Student Financial Aid

Introduction

In the Yslas vs. Anderson lawsuit, the court ruled that counties cannot require CalWORKs clients to offset the costs for necessary supportive services with their student financial aid.

Student Financial Aid Rule

[EAS 42-750.3]

  • The CWES Worker must not consider the availability of student financial aid received by the client in the form of educational grants, scholarships and awards when determining the need for CalWORKs Employment Services supportive services.
  • Do not deny or reduce supportive services if the client indicates that the financial aid is available to meet his/her child care, transportation or work or training-related needs.
  • Clients cannot be advised to use their financial aid prior to requesting supportive services.

Informed Choice

  • The “Student Financial Aid Statement - CWES Supportive Services” (WTW 8) will provide adequate documentation that clients have been informed that they are not required to use their student financial aid to pay for supportive services.
  • The WTW 8 is also used to document that a client voluntarily agrees to use his/her student financial aid to pay for CWES fundable child care, transportation and work or training-related expenses.

Documentation

The CWES Worker must document in the [Maintain Case Comments] window in CalSAWS all determinations regarding consideration of a client’s educational grants, scholarships, and awards, and that the WTW 8 has been reviewed and completed.

Forward a copy of the WTW 8 to IDM station and return the original to the client.

When to Complete the WTW 8

he WTW 8 is completed for every student receiving financial aid who is enrolled in CalWORKs Employment Services.

Completing Part A

Part A is to be completed only by the CWES client.

If the client chooses...

Then the client must...

To use some or all of the student financial aid to pay for supportive services,

Check the “YES” box in Part A,

Indicate which of the supportive services will be covered by the student financial aid money, and

Enter the specified time period.

Not to use any of his/her student financial aid to pay for supportive services,

Check the “NO” box in Part A, and

Sign the form.

Reminder: When determining the client’s needs for supportive services, do not take into consideration the financial aid.

Completing Part B

  • Part B is filled out by a client who initially chooses to use his/her financial aid to pay for supportive services and then no longer wants to use his/her financial aid for supportive services.
  • The client may mail or personally deliver the WTW 8 with Part B filled out to the CWES Worker.
  • The CWES Worker assigned to the case must sign as the receiving worker. The date Part B is received in the Agency is entered on the WTW 8.
  • The CWES Worker must send the appropriate supportive services NOA.

Notifying the Eligibility Worker

Although most educational grants, loans and scholarships are exempt from consideration, non-federal financial aid only excludes the portion of the income that is used to meet educational expenses.

After submitting the WTW 8 along with financial aid letter/verification, create TMT for the EW. The EW will review to determine the treatment of the income in the CalWORKs budget.