I'm also new to this community and dealing with this exact same frustrating situation! My partner is a veteran receiving GI Bill benefits and we've gotten completely different answers from three different county workers about how the BAH affects our CalFresh and CalWORKs applications. This thread has been absolutely incredible - I had no idea there was a specific federal regulation (7 CFR 273.9(c)(10)) that clearly exempts GI Bill BAH from CalFresh income calculations! And learning about the educational expense deductions for CalWORKs is a game-changer since we spend hundreds each semester on books, lab fees, and supplies. The advice about requesting a Veterans Benefits Coordinator upfront instead of just accepting whatever worker they assign is brilliant. I've been too passive in my approach when I should have been advocating for someone who actually understands these policies from the start. I'm planning to call our county office tomorrow with printed copies of that federal regulation, our detailed VA award letter, Certificate of Eligibility, and receipts for all our educational expenses. It's so encouraging to see how many student veterans here have successfully navigated this system once they connected with knowledgeable workers. Thank you to everyone who shared such detailed, practical strategies. This community has provided more clarity in one thread than weeks of confusing phone calls with county offices. Will definitely update on how things go - fingers crossed!

I'm a newcomer to this community but currently going through the exact same situation! My spouse is a veteran receiving GI Bill benefits and we're both full-time students. The inconsistency between different county workers has been absolutely maddening - one told us the entire GI Bill counts for both programs, another said only certain portions count, and a third seemed completely unsure about the policies. Reading through this entire thread has been incredibly enlightening! I had no idea there was a specific federal regulation (7 CFR 273.9(c)(10)) that clearly exempts GI Bill BAH from CalFresh income calculations. And learning about the educational expense deductions available for CalWORKs could be huge for us since we easily spend $400+ each semester on textbooks, lab supplies, and technology for our programs. The strategy about calling ahead to specifically request a Veterans Benefits Coordinator instead of just accepting whatever worker they assign makes so much sense. I've been too passive in my approach when I should have been advocating from the start for someone who actually understands veteran benefit policies. I'm planning to call our county office tomorrow armed with printed copies of that federal regulation, our VA Certificate of Eligibility, detailed award letter breakdown, and organized receipts for all our educational expenses. It's incredibly encouraging to see so many student veterans who have successfully navigated this confusing system once they connected with knowledgeable workers. Thank you to everyone who shared such detailed experiences and practical resources. This community has provided more clarity and actionable advice than weeks of frustrating phone calls with county offices. Will definitely update this thread on how our situation progresses!

Hey Oliver! I'm currently in almost the exact same situation - lost my job at a fulfillment center last month and getting $395/week from EDD with two kids. I was terrified to apply for benefits thinking the unemployment would disqualify me, but I'm SO glad I did! I got approved for both CalFresh and CalWORKs even with the EDD income. The CalFresh gives me about $285/month for groceries, and the CalWORKs cash aid helps cover utilities and other bills that unemployment doesn't stretch to cover. It's not a ton of money, but it's enough to take the constant stress off so I can actually focus on finding a good job instead of panicking about feeding my kids every week. The application on BenefitsCal was way easier than I expected - took about 30 minutes once I had all my documents ready. Make sure you apply for expedited service since you have kids and limited income - my CalFresh got approved in 5 days instead of waiting a month! One thing I learned - start keeping a simple notebook or phone note tracking every EDD payment (date and amount) from day one. When you have to do those SAR7 reports later, having everything organized will save you so much stress. Your $385/week with kids should absolutely qualify you for help. Don't feel embarrassed about needing assistance - you're being a responsible parent by making sure your family is taken care of during a tough time. That's exactly what these programs are for!

Hey Oliver! I just wanted to jump in and say you're absolutely doing the right thing by reaching out for help. I went through this exact same situation about 9 months ago when I lost my job at a warehouse and was getting around $370/week from EDD. The great news is that yes, you can definitely get CalFresh (which is the same as food stamps/EBT - just California's name for it) while receiving unemployment benefits. Your EDD income does count, but with kids in your household, the income limits are much higher than you might think. I ended up getting approved for both CalFresh and CalWORKs even with my unemployment income. The CalFresh gave me about $295/month for groceries for me and my son, and the CalWORKs cash aid helped with utilities and other expenses that unemployment wasn't covering. It's not luxury living, but it gave me enough breathing room to actually focus on job hunting instead of constantly stressing about whether I could afford groceries that week. My biggest advice: apply for BOTH programs on BenefitsCal.com (it's one application), definitely check the "expedited service" box since you have kids and limited income, and start keeping track of your EDD payment dates and amounts RIGHT NOW. You'll need that info for reporting later and it'll save you headaches down the road. With your $385/week and kids, you should absolutely qualify for assistance. These programs exist for exactly this situation - helping families stay stable while getting back on their feet. You've got this!

