I just wanted to add my experience since I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago! Everyone here is absolutely right - your CalFresh will decrease but you'll definitely have more money overall. In my case, I was getting $625 in CalFresh and when I got approved for $780 in CalWORKs, my food stamps dropped to around $390. So I ended up with about $545 more per month total, which was huge for my family. The biggest relief was finally being able to pay my rent on time and cover utilities without having to choose between keeping the lights on or buying groceries. I also love that I can use the cash aid for things like my kids' school clothes, gas for the car, and household supplies that I was previously trying to squeeze out of my grocery budget. One tip - during your interview, don't be afraid to ask your caseworker to explain everything clearly. Mine was really patient and walked me through exactly how they calculated my new amounts. Also, keep your confirmation numbers from BenefitsCal and take photos of any paperwork you submit - it saved me when they temporarily couldn't find part of my application. You're making a smart choice applying for both programs - the flexibility and extra support really does make a big difference!

I'm currently in the exact same situation and this whole thread has been incredibly reassuring! I was so worried about applying for CalWORKs because I thought it might mess up my existing CalFresh benefits, but seeing everyone's real experiences and actual numbers makes it clear that even though food stamps will go down, you end up way better off overall. The part about having cash flexibility for rent, utilities, and other necessities that food stamps can't cover is exactly what I need right now. I've been using my grocery money for things like laundry detergent and phone bills, which makes meal planning so much harder. Having actual cash for those expenses would free up my food stamps to go entirely toward actual food. Thanks to everyone for sharing their real-world experiences - this kind of honest advice from people who've actually been through the process is so much more helpful than trying to decode confusing government websites! I'm definitely going to apply for both programs now and ask my caseworker to explain the calculations during the interview.

This thread is such an amazing example of community support! I've been following along as someone who might need to apply for CalWORKs soon, and the wealth of knowledge shared here is incredible. @Skylar Neal - Wishing you all the best for your interview today! You've prepared so thoroughly thanks to everyone's advice. The combination of practical tips, professional insights from workers like @Oliver Schulz and @Ravi Gupta, and real experiences from community members has given you such a solid foundation. What really strikes me is how this conversation evolved from a single question about eligibility into this comprehensive guide covering everything - income calculations, work requirements, emergency programs, interview tips, even resources like Claimyr and Family Resource Centers. That's the power of people coming together to help each other navigate these complex systems. To all the families who shared their stories and everyone who contributed advice - you've created something that will help people for a long time to come. Sometimes the hardest part of accessing benefits is just knowing where to start and what to expect. This thread removes so much of that intimidation and uncertainty. For anyone else reading this who's hesitant about applying - you're not alone in this journey. This community proves there are people who understand what you're going through and genuinely want to help you succeed. Don't let the complexity of the system prevent you from getting support your family needs! 💙

This entire thread has been absolutely life-changing for me to read! I'm a single parent of three kids (ages 2, 5, and 8) and I've been avoiding applying for CalWORKs for months because the whole system seemed so intimidating and confusing. Seeing @Skylar Neal's journey from confusion to confidence has given me the courage I needed to finally take action. The combination of real experiences from families like @Kelsey Chin and @Zara Rashid, plus professional insights from @Oliver Schulz and @Ravi Gupta, has made this feel so much more manageable. I'm especially grateful for all the insider tips - the Claimyr service to actually reach someone, understanding work expense deductions, knowing about Emergency Aid and LIHEAP, even the diaper allowance for my 2-year-old. These are exactly the kinds of details that make the difference between successfully accessing help and getting lost in bureaucracy. @Skylar Neal - I really hope your interview went well today! Your willingness to share your experience and come back with updates shows what an amazing community member you are. Please let us know how it turned out when you can. Starting my application tonight. This community has shown me that asking for help when your family needs it isn't something to be ashamed of - it's being a responsible parent. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space! 💙

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?

Thank you so much for posting this! I'm a new community member and currently going through my first CalWORKs application process. My application has been pending for about 2 weeks now and I was starting to panic thinking I did something wrong. After reading your experience and all these comments, I realize this is a widespread system issue, not something I messed up. I'm going to follow the advice here and mail physical copies of all my documents tomorrow, even though BenefitsCal shows everything as "received." It's really disappointing that families in need have to navigate around a broken system, but I'm so grateful this community exists to share real solutions. I'll definitely be taking screenshots of everything and keeping detailed records like everyone suggests. Fingers crossed my application moves forward soon!

