This thread is amazing - thank you all for sharing such detailed, real-world experiences! As someone who's been on CalWORKs for about 6 months now, I was also really nervous about how working would affect my benefits. Reading everyone's actual examples with dollar amounts and time frames makes it so much clearer than the confusing paperwork they give you. I'm especially grateful for the tips about asking your caseworker to run the numbers beforehand and keeping organized pay stubs from day one. Those are the kind of practical details that can save so much stress later on. One thing I'm curious about - for those who've been working part-time while on CalWORKs, have you found that having that work history helped when you eventually applied for full-time positions? I'm thinking long-term about building toward complete self-sufficiency, and I'm wondering if employers view part-time work experience while receiving benefits positively or if it even matters to them. Either way, you've all convinced me that working part-time is definitely the right move. Time to update my resume and start applying! Thank you for creating such a supportive and informative discussion.

This whole conversation has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm currently on CalWORKs and have been putting off looking for work because I was terrified they'd just take away dollar-for-dollar whatever I earned. Learning about the $500 disregard and the 50% rule completely changes the math for me. What really sealed the deal was seeing all the real examples people shared - like earning $800 and only having $150 count against benefits, or making an extra $400/month total. Those concrete numbers make it so much clearer than the vague policy language. I'm also really impressed by how supportive everyone is being and sharing practical tips like organizing pay stubs from day one, asking for consistent schedules, and getting your caseworker to calculate the numbers upfront. This is exactly the kind of real-world advice you can't get from the official websites. Count me in as another person who's going to start job hunting! My goal is also to save for a car, and now I feel confident that working part-time will actually help me get there faster rather than just spinning my wheels. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences so openly - it's made a huge difference in my confidence about taking this next step.

Definitely report your pregnancy NOW! I wish I had known about the pregnancy supplement when I was expecting my daughter. I only found out about it after she was born and missed out on 3 months of extra money. When you call to report your pregnancy, make sure to ask specifically about the "pregnancy special needs" payment - sometimes they don't automatically tell you about it. You'll need a doctor's verification form but it's worth the extra $47/month. After your baby arrives, don't stress too much about getting the birth certificate right away. The hospital discharge papers work fine initially to add the baby to your case. I brought mine to the office the day after we got home from the hospital and they processed it same day. Also, once you report the birth, your next payment date might be different since they have to recalculate everything. Mine came a few days later than usual but it was the full increased amount. Good luck with everything and congrats on your upcoming arrival! 🍼

Hey Gabriel! I just went through this exact situation 6 months ago. Definitely report your pregnancy NOW - don't wait! You're missing out on the pregnancy special needs payment ($47/month) for every month you don't report it. I reported mine at 6 months and still got 3 months of back payments. Here's what worked for me: Called my caseworker, told them I was pregnant, and they sent me a form for my doctor to fill out. Once I returned that, they added the pregnancy supplement to my next payment. After my baby was born, I went to the office with the hospital discharge papers within a week. They had me fill out the SAR 3 form right there and added my son to my case same day. My cash aid went from $607 to $817 starting the next month. Pro tip: If you can't reach your caseworker easily, try calling first thing in the morning (8 AM) or right after lunch (1 PM). Those seem to be the best times to actually get through. And don't stress about the birth certificate - hospital papers work fine to get things started! You've got this mama! 💕

I'm so glad I found this thread! I was in a very similar situation when I applied for CalWORKs about 3 months ago - working part-time making around $950/month and had about $2,100 in savings that I was absolutely terrified would disqualify me. Everyone here is absolutely right - yes, they do check your actual bank account balances and you'll need to provide 3 months of statements for ALL accounts during your eligibility interview. But your $1,800 savings is completely fine! The $10,000 resource limit gives you plenty of room, and what really surprised me was how positive my eligibility worker was about seeing emergency savings. She actually told me it was "refreshing" to see someone who had planned ahead for unexpected expenses like car repairs. She said too many families come in with absolutely nothing saved and then struggle when their car breaks down or they have other emergencies. My biggest piece of advice: organize all your paperwork before your interview (bank statements, pay stubs, ID, Social Security cards, rent receipts, utility bills) and be completely transparent about everything. Don't try to hide any accounts - honesty is definitely the best policy here. The whole process took about 5 weeks from application to first payment for me. CalWORKs is designed exactly for working people like you who are doing everything right but still can't quite make ends meet. Your situation sounds like a textbook case of what the program is meant to help with. You've got this - don't let anxiety stop you from getting support you clearly deserve!

