CalWORKs
by California Department of Social Services
Cash aid and employment services for eligible families with children.
Potential cash benefit
Monthly cash aid and employment services
Per month
What you can get
Monthly cash aid and employment services
CalWORKs is California’s TANF program. County welfare departments determine eligibility from income, resources, and family composition. Families apply through BenefitsCal or a county office. Income and household-composition tests are not encoded as a single household_income rule.
Overview
Cash aid and employment services for eligible families with children.
Who may qualify
Not every requirement is listed here. Confirm the full rules with the program administrator.
Location / service area
Statewide in California
How to apply
Use the official application or program page. Confirm current instructions with the administrator before you apply.
Preapproval required
Important things to know
Last verified: Sep 6, 2026 · Confidence: High
Official sources
Not sure what you qualify for?
Check your eligibility. We’ll compare your answers with published program rules.
Eligibility is based on published program information and the details you provide. Program rules, funding and availability can change. Always confirm eligibility with the official program administrator.