I'm in a similar situation and wanted to share what I learned when I applied. You're right that it's worth trying! One thing to keep in mind is that CalWORKs has a time limit (usually 48 months lifetime), so you might want to think about whether now is the best time to use those benefits or if you'd rather save them for when you're deeper into your education. Also, since your partner works for Amazon, make sure to report his income accurately including any overtime or bonuses - they'll verify it anyway. The good news is that California has relatively higher income limits compared to other states, and with your high rent costs, you might be surprised at what you qualify for. If you do apply and get approved, definitely look into the CalWORKs education programs. They can help with books, supplies, and sometimes even childcare while you're in school. The combination of benefits plus educational support could really help you reach your goals. Start with the pre-screening tool on BenefitsCal.com to get an idea of what you might qualify for before doing the full application.

Based on your situation, I'd strongly encourage you to apply! With a household of 4 and rent at $2,300, you're likely spending over half your income on housing alone, which actually helps with CalWORKs eligibility calculations. A few key points for your situation: - CalWORKs considers your entire household income, but they also factor in your family size and high housing costs - Since you're unmarried but living together with shared children, you'll apply as one household unit - The child support requirement typically doesn't apply when the father lives in the home and is part of the CalWORKs case - Being a student can actually work in your favor - CalWORKs has educational incentives and you may be able to meet work requirements through school participation For CalFresh (SNAP), the income limits are generally higher than CalWORKs, so even if you don't qualify for cash aid, you might still get food assistance. I'd recommend using the pre-screening tool on BenefitsCal.com first to get a rough idea of eligibility. Even partial benefits could help significantly with your budget. The application process takes time, so starting sooner gives you a better chance of getting help when you need it most. Don't let uncertainty stop you from trying - the worst they can say is no, but you might be pleasantly surprised by what support is available!

I'm a caseworker and want to emphasize something important - your mom should bring documentation showing her relationship to your niece when she applies. This could be a court order giving her custody/guardianship, or other legal documents showing she has the right to care for the child. Sometimes families assume verbal arrangements are enough, but the county will need proof of the caretaker relationship. Also, if there's any child support ordered for your niece (even if it's not being paid), make sure your mom reports that during the application. They need to know about any potential income sources for the child, even if they're not currently being received. One last thing - if your mom applies online through BenefitsCal, she can upload documents directly which sometimes speeds up processing. But given her age and the complexity of her situation as a senior caretaker, an in-person appointment might still be the best route to ensure everything is handled correctly from the start.

I just want to echo what everyone has said about being persistent if you get pushback initially. When I helped my neighbor (she's 71) apply for CalWORKs for her grandson, the first worker kept insisting she needed to do job search activities and kept trying to include her in the assistance unit. We had to ask for a supervisor who immediately knew the rules about senior caretakers. One thing I'd add - when you go to the appointment, write down the worker's name and ask them to note in the case file that your mom is applying specifically as a "non-needy caretaker relative over age 60" and is therefore exempt from WTW requirements. This creates a paper trail in case there are issues later. Also, don't be surprised if the process takes a while. My neighbor's case took about 6 weeks to get approved because it had to go through additional reviews since senior caretaker cases are less common. But once it was approved, she got retroactive payments back to when she applied. Your mom is doing such an important thing raising your niece, especially after such a loss. The system should be supporting families like yours, not making it harder!

I'm new here and just went through this exact same nightmare last week! What finally worked for me was calling the BenefitsCal customer service line (1-877-847-3663) instead of my county office. The wait was still long but not as bad, and they walked me through finding the form step by step. They told me to log in, click "My Dashboard," then scroll down to "Quick Actions" and look for "Submit Required Documents." From there you can select SAR 7 from a dropdown menu. The rep also mentioned that if you're really stuck, you can request to have a paper form mailed to you through that same Quick Actions section - just select "Request Paper Form" instead. Hope this helps someone avoid the stress I went through!

I just went through this exact same frustration two weeks ago! After reading through all these responses, I want to add one more option that saved me: if you have the MyBenefitsCalWIN mobile app on your phone, you can actually submit your SAR 7 through there too. Go to "Documents" then "Upload Document" and select "Semi-Annual Report" from the dropdown. The mobile interface is actually cleaner than the website version. You can take photos of each page of your completed form directly through the app instead of having to scan anything. Just make sure the photos are clear and all text is readable before submitting. This was a lifesaver for me since I don't have a printer or scanner at home. The whole process took maybe 10 minutes once I figured out where everything was located in the app.

Just to clarify, CalWORKs actually DOES count gross income (before taxes), not net income. But the other points about child support cooperation requirements and possibly not counting all family members are very important to check. Make sure you: 1. Request the detailed Notice of Action showing the calculation 2. Ask specifically who is included in your "Assistance Unit" 3. Check if you have a "child support cooperation" requirement for any children 4. Verify if they properly applied the $450 earned income disregard If they're requiring child support cooperation, you can request a "good cause" exemption if pursuing child support would put you or the children at risk of harm.

After reading all these comments, I'm pretty sure it's either the child support cooperation requirement OR they calculated the earned income disregard incorrectly. When you finally reach your worker, make sure to take detailed notes of the conversation and ask them to email or mail you any documentation. And if you're not satisfied with their explanation, remember you have the right to request a fair hearing within 90 days of any action you disagree with!

This thread is exactly what I needed to see today! I just noticed my CalWORKs payment was reduced by $134 this month and I've been panicking about it. Reading everyone's experiences has really helped me understand that this happens more often than I thought and there are actual steps I can take to figure out what's going on. I'm going to check my BenefitsCal account right away and then try the early morning calling strategy or that Claimyr service if needed. It's so frustrating that they don't automatically send clear explanations when they make changes to our benefits - we're already dealing with enough stress without having to chase down basic information about our own cases! Thank you all for sharing your stories and solutions. I'll definitely update once I find out what caused my reduction in case it helps others going through the same thing.

This whole thread has been incredibly eye-opening for me as someone who's been on CalWORKs for about a year. I haven't experienced a sudden reduction yet, but reading all these stories makes me realize how important it is to stay on top of monitoring my case. I had no idea about things like age-up calculations affecting payments or that system errors were so common. I'm definitely going to start checking my BenefitsCal account monthly and keeping better records of all my interactions with the county office. It's really concerning that so many people aren't receiving proper notices when their benefits change - that seems like such a basic requirement that shouldn't be failing this often. Thank you everyone for sharing the practical tips about Claimyr, calling early in the morning, and what specific questions to ask when you do get through to someone. This community knowledge is invaluable for helping us navigate such a complicated system!