I'm so sorry you're going through this - having a newborn is stressful enough without having to fight for benefits you're entitled to! Unfortunately, this delay is way too common. I went through something similar when I had my daughter and it took them 4 months to process adding her to my case. One thing that helped me was documenting everything - dates I called, who I spoke with, what they said. When I finally got a supervisor, having all those details helped show the pattern of delays. Also, if you haven't already, make sure to ask specifically about the "restoration of lost benefits" that Connor mentioned - it's worth a shot even if they usually say no. The diaper stipend through CalWORKs is definitely real and should be automatic, so definitely follow up on that. And don't give up on pushing for those retroactive CalFresh benefits - you reported everything properly and the delay was on their end. Keep fighting for what you and your baby deserve! 💪

I'm really sorry this happened to you! Three months is absolutely ridiculous for adding a newborn to your case. While CalFresh typically doesn't backdate benefits, there are some exceptions for county processing errors. A few things to try: 1. Request a "fair hearing" if you believe the county made an error - you have 90 days from when they denied your request for retroactive benefits 2. File a complaint with the state if the delay was unreasonable (which 3 months definitely is!) 3. Make sure you're getting all the benefits you qualify for now - the $30/month diaper stipend through CalWORKs, WIC for formula, and check if you qualify for any emergency food assistance programs in your area Document everything moving forward and don't let them brush you off. You did everything right by reporting within 10 days and providing documentation. The delay was entirely on their end and your baby needed that support during those months. Keep pushing - sometimes persistence pays off even when they initially say no!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - 45 days is way too long and completely unacceptable! Reading through all these responses, I'm convinced it's the child support cooperation issue that's holding up your case. I had almost the exact same experience last year where my application sat pending for 6 weeks because I never received or completed some child support form properly. The case worker's advice here is gold - definitely call tomorrow morning right at 8am and ask specifically about your child support cooperation status and whether you need form CW 2.1 or a DCSS interview. If you can't get through on the regular number, that Claimyr service sounds promising based on multiple people's recommendations. Also, I'd suggest documenting everything - write down dates of your calls, who you speak with, what they tell you. If this keeps dragging on, you'll need that info for the administrative hearing process. You and your kids deserve better than this bureaucratic runaround. Stay strong and keep pushing - you've got a whole community here rooting for you to get this resolved!

I'm really sorry to hear about your frustrating experience with the CalWORKs application process - 45 days is definitely too long and you have every right to be concerned! Based on all the helpful responses in this thread, it really does sound like the child support cooperation requirement is most likely what's holding up your case. As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed by how knowledgeable and supportive everyone has been in helping you figure out what's probably going wrong. The case worker's advice about asking specifically about form CW 2.1 and your child support cooperation status seems spot-on, and multiple people have had success with that Claimyr service for actually getting through to someone. I hope you're able to get through tomorrow morning and finally get some concrete answers about what's been causing the delay. It's so frustrating that these crucial requirements aren't clearly communicated upfront during the application process. You shouldn't have to guess what forms might be missing or what interviews might be required. Please keep us updated on what you find out - I'm sure your experience will help other people who find themselves in similar situations. Wishing you the best of luck getting this resolved quickly so you and your kids can get the support you need!

I'm in a very similar situation! I've been on CalWORKs for about 6 months now with my daughter, and tax season always makes me anxious. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - I had no idea about the Earned Income Tax Credit or that my Cash Aid wouldn't count as taxable income. I think I'm going to try one of those VITA sites too. I used to go to one of those chain tax places and pay like $200+ to get my taxes done, but with money being so tight on Cash Aid, the free options sound much better. Plus it sounds like they really know how to help people in our situation. Has anyone here had experience with getting their refund direct deposited while on CalWORKs? I'm wondering if there are any issues with that or if it's better to get a paper check. I don't want anything to accidentally interfere with my benefits, even though everyone's saying it won't count as income.

I'm also new to navigating taxes while on CalWORKs and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I've been putting off filing because I was so confused about whether my Cash Aid would mess things up somehow. It's really reassuring to see so many people confirming that CalWORKs benefits don't count as taxable income and that filing could actually get me money back through those tax credits everyone's mentioning. I had no idea about the VITA program either - free tax help sounds perfect since I definitely can't afford to pay one of those expensive tax services right now. One quick question for anyone who's used VITA before - do you need to make an appointment or can you just walk in? I'm trying to plan around my work training program schedule. Also, is there anything specific I should bring besides the usual tax documents that might be relevant to being on CalWORKs? Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences - it's made this whole process feel way less overwhelming!

happened to me too last month. i got the money back but took like 20 days. Call RIGHT NOW, dont wait. the cops didnt do anything btw, just gave me a report number and never followed up

I'm so sorry this happened to you! EBT theft is unfortunately very common right now. I had my benefits stolen twice last year - once from a skimmer at a corner store ATM and once from what they think was a data breach. Here's what worked for me to speed up the process: When you go to your county office, bring a printed copy of your EBT transaction history (you can get this online or by calling the EBT customer service number). Having those unauthorized transactions highlighted really helped my case worker process everything faster. Also, ask specifically for the "Immediate Need" emergency assistance - they can give you some cash for groceries and urgent bills while your claim is being investigated. One tip that's helped me avoid future theft: I now withdraw my entire Cash Aid balance on the day it posts and keep it in cash at home rather than leaving it on the card. It's not ideal but it's safer than risking another theft. You can also ask your worker about direct deposit to a bank account if you have one. Stay persistent with the county office - call every few days for updates on your claim. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with these situations. Good luck and I hope you get your money back quickly!

As a new member here, I just wanted to say how helpful this entire thread has been! I'm currently pregnant with my first child and had no idea about most of these CalWORKs benefits and programs. The information about being able to apply during pregnancy for the two-person amount, the diaper stipend, childcare assistance, and all the community resources available is invaluable. It's clear that navigating this system can be challenging, but seeing how everyone here supports each other and shares practical advice gives me hope. I'm definitely going to reach out to the Community Action Partnership and start gathering my documents early. Thank you all for creating such a supportive community where people can get real answers about these important programs. It makes such a difference to hear from people who have actually been through this process!

Welcome to the community! As a new member myself, I've been reading through all these responses and I'm amazed at how much detailed, accurate information everyone is sharing. The breakdown of the $976 maximum for a family of two, the pregnant woman benefit starting 90 days before due date, and all the additional programs like the diaper stipend and childcare assistance is incredibly helpful. I'm also dealing with navigating government benefits for the first time, and it's reassuring to see there are community organizations like the Community Action Partnership that can help guide us through the process. The tip about calling first thing in the morning and keeping detailed records of all interactions seems especially important given how challenging it can be to reach caseworkers. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where we can learn from each other's experiences!