Cal-Learn Procedures

[EAS 42-766]

Initial Determination

Upon determining that an Assistance Unit (AU) contains a pregnant or parenting teen, the EW must determine if that teen parent has a high school diploma or its equivalent:

If...	Then...
The teen parent does not have a high school diploma or its equivalent,	This teen parent must be registered for Cal-Learn.
The teen parent has a high school diploma or its equivalent,	The EW must review the CalSAWS Case Summary page and program status to determine whether the teen must register with Welfare-to-Work (WTW) or is exempt.

Note: When a pregnant or parenting teen is 18 at the time of application, but turns 19 prior to aid being approved, the EW must review to determine how old the teen was on the beginning date of aid. If the teen was under 19 on the beginning date of aid, refer them to Cal-Learn. The teen will have the option of continuing in Cal-Learn as a volunteer.

Important: If it is discovered at a later date that a pregnant or parenting teen under the age of 19 should have been enrolled in the Cal-Learn program but was not, the EW must take immediate action to refer the teen to the Cal-Learn program.

Cal-Learn Bonuses

Cal-Learn bonuses may not be used to offset an existing overpayment. The EW must not include Cal-Learn bonuses in the calculation of an overpayment adjustment or Homeless Assistance (HA) payment.

Note: Retroactive payments for bonuses and/or supportive services are not considered income or property in the month received or the following month.

Cal-Learn Penalties

With the passage of Senate Bill (SB) 521, Cal-Learn participants are no longer subject to a noncompliance process or financial sanctions within the Cal-Learn program as of January 1, 2024.

Time Limits

Refer to the chart below to determine how a Cal-Learn teen’s time on aid is counted:

If the teen is aided as...	Then the months on aid...
A child on their parent’s case,	Do not count against the CalWORKs or TANF clock.
Head of Household on their own case,	Count against the TANF clock, but do not count against the CalWORKs clock.
A 19-year-old: Who is eligible for Cal-Learn, but does not voluntarily participate and is subject to WTW requirements if no other exemptions apply, or Volunteer who chooses to withdraw as a voluntary participant from the Cal-Learn program and is subject to WTW requirements if no other exemptions apply,	Count against both the CalWORKs and TANF clocks.

A teen parent who should have been participating in Cal-Learn, but was not, must have their time clocks adjusted, as appropriate.

Related Topics

Cal-Learn

Definitions and Case Management