why are u guys acting like getting social securty is a bad thing?? its WAY better than calworks!! my kids get it and its more money plus u dont have to do all the welfare to work stuff and no time limits!! be happy ur getting it srsly

my sister gets ss for her kids and calworks for herself it can work that way too but idk how they figured it i think it depends how they calcuate who is in the assistance unit or something

I wanted to add some accurate information here. Plasma donation payments are indeed considered earned income for CalWORKs and must be reported. However, as someone else mentioned, CalWORKs has a work incentive called the "earned income disregard." Here's how it works: - The first $225 of earned income doesn't count at all - After that, 50% of your remaining earned income is disregarded So if you earned $400 from plasma donations in a month, only $87.50 would count against your grant ($400 - $225 = $175, then 50% of $175 = $87.50). Also, remember that going over your IRT doesn't automatically mean losing benefits. It means you must report it within 10 days (instead of waiting for your next SAR7), and then your benefits may be recalculated. Sometimes it's worth earning more even if your cash aid goes down some. Finally, definitely look into the county's Welfare to Work supportive services - they sometimes can help with car repairs if the vehicle is needed for work!

When I was in WTW they actually helped me fix my car once! I totally forgot about that until just now reading these comments. It was under something called "supportive services" and they paid like $600 for repairs because I needed my car for my job training program. Ask your worker about that!!

My cousins frend tried to get the diaper thing and they asked for PROOF the kids need diapers can u beleve that??? like how do u even prove that??? But my worker never asked me for anything just added it after I called.

wait i didnt even know this was a thing!!! my daughter is 2 and ive been on calworks for a year… does anyone know if theres a form on benefitscal for this or do u have to call?

Since you're working part-time at Walmart, make sure you also apply for CalWORKs childcare assistance. It's one of the most valuable benefits - they'll pay for childcare while you're working and even during approved study time if you decide to go back to school. You can choose a licensed provider or even have a trusted family member or friend get paid to watch your kids (they just have to get approved as a license-exempt provider). For a family of 3 (you and 2 kids), the maximum CalWORKs grant is currently $1,060 per month, but that would be reduced based on your Walmart income after the income disregards. Even with the reduction, though, the combined benefits from CalFresh and CalWORKs plus the childcare assistance can make a huge difference.

To answer your original question - no, they won't just "switch" you because they're separate programs with different funding and requirements. But the good news is that when you apply for CalWORKs, they'll automatically check if you're still eligible for CalFresh too and continue those benefits. One more thing: When you get Cash Aid, you'll need to complete a SAR7 report every 6 months and an annual recertification. Make sure you NEVER miss these deadlines or your benefits will stop. The SAR7 is due by the 5th of your reporting month.

One more thing - don't forget that your mom needs to track and report any meal expenses separately on the childcare forms. Stage One offers food reimbursement for childcare providers through a program similar to CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program). It's not much, but it can add a little extra. She just needs to mark which meals she provides on the attendance forms. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks all have different reimbursement rates.

does ur mom have to do fingerprints? my sister had to and it took FOREVER to process. that was back in 2023 tho maybe its different now

wait also are u meeting ur WTW hours?? cuz if ur only working 15 hrs a week u might need to do more activities to meet the 30 hrs Welfare to Work requirement or whatever it is

One more important thing - don't wait until your SAR 7 is due if your income has changed significantly. You're supposed to report mid-period if you go over your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT). Your IRT amount should be listed on your last Notice of Action. If your monthly income goes above that amount, you need to report it within 10 days. If you don't and they find out, they could claim an overpayment and make you pay back benefits.

Also, when you talk to your CalWORKs worker about adding your baby to your case, ask about the CalWORKs Special Needs Pregnancy/Newborn Supplement. Since your baby was born before January 1st, you should be eligible for additional funds. It's not a lot (around $100), but every bit helps right now. And don't forget you're exempt from Welfare to Work requirements for the first 12 months after giving birth, so you don't need to worry about those participation hours right now.

btw make sure u check ur balance everyday!!! thats what i do now. if they steal it u want to catch it right away. and never keep all ur money on the card, i always take mine out as soon as it hits the account

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!

why dont u just borrow the rent money from someone and pay them back when ur benefits come thru? thats what i always do when theres a problem with my cash aid

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to get through to anyone at the office? If you're still having trouble, remember you can also try contacting your county's general CalWORKs customer service line rather than just your specific worker. Sometimes the main line can help expedite urgent cases or at least put notes in the system about your submission.

the exact same thng happened to me!!! turns out it was bcuz i had worked for a different employer earlier in the year and then switched jobs. the first employer reported something wrong so EDD was trying to figure out my correct wages. had nothing to do with my calworks at all!!! BUT make sure ur reporting to calworks correctly still cuz thats a whole seperate thing. ur IRT should be on ur approval notice and if u go over that amount u gotta report it within 10 days not just on ur SAR7

One more thing I should clarify - when you report income to CalWORKs, you need to provide pay stubs as verification. Make sure you're keeping ALL your pay stubs because sometimes the county will ask for them even months later if there's a discrepancy. For your EDD situation, whatever letter you received should have a contact number specific to your case. If you're having trouble getting through on their main line, try looking for a direct extension or specific unit number on the letter they sent you. Sometimes those alternative numbers have much shorter wait times.