UPDATE: I finally got through to someone! There was a glitch in their system that affected a bunch of people who get the diaper allowance. The worker said they're fixing it and I should see the payment in 3-5 business days. She also said they're supposed to come with the regular Cash Aid payment on the 1st, but sometimes it processes separately. Thanks everyone for your help!

wait theres a diaper allowance with calworks?? ive been on cash aid for 4 months with my 1 yr old and nobody told me about this! how much is it and how do u apply?

So glad you figured it out! This is exactly why I always recommend calling right when they open at 8am - much shorter wait times. The school attendance verification thing is so confusing because they never explain why one program needs it and the other doesn't. At least now you know for next time. Hope your CalFresh gets reactivated quickly once you submit that form!

This exact same thing happened to me about 6 months ago! CalWORKs pending, CalFresh canceled during renewal. I panicked thinking I'd lost my food benefits permanently. Turned out they needed an updated utility bill that somehow only affected my CalFresh case. The whole thing was resolved within a week once I submitted the right document. Definitely call first thing in the morning - the wait times are so much better at 8am. And don't worry, they can usually backdate your benefits if it's their error or a missing verification issue. Keep us posted on how it goes!

have u tried contacting ur local legal aid office? they help with calworks issues for free. my friend got help from them when her worker was saying she was over the income limit when she wasnt

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's incredibly stressful when you're already struggling financially and the system that's supposed to help you is making things worse. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is contacting your state assemblymember or state senator's office. They have constituent services staff who specifically handle problems with state agencies like CalWORKs. I had a similar issue where my worker was being completely unreasonable, and after calling my assemblymember's office, someone from their team contacted the county director directly. My case was reassigned within a week and the new worker immediately accepted the same documents the previous worker had rejected. You can find your representatives at findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov - just enter your address. Their staff deal with CalWORKs issues all the time and they know exactly who to contact to get things moving. Also, while you're working on getting a new worker, you might want to ask about the CalWORKs Immediate Need payment that someone mentioned earlier. Even if your regular benefits are delayed, you may qualify for emergency assistance to help with your rent deadline. Hang in there - you have rights and there are people who will help you enforce them!

So glad you got through to your worker and that she was helpful! It sounds like you're in much better hands than some of us have experienced. The fact that she proactively explained how the recertification will work differently from the temporary reduction is really encouraging. Just wanted to add - when you get that letter from your husband's employer about the seasonal work, try to get them to be as specific as possible about the typical work patterns (like "busy season typically runs X months with overtime, followed by Y months of reduced hours"). The more detailed documentation you have about the cyclical nature of his income, the stronger your case will be during recertification. You've got this! Sounds like you're doing everything right by staying on top of the reporting requirements and gathering the right documentation.

Really glad to see this worked out for you! Your experience shows how important it is to report IRT changes promptly - waiting could have made things much worse. For anyone else reading this thread, Isabella's situation is a perfect example of why documenting fluctuating income is so crucial. One thing I'd add - if your husband's employer is hesitant about writing a letter, you could also ask them to just verify on company letterhead that his position involves seasonal overtime periods. Sometimes employers are more comfortable with simple verification rather than detailed explanations. Also keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit - I always make duplicates of all documentation before my appointments just in case something gets lost in their system. Hope your recertification goes smoothly! You're clearly on the right track with all the preparation you're doing.

One more thing that might help you: after you submit your CalFresh application, you'll have an interview with an eligibility worker. During this interview, make sure to clearly explain your current situation - that you recently separated, your child's father doesn't live with you, and you're applying for CalFresh only. This will help ensure your case is processed correctly. For verification, they'll likely ask for something showing your current address (lease, utility bill) and possibly something documenting the separation if it's available. If you don't have formal separation documents, don't worry - a statement explaining your situation is usually sufficient for CalFresh purposes. The important thing is to be clear and consistent about your household composition.

Just wanted to add my experience - I was in almost the exact same situation 6 months ago. Separated from my daughter's dad and was worried about applying for CalFresh because I didn't want to mess up our co-parenting situation. Everyone here is right - CalFresh won't trigger child support enforcement at all. I've been getting benefits for 5 months now and my ex has never been contacted by anyone. The key things that helped me: 1) Only checked the CalFresh box on BenefitsCal, 2) Listed just me and my daughter as household members, 3) In the "other income" section I mentioned that her dad sometimes helps with expenses but made it clear he doesn't live with us. The eligibility worker was totally understanding during my phone interview and didn't ask any invasive questions about our relationship. My benefits were approved within 2 weeks and it's been a huge help with groceries. Don't let fear of child support issues stop you from getting the food assistance you and your son need!