When father of two Benyam Hailemichael wasn’t getting his CalWORKs benefits on time, he “had a really stressful life. I was worried there would be no food to eat. I also wasn’t sure if I’d be able to pay my rent and my other bills,” he says.

Then Halemichael found out about LIFETIME, which helped him get his benefits restored and even deal with problems with his landlord. When parents are having trouble, “(you can) get plugged into (LIFETIME) so you can help your family,” recommends Dawn Love, a LIFETIME Peer Empowerment and Education Retention (PEER) intern. “Do not be afraid, because there is help available,” adds Sayoko Watson, LIFETIME’s PEER program coordinator.

LIFETIME helps parents on welfare go back to school–and advocate for their CalWORKs benefits. Benyam Hailemichael, Candice Johnson, and Mercedes Alfero share how they worked with LIFETIME to fix problems with their benefits.

Benyam Hailemichael:

“Now I know my rights”

Hailemichael is working on his BS degree. He eventually wants to get his Masters and become a medical social worker. Hailemichael also has two children—eight-year-old Ebenezer and six-year-old Hosea. Juggling school and family life became extra difficult for Hailemichael when he was not getting his CalWORKs checks for transportation or books on time.

“Better prepared”

Then Hailemichael got LIFETIME’s phone number from a CalWORKs meeting, and attended a LIFETIME training session. “I got a load of knowledge from them,” he says. “Because of the trainings, I feel better prepared and know my rights.” At the training, Hailemichael learned about the state budget, the CalWORKs system, his rights related to his benefits, and even how to stand up to police if they stop you without reason, he says.

LIFETIME also helped him get his benefits restored. A staff person talked with a CalWORKs supervisor and set Hailemichael up with a new worker. Now he gets his checks on time and feels less stressed about caring for his family.

“My second family”

LIFETIME also helped Hailemichael successfully sue his landlord when he had problems with his apartment—mold that was making his kids sick, a broken sink, and running water. “(LIFETIME members) are like my second family. I just call them, and they help,” he says.

Candice Johnson:

“LIFETIME made it easier”

When Candice Johnson (not her real name) stopped receiving her CalWORKs benefits, she struggled to make ends meet. “It’s hard to function when you have to come home to a family and act like everything is OK,” she says. “It was really stressful and really hard. I didn’t know what would happen, and it affected me at school.”

Johnson is a mother of four children—ages two, three, eleven, and sixteen—and is also in college to become a surgical technician.

One-on-one training

When Johnson was taking preliminary nursing classes but not yet in the nursing program, she was told that she didn’t qualify for CalWORKs. She decided to call LIFETIME. She couldn’t go to LIFETIME’s trainings because of her hectic school schedule, so a LIFETIME staff person set up one-on-one appointments with her. Johnson found out that she was eligible for full benefits as long as she was making progress in school, putting in at least 32 hours a week, and getting a work plan approved.

LIFETIME also told Johnson she could fill out an appeal form and request a hearing, which she did. Next, she met with a CalWORKs supervisor, her employment counselor, and two staff people from LIFETIME. Johnson re-outlined her welfare-to-work plan and discussed her career goals, degree, and learning disability exemption. After another interview, CalWORKs reinstated her benefits. 

“Appreciate their support”

“I appreciate (LIFETIME’s) support,” says Johnson. “I think they did a good job tackling what was going on and figuring out the issues. I’m glad they were there. They made it easier.”

“It’s not as stressful now,” she adds, reflecting on her life. “I would refer anyone to LIFETIME because they helped me a lot.” Johnson encourages others to seek out organizations that will “guide you rather than make decisions for you.” She also advises others to learn about the welfare system “so you don’t come in blind.” 

Mercedes Alfero:

“Don’t give up”

When Mercedes Alfero’s CalWORKs benefits were cut, “it made things so much harder. It made me feel helpless and hopeless. It breaks you to the point where you don’t want to deal with it,” she says. Alfero is a sociology student at Mills College. She also works and cares for her three-and-a-half-year-old son, Dominic.

Although CalWORKs originally approved Alfero for cash aid and food stamps, she says they started taking deductions out for her work-study program, and then tried to cut her benefits completely.
Alfero was constantly worried about her son. She needed health insurance and food stamps for him. She called LIFETIME after hearing about the organization from some friends at school.

Resolving the issues

LIFETIME told Alfero that she was eligible for a hearing to contest her lost benefits, and explained the process in detail. Alfero filled out a hearing-request form and made sure to keep copies of her CalWORKs documents for proof. A staff member from LIFETIME also called CalWORKs, and arranged for Alfero to stay in her work-study program with full benefits.

“Always be persistent”

“The goal is to get out of poverty,” says Alfero. “Don’t give up. Always be persistent. Don’t leave people alone before they give you help. Talk to a supervisor. If they don’t help, go to their supervisor.”
“There are always resources. Talk to people and network,” she adds. “Make sure that you have support, like from a family member, for the times that it gets discouraging.”

Advocacy Tips

Parents and LIFETIME staff people recommend that people having trouble with their CalWORKs benefits:

• Attend LIFETIME training sessions
• Request an appeal and/or a hearing
• Talk to multiple supervisors or managers
• Be prepared for interviews
• Keep copies of important paperwork
• Know your CalWORKs rights:

      -The right to attend school (if you meet requirements, see 
       www.geds-to-phds.org/PARENT_RESOURCE.htm)
      -The right to services for domestic violence, substance abuse, etc.
      -The right to a fair hearing

For more information, contact LIFETIME, 510-352-5160, www.geds-to-phds.org