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?

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!

Update! I was able to report going over IRT online through BenefitsCal (didn't know I could do that!). My worker called me back this morning and was actually really helpful. She said my benefits might be reduced for July/August but at recertification they'll recalculate based on his expected future income. She told me to bring 3 months of paystubs and a note from his employer about the seasonal nature if possible. Thanks everyone for your help! I'm still nervous about the recertification but at least I know what to expect now.

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.

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!

I just saw your reply about CalWORKs eligibility. Even with your partner working, you might still qualify for some cash assistance through CalWORKs - especially if you're unemployed with two young children. The income limits are higher than many people realize. For San Bernardino County, a family of 4 can have income up to about $3,800/month (after certain deductions) and still potentially qualify for some level of cash assistance in 2025. What's nice is that once you're approved for CalWORKs (even a small amount), you typically get a higher CalFresh allotment automatically. Also, CalWORKs provides access to other benefits like: - Childcare assistance while you look for work or attend school/training - Medi-Cal coverage if you don't already have it - Job training and employment services - Diaper stipend for children under age 3 Definitely worth applying! Just be aware that unlike CalFresh, CalWORKs does have work requirements for adults (WTW - Welfare to Work), though you might qualify for an exemption with a 3-month-old.

I'm in a similar situation in LA County with a family of 3 and got around $120/month, so your $89 for a family of 4 does seem unusually low. A few things that helped me increase my benefits: 1. Make sure they're using your NET income, not gross - some workers accidentally use the wrong number 2. Report ALL your housing costs including utilities separately if you pay them 3. The childcare deduction you mentioned ($320) should definitely increase your benefits significantly 4. If you're breastfeeding, there might be additional deductions available One thing that caught my attention - you said your partner brings home $1500 twice a month "before taxes." Are you reporting $3000 as your gross income or net? Because if that $3000 is actually gross income, your net (after taxes and deductions) might be closer to $2400-2500, which would qualify you for more benefits. Also, since you have a newborn, you're in what they call the "immediate need" category, so they should be prioritizing your case if you need to make changes. Don't hesitate to push for a supervisor if the first worker isn't helpful!