Noncompliance - Curing a Sanction

Curing Rules

A sanctioned client can stop their sanction at any time. Senate Bill (SB) 119 established that a Welfare-to-Work (WTW) sanction will be required to end when the noncomplying individual contacts the county and indicates both a desire to cure their sanction and an intent to begin participating in WTW activities. This contact can be verbal or written, including any digital medium the county uses to regularly communicate with clients.

Curing Plans are Obsolete

The new curing process established by SB 119 replaces the old requirement for a client to sign and fulfill a curing plan to complete a specified activity(ies) prior to having a WTW sanction cured. The Plan to Meet Welfare to Work Rules and Get My Cash Aid Back (WTW 29) is no longer applicable and the form is now obsolete.

Note: While a signed WTW plan is not required to cure a sanction, the Associate Employment Counselor (AEC)/Employment Counselor (EC) must formalize the agreed upon WTW activity(ies) and document any necessary supportive services in a written WTW plan as soon as administratively possible and in accordance with the county plan. Failure to sign a WTW plan consistent with the new workflow process enacted by SB 119 can still result in a WTW sanction per Manual of Policies and Procedures (MPP) 42-721.22.

When the sanction is lifted, the client can sign a Welfare-to-Work Plan Activity Assignment (WTW 2) while in the office, via DocuSign, or the WTW 2 can be mailed to them with instructions to return the signed plan along with any supporting verification, such as employment verification.

Sanction Curing After a Break in Aid

For sanctioned individuals who have a break in aid of one month or longer, the act of reapplying for CalWORKs cash aid must be considered an indication of both a desire to cure the sanction and an intent to participate. Aid must be restored in the application month, in alignment with existing practice for granting aid to eligible adults.

Simplified Sanction Curing and Stage One Child Care

Any eligible client who cures their sanction through the simplified sanction-curing process will not have their Stage One Child Care authorization discontinued if they later fail to participate, unless the discontinuance is based on one of the reasons listed under Child Care Service Discontinuances.

Stopping a Sanction before a Financial Penalty

Although a client may cure a sanction at any time, an instance of noncompliance must be counted even if the individual corrects the participation problem after the 20-day period has passed, but before the sanction begins. When an individual does not agree to sign a compliance plan within the 20-day period, they must meet the requirements to cure a sanction, even if the participation problem can be corrected prior to imposing the financial sanction.

The following table outlines the steps to take when a client contacts the AEC/EC to cure a sanction after the 20-day period, but before the financial penalty is imposed.

If...

Then...

A sanction has been recorded in CalSAWS and a client contacts the AEC/EC to cure the sanction before a financial penalty is imposed,

The AEC/EC will complete and submit the Request to Lift Sanction form to their Unit Lead and Supervisor.

The CWES Supervisor/Lead will review the request and make the following entries in CalSAWS:

Adds a WTW Program Status of Active with a Status Reason of Enrolled-Cured Sanction.
Creates a task in CalSAWS and sends a copy of the task via an Outlook email to the assigned Social Services Benefits Specialist (SSBS) to rescind the sanction. Refer to the email template in the DEBS Forms Library Lift Cured Sanction Request (SCD 2239).

No financial penalty is applied and there is no loss to the client’s cash grant.

Note: If the case is not assigned to an SSBS or a unit, please email CBSPriorityMail@ssa.sccgov.org. Clerical will create and assign a task.

Stopping a Sanction after a Financial Penalty

Use the following table to determine who will take the steps to cure a financial sanction after it is implemented and the client shows or contacts CWES district office staff.

If the CWES case...	Then the...
Is still in the AEC/EC’s worker ID and the client contacts the AEC/EC,	AEC/EC will conduct the Orientation/Appraisal and make the appropriate CalSAWS entries. The CWES Supervisor/Lead will make entries to lift the sanction in CalSAWS, if applicable. Note: Orientation/Appraisal shall not be required when the client has been off aid for fewer than 30 days.
Is closed and the client can attend a CWES orientation on that same day or during regular business hours, Note: The CWES OD checks the Senter Road Orientation schedule to inform clients of available orientations.	Client is referred to a CWES orientation at the appropriate CWES office. The Engagment AEC/EC will make entries to lift the sanction in CalSAWS, if applicable.
Is closed and the client cannot attend a CWES orientation or the CWES office cannot accommodate the client on that same day,	Client is referred to the next agreed upon CWES orientation. The Engagment AEC/EC will make entries to lift the sanction in CalSAWS, if applicable.

Note: North and South County clients are to be referred to North and South County offices.

*If a client is determined to be from North or South County, the CWES OD calls the District office to determine the next available orientation.

WTW Sanction Curing and Restoration of Cash Aid

Aid will be restored on the first day of the month following the date an individual indicates both a desire to cure their sanction and an intent to begin participating in WTW activities, or when the AEC/EC discovers the individual is or has been meeting the minimum hourly federal participation requirements.

Example 1Example 1

On March 10, a sanctioned participant informs the AEC/EC that they would like to cure their sanction and start participating again. Because they have indicated both an intent to cure the sanction and an intent to participate, their aid is restored effective April 1, which is the first day of the month following their stated intent.

Example 2Example 2

During a case review on May 5, the AEC/EC discovers that the client has been consistently meeting federal hourly participation requirements through verified employment. Even though the client did not explicitly state an intent to cure their sanction, the discovery qualifies them for restoration. Therefore, aid is restored effective June 1, the first day of the month following the discovery date.