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Workfare

Workfare is a program run by New York City that makes people work to keep their welfare benefits.

There are rules to follow when you work for your check if you want to keep receiving your benefits. This page will give you a brief summary of your rights and responsibilities. Click here for additional information.

Do I have to work to get welfare benefits?

Probably. Most people have to do some kind of welfare work activity to get welfare benefits. A work activity can be unpaid work, paid work, training, or education. The Office of Employment Services (OES) decides if you have to do a work activity. The main OES is located at 109 East 16th Street in Manhattan. Some adults also go to a program called BEGIN, which stands for "Begin Employment Gain Independance Now."

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What is the Work Experience Program (WEP)?

The Work Experience Program (WEP) allows welfare recipients to pay off their welfare grants by working. Some WEP workers work in City departments like Sanitation or Parks. Others work at community organizations. WEP work can also be filing papers or cleaning buildings or streets. Note that the place the City sends you to is called your work site.

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What happens if I do not work?

You can lose your benefits for many months if you do not work. Even if you miss just one workfare appointement or don't go to the work site, you can lose your benefits.

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What are the Workfare rules?

The Workfare rules are not necessarily "fair," but you should learn how to deal with the system:

  • Go to every appointment
  • Stay at your workfare assignment if you can, even if you get mad or don't like your job, and bring a written excuse if you have to miss any work
  • Remember to sign in when you get to your work site
  • Keep copies of all the papers you give to the City, the City's doctors, and your work site?

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What are your rights?

  • You can be given an WEP assignment only if the City decides that you are employable (that you can work)
  • Your WEP job cannot be bad for your physical or mental health
  • Your WEP job cannot be unsafe or break federal or state health laws

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What are some helpful Workfare tips?

Be careful when you ask OES workers about WEP. OES workers sometimes think that when you ask questions about WEP it means you are refusing to do WEP. OES will try to cut off your benefits if they think you are refusing to work. Be safe. First tell the OES worker that you will follow the workfare rules. Then ask the worker your question.

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How many hours per week must I work for my WEP job?

It depends on how much you get in cash assistance and food stamps. The time you spentd at your WEP job pays off your cash assistance and food stamps. Each hour you work pays off $6.75 of your benefits. (Minimum wage is $6.75 per hour as of January 1, 2006).

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How does welfare decide if I have to do Workfare?

OES will call you in for many appointments to decide if you are employable and have to work to get your welfare benefits. OES will also tell you what kind of WEP jobs you must do and how many hours you have to work.

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Who can work for Workfare?

You are employable unless you can prove to the OES workers that you are not employable. You are not employable if you are:

  • Ill, injured or disabled
  • Older than age 60
  • Younger than age 16
  • Needed at home to take care of an ill or injured person
  • Going to give birth within 30 days
  • A parent caring for a child under one year old, but only for a year will you be unemployable
  • Under 19 years old and a full-time student in a vocational training program or high school

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Do you need more information?

For more information on the following questions, please click here to read The Legal Aid Society's "Guide to Welfare Work Rules":

  • What kind of proof do I need to show I am not employable (I am sick or disabled, or I take care of a sick or injured person)?
  • I cannot work because I have to take care of my children or because I am sick. Do I have to keep my appointment at OES?
  • Will I be excused from WEP if my doctor says I cannot work?
  • What happens if I am sick but have no doctor?

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