CalWORKs Policy - Department of Public Social Services

Rental Subsidy
Assistance (RA)
What is the 4-Month Rental Subsidy Assistance?
Rental Subsidy Assistance (RA) is a Once-in-a-
Lifetime (no exceptions), short-term temporary
payment to assist eligible CalWORKs families pay
their rent. The RA pays up to $300 per family
(depending on the family size) for up to four
consecutive months for non-subsidized permanent
housing.
Who is eligible for the 4-Month RA?
Eligibility to RA is a two-step determination process:
Step 1 - Eligible Population:
Must be CalWORKs WtW eligible;
NOTE: Full-time employment meets the WtW
requirement.
Must be eligible to receive Permanent Homeless
Assistance and/or Moving Assistance; and
Must agree to receive RA payments.
Step 2 - Housing Situation:
If the above has been met, the participant must have
either:
Signed a rental/lease agreement to secure nonsubsidized
permanent housing within the past 30
days of the request for RA; or
Found non-subsidized permanent housing and
are eligible for permanent housing and/or MA.
Who is not eligible to 4-Month RA payments?
The following population is not eligible to receive RA
payments:
Families who are not CalWORKs eligible;
Families who are not eligible to receive
Permanent HA and/or MA;
Families who have exhausted the CalWORKs 60-
Month Time Limits and are not participating in
PTL services;
Unemployed or exempt from GAIN;
“Child only” cases (i.e., undocumented parent/s,