UPDATE: I just got a call from my worker - they received my mailed documents and my application is now approved! Benefits will be backdated to my original application date. So relieved this nightmare is finally over. For anyone else dealing with pending applications - keep calling until you get answers!

This is such valuable information, thank you for sharing your experience! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation - my application has been pending for 3 weeks now and I keep getting the runaround when I call. Reading all these comments makes me realize I need to be way more proactive about following up. I'm going to start mailing physical copies of everything today, even though the website says my documents were received. It's frustrating that we have to work around a broken system, but I'm grateful for this community sharing real solutions. Has anyone had success getting through to a supervisor when the regular workers can't help?

Update: I finally got through to my county office after trying for days! The worker I spoke with was much more helpful than the first one. They explained that they didn't apply the childcare deduction correctly - we pay my mother-in-law $300/week to watch our younger kids while we work, but the first worker didn't count it because it's paid to a relative! The new worker said they CAN count it if we provide the right documentation. They're reopening our case to recalculate! Also found out we qualify for more CalFresh than they initially approved. Fingers crossed this works out better!

This is exactly why I always tell people to ask for a different worker if the first one seems rushed or unhelpful! So many CalWORKs workers don't fully understand all the deductions available, especially the childcare rules for relatives. The fact that they missed a $1,200/month childcare deduction is huge - that's the difference between qualifying and not qualifying for most families. I've seen this happen so many times where families get denied because the worker didn't ask the right questions or didn't know all the rules. Your persistence really paid off! For anyone else reading this - always ask specifically about ALL childcare costs, even if paid to family members, and don't give up after the first denial if something doesn't seem right about the calculation.

Just wanted to mention that many counties are REALLY behind in processing applications right now. We applied in January and didn't get approved until March. Make sure you follow up constantly and keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit. They lost my husband's VA documentation twice and we had to resubmit it. So frustrating.

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share that I'm in a very similar situation! My partner is also a veteran receiving VA disability benefits and we have a toddler. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - I had no idea that VA disability benefits were exempt income for CalWORKs purposes. One thing I'm wondering about that I haven't seen addressed yet - does anyone know if there are specific deadlines we need to be aware of when applying? Like, if we're facing eviction next month, how quickly can we realistically expect to see benefits if we apply this week? The immediate need payment option that @Alicia mentioned sounds promising, but I'm curious about real-world timelines from people who've actually been through the process recently. Also, for those who successfully got approved - did you apply online through BenefitsCal or go to the office in person? I'm trying to figure out which route might be faster given our time crunch. Thanks so much for sharing all your experiences - it's giving me hope that we might actually qualify for help!

I'm a case worker and wanted to add some clarification to what's already been shared here. You're absolutely right that you cannot apply for CalFresh for just your children if you all live together and you provide their meals - this would be considered fraud if misrepresented. However, I encourage you to still apply for your full household! Many working families are surprised to learn they qualify. For a household of 5, the gross income limit is $4,810/month (as of 2024), but more importantly, CalFresh uses your NET income after deductions. With rent at 60% of your income, you'd get a significant shelter deduction. Also consider applying for emergency CalFresh if you're in immediate need - this can provide benefits within 3 days if you qualify. The application asks about your monthly expenses, so gather documentation for rent, utilities, childcare, and medical expenses before applying. One last tip: if your county office is hard to reach by phone, many counties now accept applications online through BenefitsCal, and you can often get faster responses through their online messaging system once you have an account.

I just wanted to echo what the case worker and others have said - definitely still apply even though you can't separate your kids! I was in almost the exact same situation last year with 3 kids and thought we made too much. What really helped us was keeping track of ALL our monthly expenses for a few weeks before applying. Things I didn't think to include at first: after-school care costs, gas for driving to work, medical copays, even the monthly cost of school lunches (before we qualified for free ones). Every legitimate expense helps reduce your countable income. We ended up qualifying for $200/month which doesn't sound like much but it's been a huge help with our grocery budget, especially for buying healthy foods for the kids. The application through BenefitsCal was way easier than trying to call - took about 30 minutes and I got a response within a week. Don't let that other mom's misinformation discourage you from applying the right way. There's real help available for working families, you just have to go through the proper channels. Good luck!

Thank you everyone for explaining! The county worker never mentioned this \

I'm sorry you're going through this - the CalWORKs system can be really confusing! Just wanted to add that you might also want to look into local food banks and community resources while you're job searching. Many areas have programs specifically for families dealing with unemployment that don't have the same restrictions as CalWORKs. Your local 211 service (dial 2-1-1) can connect you with emergency assistance programs, utility help, and job training resources that might be available in your area. Also, since you're already getting CalFresh and Medi-Cal, make sure you're signed up for all the associated benefits like the California Lifeline phone program if you need it. Hang in there!