option to provide transportation (as a
supportive service) to recipients in community service jobs. (WIC
Sec. 11320.15)
Q: Does the welfare reform law contain any improvements in
availability of transportation?
A: Yes, the bill provides that local transit providers and county
welfare departments must coordinate to ensure that any transportation
funds made available for CalWORKs recipients be used efficiently and
for the benefit of the recipients. (PUC Sec. 99155.1 (a)) Also,
where public transit services are available, the bill requires local
transit providers to consider giving priority in the use of transit
funds to the enhancement of public transportation services for
welfare-to-work purposes. (PUC Sec. 99155.1 (b))
Q: What if there are no public transit services in the local area?
A: In areas where no public transit service is available, the bill
requires local transit providers to consider transportation
alternatives--such as subsidies or vouchers, vanpools, or contract
paratransit operations--in order to promote welfare-to-work purposes.
(PUC Sec. 99155.1 (c))
Q: What is the maximum value of an automobile recipients are allowed
to own and still receive aid?
A: The new law states that the allowable value of an automobile will
be determined using the method established under the Food Stamp
Program. In general, under Food Stamps, a recipient may own a car
with a net value up to $4,650 and still receive aid. (WIC Sec. 11155)
The new law also contains a new provision that counts, as income to
the recipient, the net value of any asset (for example, an
automobile) transferred from a recipient to others for less than fair
market value. (WIC Sec. 11157.5)
*NOTE: WIC refers to Welfare and Institutions Code, and PUC refers
to Public Utilities Code.
Prepared by: California Senate Health and Human Services Committee
Sara McCarthy, Consultant/Sarah Knofel, Intern