Congratulations on your pregnancy! I'm a mom of two and went through CalWORKs during both pregnancies, so I totally understand your concerns about balancing everything. Everyone here has given you excellent advice, but I want to emphasize a few key points: **Report ASAP after your doctor visit** - Don't stress about being a couple days past 10 days since you're waiting for medical confirmation. Just be honest about your timeline when you call. **The WTW exemption is crucial** - With severe morning sickness, this protection from sanctions is way more valuable than worrying about the small pregnancy supplement amount. I was so sick during my first pregnancy that I couldn't complete my required job search hours for almost 2 months. The exemption saved me from getting sanctioned. **Ask for everything upfront** - Request the CW 61 form, ask about the pregnancy supplement, and get your worker's direct contact info all in one call. Some workers are overwhelmed and won't mention everything you're eligible for unless you specifically ask. **Document everything** - Keep records of when you called, what you requested, and any forms you submit. This helps avoid confusion later. The morning sickness is so rough, but it does get better for most people around 12-14 weeks. Hang in there mama, and don't hesitate to advocate for yourself and the support you need during this time. You're growing a human - that's hard work! 💕

Congratulations on your pregnancy! 🎉 I just want to echo what everyone else has said - definitely report it after your doctor appointment tomorrow. Don't stress too much about the timing since you're being responsible by waiting for medical confirmation first. I wanted to add something I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're having trouble getting through to your worker by phone, many counties also have online portals where you can submit changes or at least send a message. It might be worth checking if your county has this option, especially since you mentioned having trouble reaching your worker. Also, when you do connect with your worker, ask about getting a backup contact number or supervisor's number. Sometimes having an alternative contact can really help when you need to report time-sensitive information in the future. The morning sickness is so exhausting - I remember feeling like I was failing at everything during those early weeks. But getting that WTW exemption will take so much pressure off so you can focus on taking care of yourself and your growing baby. You're doing everything right by seeking out information and planning to report it properly. Wishing you all the best with your pregnancy journey! 💕

nobody mentined but u can also do online classes at some places. thats what im doing cause i have 3 kids at home. my worker counted my zoom classes + they gave me 10 hrs of study time each week. just make sure the school can track ur attendance somehow or they mite not aprove it

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble reaching your worker, you can also visit the office in person to submit your WTW plan update request. I know it's a pain, but sometimes showing up physically gets faster results than trying to call. Also, once you get education approved, make sure you understand exactly what documentation they need from you each month. My county wants class schedules, attendance records, and grade reports every 30 days. Missing any of these can cause them to stop counting your hours even if you're doing great in school. Good luck with whatever path you choose - education really can open doors!

I'm also new to this community and just got approved for CalWORKs about two weeks ago! This thread has been so helpful because I had the exact same question when I first got approved. My caseworker explained it really clearly during my appointment - CalWORKs Cash Aid always comes as one payment per month, usually within the first few days based on your case number. The confusion about "split payments" that so many people have (including me at first!) comes from CalFresh benefits getting split into two payments when they're over $200. I just got my first CalWORKs payment last week and it came all at once on the 1st, just like everyone here is saying. It's such a relief to have that certainty for budgeting purposes, especially as a single parent trying to make sure rent and bills are covered. Thanks to everyone who's been sharing their experiences - it really helps us newcomers understand what to expect! This community seems like such a great resource for navigating all these different programs.

I'm new to this community and just applied for CalWORKs last month! This whole thread has been incredibly helpful - I was getting so much conflicting information from different people about how the payments work. My aunt kept telling me that CalWORKs payments come in two parts throughout the month, but now I understand she was probably mixing it up with CalFresh benefits like everyone else mentioned. It's such a relief to know that the Cash Aid comes all at once for budgeting purposes. I'm still waiting for my eligibility interview next week, but reading through everyone's experiences here has really prepared me for what to expect. It's amazing how many little details there are to learn about these programs, like the diaper benefit that several people mentioned - I have a 6-month-old so I'll definitely ask my worker about that! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge. This community seems like such a supportive place for people navigating the CalWORKs system. Looking forward to hopefully getting approved and being able to contribute my own experiences to help other newcomers!

