also check out if ur local WIC office gives diaper vouchers cuz some do now

I went through this exact same situation with my twins last year! What ended up working for me was connecting with my local community resource center - they had partnerships with several organizations that provide diapers regardless of your CalWORKs status. Also, don't give up on the CalWORKs route yet. Like others mentioned, make sure they're calculating ALL your deductions correctly. I was initially told I didn't qualify, but when I brought documentation of my childcare costs and transportation expenses, it changed everything. In the meantime, check out these resources: - Local food banks often have diaper programs - Churches sometimes run diaper pantries (even if you're not a member) - Facebook mom groups in your area - they often share info about diaper drives and giveaways - Some pediatrician offices keep sample diapers they'll give to families in need Hang in there mama, there are people and programs out there to help bridge this gap!

I just went through this process about 8 months ago in Orange County. Since your son's father has an active DUI case, DCSS should locate him pretty quickly - probably within 2-4 weeks. They cross-reference court databases, probation records, and DMV info. A few things to keep in mind: - Request address confidentiality RIGHT AWAY if you're worried about him finding you - Keep all your CalWORKs appointments current - don't let anything lapse while child support is being established - Once they find him, the whole process (location to first payment) usually takes 3-6 months total - You'll get official notices when they establish the order and when payments start The waiting is the hardest part, but stay on top of your caseworker if you don't hear anything after a month. Sometimes cases get stuck in the system and a phone call helps move things along.

I'm new to the CalWORKs system and this whole thread is incredibly helpful! I just applied last week and am dreading the child support process. My daughter's father has been dodging responsibilities for over a year now. Reading everyone's experiences gives me hope that they'll actually be able to find him. He doesn't have any court cases that I know of, but he does have a job (or at least he did 6 months ago). One question - if they do establish a support order but he just doesn't pay, does that affect my CalWORKs benefits at all? I'm worried about getting penalized if he's just completely uncooperative with everything.

I'm so glad to see this thread - it's such a perfect example of how this community comes together to help each other navigate these scary situations! As someone who's been on CalWORKs for a few years now, I've learned that the Homeless Assistance program is one of the best-kept secrets in the system. Most caseworkers don't proactively tell you about it unless you're already homeless, which is backwards since it's designed to PREVENT homelessness. A few additional tips for anyone else facing eviction: - If you're denied for any reason, ask about the appeal process immediately - you have 90 days to appeal - Some counties have partnerships with legal aid organizations that can help negotiate with landlords - Keep a log of every phone call, visit, and interaction with your caseworker - documentation is key @Ava Rodriguez you handled this crisis exactly right by reaching out here and acting fast. This thread should be bookmarked by everyone because housing instability affects way too many CalWORKs families. Hoping everything works out perfectly for you and your kids! 💪

Reading through all these responses has been so educational! I'm a new CalWORKs recipient and had no idea about the Homeless Assistance program until seeing this thread. It's concerning that this crucial information isn't being shared proactively during the application process. For anyone else who might be in a similar situation in the future, I found this thread incredibly helpful in understanding: - The difference between temporary and permanent homeless assistance - The once-in-a-lifetime limitation (which is really important to know!) - The specific documents needed and timeline for emergency processing - Alternative resources like 211 and legal aid partnerships @Ava Rodriguez - I hope your payment processes smoothly! You've been such a great advocate for yourself and your kids by acting quickly and getting all the right documentation together. Please keep us updated on how everything turns out. This community is amazing - the level of detailed, practical advice from people with real experience is invaluable. I'm definitely saving this thread for future reference and sharing it with other families I know who might benefit from this information. Thank you to everyone who took time to share their knowledge and experiences! 🙏

Update: I finally got this resolved today! After three more calls and asking to speak with a supervisor, they found the original Good Cause paperwork in my case file. The supervisor admitted they're having major issues with the child support cooperation flags in the new system. They're issuing me an emergency supplemental payment for the missing $523 that should be on my EBT card within 3 business days. If anyone else is dealing with this, definitely ask for a supervisor review and use the specific phrase "immediate need payment due to agency error" - that seemed to get things moving faster. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

This is so frustrating but unfortunately not surprising. I went through something similar when my county switched systems last year - had an old overpayment from 2015 suddenly start getting deducted from my monthly grant without any warning. For anyone dealing with this, here's what I learned: Document EVERYTHING. Write down the date and time of every call, the name of whoever you speak with, and exactly what they tell you. Take screenshots of your benefit amounts and any online account information. Also, if you're having trouble getting through by phone, try going to your local office in person early in the morning. Sometimes face-to-face contact gets better results, especially for urgent payment issues. Bring all your paperwork with you. The system conversion has been a nightmare for so many families. It's really unfair that we have to deal with these agency errors affecting our ability to pay rent and buy groceries. Stay strong everyone and keep advocating for yourselves!

Thanks everyone for all this info! I'm definitely going to request a review of my case since it sounds like they shouldn't have counted my tax refund as income. And I'll plan for the lower CTC amount just to be safe with my budget. This community is always so helpful - I learn more here than from my actual caseworker half the time!

I'm so glad you found this helpful! It's really frustrating when we get wrong information from workers who are supposed to be helping us. I've been on CalWORKs for 2 years now and I swear I've gotten different answers about the same question from like 4 different people at my county office. For the case review, you can start by calling your worker directly and asking them to remove the overpayment because tax refunds are exempt income. If they give you pushback, ask to speak to a supervisor. You can also file a formal complaint with the county if needed. And yeah, definitely budget for the lower CTC amount - better to be pleasantly surprised than disappointed! Those monthly payments in 2021 were amazing but I'm not holding my breath for them to come back anytime soon.