The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) respectfully requests your consideration of exempting pandemic or statewide public health emergency related unemployment or other relief benefits from consideration during CalWORKs eligibility determinations for applicants and recipients. This proposal would also allow for streamlining of the CalWORKs application process by allowing for electronic verification of identification. 
CalWORKs provides cash assistance and other benefits to some of the most vulnerable low­income families and their children in the state. Families must have financial resources and incomes below certain thresholds to be eligible for CalWORKs benefits. If a family has resources or receives income above these thresholds, they can have their benefits reduced or eliminated. Currently, regular unemployment benefits count towards these thresholds for applicants and recipients.