Hey Amina, congrats on your approval! 🎉 I just wanted to add one more tip that saved me a lot of hassle - if you're ever at an ATM and it asks for a "transaction type," always choose "Withdrawal" not "Balance Inquiry" if you want to take money out. I made that mistake my first time and couldn't figure out why it wasn't giving me cash! 😅 Also, your Cash Aid balance and CalFresh balance are totally separate, so don't panic if you see a lower number than expected - just make sure you're checking the right account. The ebtEDGE app someone mentioned earlier will show both balances clearly. One last thing - if you ever need to dispute a transaction or report your card stolen, do it ASAP. Unlike regular bank cards, there's less fraud protection with EBT, so time is really important. But honestly, with all the great advice everyone's given you here, you're going to do just fine! Welcome to the community! 💙

Hey Amina! Congrats on getting approved for CalWORKs! 🎊 I see you've gotten amazing advice from everyone here already. Just wanted to add a quick heads up about something I wish someone had told me - if you're planning to use your Cash Aid for transportation (like bus passes or gas), many transit agencies and gas stations have daily withdrawal limits even if your EBT card balance is higher. For example, some gas stations will only let you withdraw $100 max per day using EBT Cash, even if you have more available. So if you need a larger amount for something like car repairs or a monthly bus pass, you might need to plan ahead and withdraw over multiple days. Also, I noticed someone mentioned the ebtEDGE app - it's seriously a lifesaver! You can check your transaction history there too, which is super helpful for keeping track of your spending patterns. You're asking all the right questions and it sounds like you've got this! Everyone here has given you such solid advice. Welcome to the CalWORKs family! 💪

I'm so sorry to hear about your situation, Anthony! Reading through everyone's experiences here really shows how broken the DPSS redetermination process has become. Six weeks for a straightforward renewal is absolutely unacceptable, especially when you submitted everything on time. I wanted to add something that helped me when I was dealing with a similar delay last year - if you haven't already, try asking the phone representatives for the specific DATE they claim the supervisor email was sent. Sometimes when you ask for that level of detail, they'll actually check the system more thoroughly and discover the email was never sent in the first place, or there's another issue they weren't seeing before. Also, I noticed you mentioned worrying about your benefits being discontinued. Make sure you're prepared to immediately request a fair hearing with "aid paid pending" if that happens - since you submitted everything by the January 15th deadline, you're absolutely entitled to continued benefits during any appeal process. The assembly member contact strategy that others mentioned is definitely worth trying too. It shouldn't take political intervention to get basic services, but sometimes that's what it takes to get them to actually look at your case instead of just sending more phantom supervisor emails. Hang in there and keep pushing - you're doing everything right, this is 100% on their broken system!

This thread is absolutely incredible - I'm new to this community and I can't believe how many families are stuck in this exact same "supervisor approval" nightmare! Reading everyone's experiences makes it crystal clear that this isn't individual case problems but a complete systemic breakdown at DPSS. What really amazes me is how you've all turned your struggles into actionable solutions for others. The strategies shared here - Admin_Masters' legal guidance about the 30-day timeline and aid-paid-pending rights, Ravi's assembly member success story, the 8 AM calling technique, documenting employee IDs, urgent BenefitsCal messages - it's like you've created a masterclass in navigating bureaucratic dysfunction! As someone who thankfully hasn't faced this yet but could someday, I'm taking detailed notes on every strategy mentioned. It's both inspiring and heartbreaking that families have had to become experts in fighting for benefits they're legally entitled to. The financial stress of choosing between rent and groceries while waiting months for "supervisor approval" is absolutely inhumane. Anthony, I really hope the strategies everyone shared here help break through your case! Six weeks is completely unacceptable and you deserve so much better from a system that's supposed to support families in need. Keep fighting - this community proves that persistence and using multiple approaches really can work, even when the system seems designed to wear people down.