wait i thought if someone in the house gets ssi nobody can get snap?? when did that change?

Just want to add - when you apply, make sure you bring documentation of your boyfriend's SSI award letter. Even though he's excluded from your CalWORKs case, they'll still need to verify his SSI status to process your application correctly. Also, if you're having trouble getting through to your county office by phone, try going in person early in the morning or checking if they have online appointment scheduling. Some counties let you upload documents online too which can speed things up. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me from application to first payment, so hang in there!

This thread has been super helpful! I'm new to CalWORKs and just got approved last month with my 18-month-old daughter. I had no idea there was even a diaper benefit until I saw my first payment was higher than what I expected. My worker never mentioned it during the application process. Reading all these responses, I now understand it's automatically included in the total Cash Aid amount. I'm going to log into BenefitsCal like someone suggested to see the breakdown. It's crazy how they don't explain these things better - feels like you have to figure everything out on your own or rely on communities like this one. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

I've been getting CalWORKs for about a year now with my 2-year-old son, and I can confirm what everyone else is saying - the diaper benefit is included with your regular Cash Aid payment, not separate. What really helped me figure this out was calling the EBT customer service line (not the county office) and asking them to read me my last few transaction histories over the phone. They can tell you the exact date and amount of each deposit, so you can see the pattern. My case number ends in 5, so I get my payment on the 2nd of every month, and it's always the same combined amount. One thing I learned the hard way - if you're ever late reporting changes or miss a recertification deadline, they sometimes split up the payments while they're processing everything, which can make it seem like the diaper money is coming separately. But once everything is caught up, it goes back to being one combined payment. Hope this helps!

this happend to me back in january, total nightmare!!! make sure u check ur mail EVERY day after u report it cuz they sent me a form I had to send back in 10 days but i didnt see it till too late and had to start the whole process over again!!!!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! This is absolutely terrifying and I can't imagine how stressed you must be. I went through something similar about 6 months ago - not as much money stolen but still devastating. A few things that helped me: 1. When you go to your appointment tomorrow, bring a written statement explaining your immediate needs (rent due date, kids' food needs, etc.) - sometimes having it in writing helps them process it faster 2. If you have any text messages or emails from your landlord about rent, bring those too 3. Ask about getting a rushed replacement card - mine took 3 days instead of the usual 7-10 when I emphasized it was theft-related Also, I know this sounds crazy but start keeping a small notebook to write down every person you talk to, their name, the date/time, and what they told you. It helped me so much when I had to follow up because I could reference exactly who said what. You're doing all the right things and I really hope they help you tomorrow. Keep us updated - we're all rooting for you! 💙

Just wanted to update everyone - I finally got through to someone at the county office (took forever) and requested immediate need like you all suggested. They're processing it and said I should get emergency funds by Friday! They also helped me complete the homeless assistance application since I'm behind on rent. Thank you all SO MUCH for the advice. I'm still nervous about getting my regular benefits restored but at least this buys me some time with my landlord.

So glad you were able to get through and get help! This whole thread is super helpful - I'm saving it in case I ever miss my SAR7 deadline (which hopefully never happens but you never know). It's crazy how they don't tell you about these emergency options unless you specifically ask for them. Thanks for updating us on what happened, and I hope your regular benefits get restored soon without any issues!

Just following up - were you able to get this sorted out? Did you reupload the documents or get through to your worker?

That's such great news! I'm so glad you got it resolved and can breathe easy now. It's always nerve-wracking when you think you might have messed something up with your benefits. Thanks for updating us - it's really helpful to know how these situations actually turn out. Stories like yours give the rest of us hope that the workers are more understanding than we sometimes expect them to be.