Hi Yara! Welcome to the community! I just wanted to share my experience as someone who recently went through the CalWORKs application process with a similar family size. Reading through this thread has been amazing - everyone has given you such comprehensive advice! One thing I'd add that really helped me was creating a simple checklist of all the steps involved: gathering documents, submitting application, scheduling interview, following up on missing items, etc. It helped me feel more in control of the process and less overwhelmed. Also, I wanted to echo what others have said about being persistent but patient. My application took about 4 weeks total, but the financial relief for our family was absolutely worth the wait. The combination of CalWORKs cash aid and CalFresh really does make a significant difference when you're dealing with reduced income. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any other questions as you go through the process. This community has been such a lifeline for families like ours navigating these systems. We're all rooting for you and your family! Keep us posted on how your application goes.

Hi Yara! Welcome to our community! I'm also new here and have been following this incredible thread with so much interest. As someone who's been considering applying for CalWORKs for my own family, reading through all these detailed responses has been incredibly educational and encouraging. What strikes me most is how everyone has gone above and beyond to share not just basic information, but real insider tips and personal experiences that you just can't find anywhere else. From the practical advice about keeping copies of documents to the strategic tips about calling times and expedited processing - this has been like getting a masterclass in navigating the CalWORKs system. I'm particularly grateful for all the specific numbers people have shared. Knowing that a family of 5 with your income level could potentially receive around $682 in cash aid plus significant CalFresh benefits really helps put things in perspective for those of us trying to figure out if these programs could make a meaningful difference for our families. The supportive atmosphere here is exactly what families like ours need when we're going through tough times and trying to navigate complex systems for the first time. Thank you to everyone who has shared their knowledge and experiences - you're not just helping Yara, you're helping all of us newcomers who are reading along and learning. This community is truly amazing!

Update: I went to the county office today and applied for General Assistance. The worker was actually really helpful and explained everything. She said based on my situation I'll probably get around $340/month, and they might be able to process it within 7-10 days because of my emergency situation. I also asked about my CalFresh application and it turns out they were missing verification documents! They never contacted me about it. I provided everything they needed while I was there, and the worker said she put a note that I qualify for expedited processing. Hopefully I'll get food benefits in the next 3 days. Thanks everyone for your help! I would have never known about General Assistance without your advice.

This is such great news! I'm really happy you were able to get help today. It's frustrating that they never contacted you about the missing documents for CalFresh - this happens way too often and people end up waiting unnecessarily. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation, Alexis's experience shows how important it is to go to the office in person when possible. Phone systems are overwhelmed, but caseworkers can often help resolve multiple issues at once when you're there face-to-face. Also want to emphasize what Samantha mentioned about keeping track of reporting requirements once you start receiving GA. The job search activities they require aren't too burdensome - usually just documenting that you applied to a certain number of jobs per week or attended job training. But they do check, so keep good records. Hope your CalFresh comes through quickly with the expedited processing!

Also want to mention that when you get CalWORKs, your children automatically qualify for free school meals without having to complete a separate application. And you might qualify for reduced-cost internet and phone services through California LifeLine. These additional benefits add even more value beyond just comparing the Cash Aid amount to the CalFresh reduction.

Just wanted to add that you should also ask your worker about the CalWORKs housing assistance programs when you get approved. Some counties offer additional rental assistance or help with security deposits that can make a huge difference alongside your Cash Aid and CalFresh benefits. Also, if you're looking for work or need job training, the Welfare-to-Work (WTW) program can provide childcare vouchers and transportation assistance - these aren't counted as income so they won't affect your CalFresh calculation. The whole CalWORKs package is really designed to help you get ahead financially, not just replace one benefit with another.