I work with CalWORKs recipients, and this is a situation I see frequently. Here's what you need to do: 1. Contact your worker immediately and request form CW 2186A (Request for CalWORKs Exemption) 2. Schedule an appointment with your son's doctor to complete the form, explaining that he needs to document full-time care requirements 3. Submit this documentation BEFORE your WTW orientation if possible 4. If timing doesn't work out, attend the orientation but inform them you've applied for a caregiver exemption 5. Request your case be put on hold until the exemption determination is made Also, keep in mind that caring for a disabled family member can be challenging, so ask about supportive services like IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) if you haven't already applied. This program might provide payment for some of the care you provide to your adult son.

To answer your follow-up question - yes, IHSS can work alongside CalWORKs, but there are some important things to know. IHSS payments received for caring for your disabled adult son would count as income and could reduce your Cash Aid amount. However, the total between both programs is typically more than CalWORKs alone. Additionally, IHSS income may qualify you for an earned income exemption that lets you keep more of your benefits. It's worth looking into because it provides more stable long-term support, especially since CalWORKs has the 48-month lifetime limit.

Just following up - were you able to get this resolved? One additional thought: could your worker have been referring to the CalWORKs Housing Support Program? Some of those housing assistance components have time limits that might be around 9 months, but that would be separate from your regular Cash Aid.Also, if you're being told incorrect information, remember you can file for a fair hearing. You have 90 days from any negative action to request this, and it's your right to have your case reviewed by an Administrative Law Judge who is separate from the county.

I finally got through yesterday! Turns out my worker WAS confused. She mixed up my case with someone else who was in some special refugee program that does have different time limits. She apologized and confirmed I'm still eligible and don't need to take any 3-month break. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for your help and support!

kings county is the WORST with handling these cases! my sister had her benefits stolen last year and they made her jump through so many hoops. keep calling every single day and document EVERYTHING. write down who you talk to, date and time. if they deny your claim (they probably will the first time), immediately file for a state hearing. thats the only thing that worked for my sister. good luck!!!!

Small update on EBT theft procedures - as of January 2025, California implemented some new protocols for Cash Aid theft claims. Kings County should be following these: 1. All counties now have dedicated EBT theft investigators 2. They must provide a written acknowledgment of your theft report within 5 business days 3. They must make a determination within 30 days (though emergency replacements can happen much faster) 4. They must provide information about free legal aid if your claim is denied If you're having trouble reaching Kings County by phone, you can also email them at KingsCATheft@kingscounty.gov (this is their dedicated theft report email) or visit the office in person. Sometimes in-person visits get faster results for urgent situations like benefit theft.

This hapens everytiem they do system updates!!! The county NEVER warns anyone and ppl just left without money. i had to borrow money from my sister last time this happened to pay my rent and then when benefits finally came thru i had to pay her back which left me short for the next month! its like the system is designed to keep us broke and desperate

I'm glad you were able to get through and that it was just a system issue! For future reference, if you ever face a situation where your benefits are delayed and it causes you to be late on rent, you can request a letter from your eligibility worker explaining the delay. Many landlords will accept this as documentation and waive late fees. Also, if you ever face a complete discontinuance without proper notice, you have the right to request a state hearing and can get aid paid pending the hearing result in many cases.

To answer your question about the 48-month time limit: No, months when you have an exemption (like for having a child under 12 months) DO NOT count toward your 48-month lifetime limit. So right now, your CalWORKs clock is essentially paused until your baby turns 1. However, this is something you should monitor carefully. Sometimes counties make mistakes in tracking exempt months. You can request a "Time on Aid" report at any time to see exactly how many months have been counted against your 48-month limit.

Let me tell you about another SCAM they pull - they'll send you notices about mandatory appointments with like 2 days notice when they KNOW you won't get the letter in time, then cut you off for "failure to comply" when you miss it! ALWAYS check your BenefitsCal account every few days even if you're not expecting anything. I got a notice in the mail AFTER the appointment date had already passed! Then had to spend 3 weeks getting my benefits turned back on. They prey on new moms especially because they know we're exhausted and overwhelmed.