Rethinking welfare-to-work programmes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons from CalWORKs in the United States

Social policy scholars have raised concerns about the effectiveness and responsiveness of welfare-to-work (WTW) programmes in addressing poverty and economic hardship in the wake of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This article investigates how California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by analysing how its rules and practices have evolved, the values or principles underpinning these changes, and the overall programme performance over time. Using a modified mixed-method research design with secondary data, we analyse up-to-date administrative data and documentations to study programme changes. Our findings highlight a contrasting programme dynamic: limited accessibility for potential clients but enhanced flexibility for current participants. Our findings also reveal a loosened welfare-work nexus in CalWORKs, demonstrated by a shift from a rigid work-first, compliance-oriented model to a more adaptive and responsive model to address diverse family needs. We argue that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed and exacerbated the challenges of the neoliberal, work-first-oriented WTW programmes, presenting a pivotal opportunity to reimagine and reform WTW programmes to enhance the well-being of low-income families in the post-pandemic era. This article examines the largest welfare-to-work programme in the USA, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs), and its response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. We used a mixed-method approach combining quantitative trend analysis and qualitative document analysis to understand what was changed in the programme, what values or principles were underlying those changes, and the resulting programme performance during the period of global pandemic crisis. Our analysis found that the programme demonstrated flexibility, making efforts to maintain access to cash and service provisions for those already participated in the programme. However, it was less successful in enhancing accessibility for prospective clients. Further, there has been an observable shift within CalWORKs from a strict, work-first framework towards a more responsive model that acknowledges and addresses the diverse needs of participating families. The pandemic has intensified the struggles faced by low-income families within the neoliberal, work-first WTW scheme. This turning point presents an opportunity to rethink and reform these programmes. This read is essential for social workers, policymakers, and individuals concerning WTW services, as it sheds light on the path towards a more supportive welfare system in the post-pandemic era.