I just wanted to add my voice to everyone else who's shared their recent experiences here! I applied for CalWORKs about 2 months ago and was in a very similar situation - part-time work earning around $920/month and about $1,500 in savings that I was convinced would disqualify me. Yes, they absolutely do verify bank account balances. I had to bring 3 months of statements for all my accounts to my eligibility interview. But your $1,800 savings is totally fine! With the $10,000 resource limit, you're nowhere near the threshold that would cause any issues. What really stood out to me was how my eligibility worker reacted to my emergency savings. Instead of being concerned about it, she actually said it was "smart planning" and that she wished more applicants came in with some financial cushion for unexpected expenses like the car repairs you mentioned. She said having that buffer shows you're thinking ahead and being responsible with money. The key is just being completely honest on your application and bringing organized paperwork to your interview. Your part-time income definitely qualifies you for assistance - CalWORKs exists specifically to help working families who are trying their best but still struggling to cover basic needs. Don't let anxiety about the bank verification stop you from applying for help you clearly deserve. The program is designed for people in exactly your situation. Good luck with your application next week - you've got this!

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now and this thread has been SO helpful! I got approved for CalWORKs last Thursday and my worker said benefits would be available in 3 days, but when I check my EBT balance it only shows CalFresh too. I've been panicking because I need the money for rent next week, but reading everyone's experiences here has calmed me down so much. It's such a relief to know that the CalWORKs and CalFresh systems process separately and that 5 business days is totally normal for first-time payments. I had no idea that the EBT phone system wouldn't show cash aid until it actually posts to the account. I've been calling the automated line obsessively but I'm going to try the ebtEDGE website and maybe call to speak with a representative like others suggested. Thank you to everyone who shared their timelines and explained the process - it's amazing how much stress this community can help relieve when you're navigating benefits for the first time and don't know what's normal vs what's a problem!

I'm going through this exact same thing right now! Got approved for CalWORKs on Friday and was told it would be available in 3 days, but it's now Wednesday and my EBT card is still only showing CalFresh benefits. I was starting to really worry that something went wrong with my application, but reading through all these responses has been such a huge relief! It makes so much sense that CalWORKs and CalFresh run on different processing systems - I had no idea about that. And knowing that first-time payments typically take the full 5 business days (not 3) helps me stop checking my balance every few hours. I've been using the automated EBT hotline but I'm definitely going to try logging into ebtEDGE online and maybe calling to speak with an actual representative like some people suggested. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and timelines here. It's incredible how much stress this community can help relieve when you're new to the system and don't know what's normal versus what's actually a problem. I'm going to try to be patient for another day or two before contacting my worker!

I'm in a similar situation - 69 years old on SSI and only getting $112 in CalFresh. What really helped me was keeping a detailed log of ALL my medical expenses for a month, including things I didn't think would count. I was surprised that my heating pad (doctor recommended for arthritis), special diabetic socks, and even the gas money for my monthly blood work appointments all qualified as medical deductions. The key is being very thorough and persistent. I ended up writing everything down before calling so I wouldn't forget anything during the conversation. Also, if they deny any of your medical expenses, ask them to explain in writing WHY it doesn't qualify - sometimes they're wrong about what counts and will correct it when pressed for details. One tip: if you take any over-the-counter medications regularly (like daily vitamins, pain relievers, etc.), ask your doctor to write a simple note saying they recommend them. That can turn non-deductible expenses into deductible medical expenses.

I'm also a senior dealing with this frustrating CalFresh system! At 67 with similar income sources, I totally understand your confusion. One thing that really helped me was learning that as seniors, we can get what's called an "expedited recalculation" if we report new medical expenses. Don't just call - also try submitting a written "Report of Change" form (you can usually find it online for your county or pick one up at the office). Sometimes written requests get processed faster than phone calls that never get answered. Also, make sure they're using the correct "Standard Medical Deduction" for seniors. If your monthly medical expenses are over $35 but under about $190, they should automatically give you a standard deduction without requiring receipts for every little thing. Many caseworkers forget to apply this correctly. And here's something most people don't know - if you're spending your own money on special dietary foods for health conditions (like diabetic foods, low-sodium items, etc.), those can sometimes count as medical expenses too if your doctor recommends that diet. Worth asking about!