Recent CalWORKs Grant Increases Helped Families Avoid Deep Poverty

Maximum Monthly Grant as a Percentage of the Federal Poverty Line for a Family of Three

A line chart tracking the changes in CalWORKs maximum monthly grants relative to the federal poverty line between 1998 and 2023. A horizontal line depicts the 50% of the federal poverty line, which highlights that in 2021 the grant levels surpassed the deep poverty threshold.
Note: Grants are for high-cost (Region 1) counties and reflect families of three where all members are aided. Deep poverty is defined as having income below 50 percent of the federal poverty line.
Source: Budget Center analysis of CA Department of Social Services and US Health and Human Services dataEmbedDownload image