Congratulations on your new baby! 🎉 I'm a newer CalWORKs recipient and this thread has been so helpful to read through. I haven't been in this situation yet, but I'm bookmarking this for future reference. It sounds like the prorated amount is definitely something you should receive, but the timing and processing varies a lot between counties and even between workers. From reading everyone's experiences, it seems like the key things are: 1) You reported right away (which you did!), 2) Make sure they have all the documentation they need, and 3) Be prepared to follow up if it doesn't come automatically. The fact that your worker specifically mentioned it is a good sign that they're aware of the policy. I hope your prorated amount comes through smoothly! And thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world information that's hard to find anywhere else. It's so frustrating that the system is so inconsistent, but at least we have this community to help each other navigate it.

Congratulations on your new baby! 🎉 I'm also a CalWORKs recipient and went through this same situation about 8 months ago. I did receive the prorated amount, but like others have mentioned, it came about 5 weeks later and was just added to my regular payment with no explanation. One thing I learned that might help you - when I brought in my baby's birth certificate, I specifically asked my worker to put a note in my case file about when the prorated amount should be processed. She told me it would be "in the next payment cycle" but that was pretty vague. Having that conversation documented helped when I had to call later to ask about it. Also, just a heads up - when the prorated amount does come through, make sure to save some of it if you can because your ongoing monthly amount might be slightly different than what you're expecting due to how they calculate everything. The whole system is confusing but you definitely deserve that prorated amount since you reported right away!

Just want to add something important that I learned the hard way - if you're approved for CalWORKs, make sure you understand the difference between your "cash aid" and your "food stamps" on the same EBT card. I accidentally used my food stamp balance thinking it was cash and got so confused when I couldn't withdraw money at the ATM! The food portion (CalFresh) can ONLY be used for eligible food items, while the cash portion (CalWORKs) works like a debit card for anything. It shows as two separate balances when you check your card. Also, some stores will ask if you want to use "EBT Cash" or "EBT Food" when you swipe - now I know what that means! Sounds obvious but it wasn't to me at first.

As someone who just went through this process a few months ago, I want to emphasize something really important that hasn't been mentioned yet - when you get approved for CalWORKs, they'll assign you to something called a "Welfare-to-Work" (WTW) program. Since you're a student, your school attendance can usually count toward your WTW hours, BUT you need to make sure your eligibility worker understands this from the beginning. I made the mistake of not clarifying this upfront and almost got sanctioned because my worker didn't realize my college classes counted as my work activity. Also, keep detailed records of everything - every form you submit, every conversation you have with your worker, and especially your school attendance. The system can be really unforgiving if there are any gaps in documentation. One more tip: if you ever have issues with your case, don't hesitate to ask to speak with a supervisor. Sometimes the frontline workers aren't fully familiar with student cases, but supervisors usually have more experience with these situations. You've got this!

Just wanted to jump in and add something that really helped me when I went through a similar separation last year - ask your eligibility worker about getting a "case summary letter" before the split happens. This document shows exactly what benefits each person and child was receiving, which becomes super important if there are any disputes or confusion later about who was supposed to get what. Also, since you mentioned your older child has serious medical issues, you might want to contact the Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan (if he's enrolled in one) directly to let them know about the upcoming case changes. Sometimes the managed care plans can put a "protection flag" on accounts for members with ongoing medical needs to prevent any accidental terminations during transitions. One thing I learned the hard way - if your ex is staying temporarily with his brother, make sure he gets some kind of written statement from the brother BEFORE he applies for benefits. Counties are really picky about temporary housing situations and having that documentation ready upfront can prevent delays in processing his application. You're doing all the right things by asking questions and preparing ahead of time. The separation process is hard enough without worrying about losing benefits, but with all the great advice in this thread you should be in good shape. Hang in there!

I'm a newcomer to this community but wanted to share something that might help since I work as a family advocate at a nonprofit. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is documenting the separation with a formal written agreement between you and your ex, even if you're keeping things amicable. This doesn't have to be a legal document, but having something in writing that shows: - When the separation occurred - Which children are living with whom - That this is a permanent change in living arrangements This can be really helpful for the eligibility workers to understand your situation quickly and can prevent them from asking for additional verification later. I've seen cases where informal separations weren't taken seriously by county workers, causing delays. Also, since your older child has serious medical issues, you might qualify for "presumptive eligibility" for Medi-Cal, which provides temporary coverage while your case is being processed. Ask specifically about this - it's designed for situations exactly like yours where a child has ongoing medical needs and any gap in coverage could be harmful. Your preparation and advocacy for your children is really admirable. The system can be frustrating, but families who come prepared like you're doing tend to have much smoother transitions. Wishing you the best during this difficult time!

This is such a common issue! I just went through my redetermination a few weeks ago and had the exact same confusion. My worker initially made it sound like I needed months of statements, but when I pressed for specifics, she clarified that she only needed the most recent month. I think sometimes they ask vaguely to see what you have access to, but the actual requirement is just your current statement. The key is to ask directly "which specific months do you need me to submit?" and get a clear answer. Don't stress too much - they can't discontinue your benefits for not providing documents they haven't clearly requested!

I'm new to this community and going through my first CalWORKs redetermination next month, so this entire discussion has been incredibly helpful! I was getting really anxious about what documents I'd need to prepare, but reading everyone's experiences has put my mind at ease. It's good to know that the standard requirement is just the most recent month's bank statement, and that if they need additional months, they have to specify exactly which ones and why. I'll definitely use the advice about asking directly "which specific months do you need me to submit?" to get clear guidance from my worker. The release form option that lets the county verify directly with the bank also sounds like a great backup plan. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences - this community is such a valuable resource for navigating the system!

Hey Lauren! Welcome to the community and congratulations on your new job - that's such an amazing accomplishment! I'm also relatively new to navigating CalWORKs benefits, and this thread has been incredibly helpful for me to read through as well. Everyone here has provided such detailed, practical advice about the childcare payment process. I just wanted to add one thing I learned recently that might help - make sure you ask your worker about getting text or email notifications for when payments are processed. Some counties offer this and it can really help with peace of mind knowing when your mom's payment has gone through each month. Also, don't hesitate to reach out to this community if any questions come up once you get started - everyone here is so knowledgeable and willing to help troubleshoot issues. Best of luck with your job starting Monday! You're so well-prepared thanks to all the amazing advice here, and it sounds like your baby will be in wonderful hands with grandma. This community really shows how much easier these programs become when we support each other!

Hi Lauren! Welcome to our community and huge congratulations on both getting approved for CalWORKs and landing your new job - that's such an exciting milestone! I can see you've already gotten incredibly detailed and helpful advice from so many experienced members here. This thread is like a masterclass in setting up CalWORKs childcare payments! Just wanted to add one more tip that helped me when I was new to the system - create a simple checklist or spreadsheet to track all the forms, deadlines, and follow-up items everyone has mentioned. With everything from the CF 777 form to monthly attendance sheet deadlines to your mom's orientation training, it can be easy to lose track of what needs to be done when. Having it all written down in one place really helped me stay organized and make sure nothing fell through the cracks. You're being so smart to get all this figured out before starting work Monday, and with all the amazing guidance you've received here, I'm confident everything will work out smoothly. This community is truly special - the willingness of everyone to share their real experiences and practical tips makes navigating these programs so much less overwhelming. Best of luck with your new job and getting your mom set up as a provider!