Curing a Sanction

Curing Rules

A sanctioned client may comply with WTW requirements at any time in order to cure a sanction. The requirements to cure a financial sanction are the same regardless of whether it is before or after the sanction is imposed.

Curing Period

There is no minimum sanction period for a client to cure a financial sanction; however, before cash aid can be restored, individuals must satisfactorily participate in the activity(ies) specified by CWES until completed, or up to a maximum of 30 calendar days, whichever is shorter.

“Request to Stop a WTW Sanction” (WTW 31)

The WTW 31 instructs clients on the steps to cure a sanction, have aid restored, and begin participating in WTW activities again. The Employment Counselor who implemented the sanction or designated staff will mail a WTW 31 with the “30 Days After Sanction Flyer” (SC 194). The WTW 31 will also be made available in district office lobbies.

Stopping a Sanction Before Financial Penalty

The following table outlines the steps to take when a client comes in to cure a sanction after the 20-day CWES compliance period has ended, but before the financial CalWORKs penalty is imposed.

If... Then...
A sanction has been recorded in CalSAWS and a client contacts their CWES Worker to cure the sanction before a financial penalty is imposed and the activity can be completed before the effective date of the penalty (e.g. Orientation, or completion of a short term activity),
  • The client must be allowed to cure the sanction by completing the activity even though it is before the effective date.
  • No financial penalty is applied and there is no decrease to the client’s cash grant.
  • The sanction is lifted in CalSAWS.
A client contacts their CWES Worker to cure a sanction before a financial penalty is imposed, and the "curing period" results in the client having to perform an activity for a period that extends past the discontinuance date of the NA 840 NOA,
  • The client must be allowed to cure the sanction by completing the activity even though it is before the effective date.
  • The sanction takes effect based on the discontinuance date indicated on the NA 840 NOA previously sent by the CWES Worker.
  • When the client successfully completes the curing process, the sanction is lifted and cash aid is restored back to the first of the month following the date the client contacted the CWES Worker to cure the sanction.

Related Topics

CalWORKs Employment Services (CWES) Sanctions