I'm so glad this thread has been helpful for you @Zainab Mahmoud! As someone who's also navigating the California benefits system, I wanted to add one more resource that might be useful during your transition. The National Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment has a state-by-state comparison tool that shows different benefit amounts and requirements across states. It might help you prepare mentally for the changes you'll see moving from California to Nevada. You can find it by searching "NCBOE state comparison" online. Also, since you mentioned your daughter has upcoming appointments, consider asking her current doctors if they can provide referrals to specialists in the Las Vegas area. Having those referrals ready can help ensure continuity of care once you get Nevada Medicaid approved. The strength and love you're showing by uprooting your life to care for your mom is truly inspiring. This community's response to your situation has been beautiful to witness - so much practical wisdom and genuine support. You're going into this move much better prepared thanks to everyone's input. Sending you and your family positive thoughts for a smooth transition and your mom's recovery! 💙

This thread has been absolutely incredible to read through! @Zainab Mahmoud, I'm so sorry about your mom's stroke and the stress you're facing with this sudden move. The outpouring of detailed, practical advice from this community has been amazing to witness. I wanted to add one more small tip that helped me when I had to navigate a complex benefits situation - consider keeping a simple log/journal of all your calls, applications, and communications during this transition. Write down dates, times, who you spoke with, and what was discussed. This documentation can be really helpful if any issues come up later or if you need to reference previous conversations. Also, since you're moving to Las Vegas and several people mentioned local resources, the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District has computers and free wifi if you need to access online applications or print documents once you arrive. They also have staff who can sometimes help with basic computer tasks if you're not comfortable with the online systems. The comprehensive guidance you've received here - from reporting requirements to specific Nevada programs to local Las Vegas resources - is truly remarkable. You have such a solid roadmap now for this transition. Your dedication to caring for your mom while managing all these logistics shows incredible strength. Wishing you and your family a smooth move and hoping your mom's recovery goes well! This community is truly special. 💙

As someone new to this community, I wanted to share my experience since I'm currently going through this exact situation. I'm a single mom with a 6-year-old, and I've been getting about $350 monthly from her dad plus he helps with school supplies and occasional grocery runs. Reading through all these detailed experiences has been incredibly helpful - especially seeing the actual numbers breakdown that several people shared. What really opened my eyes was realizing that even with the adult portion sanction, the combined benefits (children's cash aid, Medi-Cal, CalFresh, childcare assistance) often add up to $700-900+ monthly versus the informal support most of us receive. I've been putting off applying because I was terrified of messing up our co-parenting relationship, but this thread has helped me understand that I'm potentially sacrificing my daughter's access to healthcare and food security to avoid a conversation that might not even be as difficult as I'm imagining. Several people mentioned their exes being more understanding than expected. What really resonates with me is the point about focusing on what our kids need rather than our own anxiety about change. My daughter deserves healthcare coverage, and I need reliable childcare help to maintain steady work. The informal arrangement, while well-meaning, doesn't provide that security. For anyone else reading this who's in a similar situation - document any informal support you're receiving now, be honest with your worker about your circumstances, and remember that temporary uncertainty is worth it for your child's long-term stability. I'm submitting my application next week. Thank you all for sharing your stories so openly!

As someone new to this community, I just wanted to say how incredibly valuable this entire discussion has been! I'm facing almost the exact same situation - single mom with a 3-year-old, getting about $325 monthly from my son's father informally plus he helps with daycare costs sometimes. What's really struck me reading through everyone's experiences is how the fear of disrupting the current arrangement can actually keep us from providing better stability for our children. The detailed numbers that multiple people shared showing $700-900+ in combined benefits (even with adult portion sanction) versus informal support really puts things in perspective. I've been hesitant because I was worried about creating conflict, but seeing how many people said their exes were more understanding than expected - and that formal orders sometimes actually improved communication - has given me courage. The healthcare coverage alone would be huge for us since we've been avoiding medical care due to cost. For other parents in similar situations: this thread shows that documenting informal support, being honest with workers, and understanding that temporary uncertainty is worth long-term stability are key. Sometimes being a good parent means making difficult decisions that prioritize our children's needs over our own comfort with the status quo. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space and sharing your real experiences. I'm definitely moving forward with my CalWORKs application this week!