oh and dont forget to apply for childcare assistance thru calworks!! even with the wtw exemption u can still get help with childcare for all ur kids. my friend got approved for like 30 hours a week of childcare for her baby even tho she wasnt working yet, she was using the time to look for work and stuff

Congratulations on your twins! 🎉 Just wanted to add that you should also check if your county has any special programs for families with multiples. Some counties offer additional support like extra diapers, formula assistance, or even priority scheduling for appointments when you have twins/multiples. Also, when you do get through to report the births, ask them to email or mail you a confirmation that the change was received and processed - this saved me when there was a delay in my case and I had proof I reported on time. Hope you get some rest mama, the first few months with twins are no joke but it gets easier! 💕

Just wanted to add my experience to this helpful thread! I went through this exact situation with my foster daughter last year. She turned 18 in February but didn't graduate until June. I submitted her school verification letter about 6 weeks before her birthday and everything went smoothly - no interruption in benefits at all. One thing I learned is that it's also helpful to get a letter that shows not just current enrollment, but also her cumulative credits and confirmation she's on track to graduate on time. Our school counselor included that detail and I think it helped show she was making satisfactory progress toward graduation. For anyone else in this situation, I'd also recommend asking your school counselor to include their direct contact information on the letter in case the county needs to verify anything. Our worker actually did call the school to confirm the information, so having that direct line made the process even smoother. Great job being proactive @Mason Stone - you definitely did the right thing getting ahead of this instead of waiting!

This entire thread is such a goldmine of practical advice! As someone who just became guardian of my 17-year-old nephew who'll be turning 18 next summer while still having his senior year ahead of him, I'm so grateful everyone shared their experiences here. The tip about getting a letter that includes cumulative credits and progress toward graduation is particularly helpful - I never would have thought to ask for those details. And I love the idea of including the counselor's direct contact info for verification purposes. @Mason Stone - you really handled this perfectly by getting ahead of it and submitting documentation through multiple channels. That receipt is going to be so important for your records. One quick question for the group: For those who submitted verification early, did you get any kind of confirmation from the county that the information was processed and noted on the case? Or do you just have to trust that it's been handled properly until the 18th birthday actually arrives? I'm the type who likes to follow up and make sure nothing falls through the cracks, especially with how hard it can be to reach workers sometimes. Thanks again to everyone who shared their knowledge here - this community really does fill the gaps when the system falls short!

I'm a new member here but I've been reading through all these responses and wanted to add something that helped me when I was in a similar situation. If you haven't already, make sure to ask your caseworker about the "Illness or Incapacity of Child" exemption. This is specifically designed for situations like yours where you're caring for a child with ongoing medical needs like chronic asthma. With proper medical documentation (the CW 61 form others mentioned), you might qualify for a complete temporary exemption rather than just reduced hours. I got a 90-day exemption when my daughter was going through a series of specialist appointments, and it gave me breathing room to get everything organized. Also, keep a detailed log of every medical appointment, pharmacy visit, and day your daughter is too sick for school - this creates a paper trail that shows the ongoing nature of her condition. The caseworkers respond much better when you can show patterns rather than just isolated incidents. Don't give up - there are more protections available than they usually tell you about upfront!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I just went through a WTW sanction situation last year with my twin boys who both have severe allergies. Everyone here has given you excellent advice about the documentation and exemptions - definitely pursue all of that! But I also wanted to mention something practical that helped me: when I finally got through to my caseworker (using that Claimyr service someone mentioned - it really does work!), I asked them to put me on their "priority callback list" due to my children's medical emergencies. Some workers will do this if you explain that you have ongoing childcare issues due to medical needs. It meant when I called, I got callbacks within 24 hours instead of waiting weeks. Also, if your county has a CalWORKs ombudsman office, they can be really helpful in navigating disputes with caseworkers who aren't being responsive. They helped me get a supervisor involved when my worker was being unreasonable about my medical exemption request. Don't let them intimidate you - you have rights, and caring for a chronically ill child absolutely qualifies for accommodations in the WTW program. Keep fighting for what you and your daughter need!

Congratulations on your pregnancy! As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to add my voice to all the excellent advice you've received. Your mother-in-law is absolutely right - you should report your pregnancy immediately! I recently went through this process myself and can confirm that reporting pregnancy increases your CalFresh benefits right away since they count you as a household of 2. My benefits went from around your amount to over $400/month just from reporting pregnancy. The key is getting that pregnancy verification from your doctor with your due date clearly stated. Everyone's advice about using BenefitsCal online is spot on - it's so much easier than trying to get through on the phone. For CalWORKs, you're correct that you typically wait until third trimester, but starting the process early helps everything go smoother. Don't forget about WIC! It's separate from CalFresh and you qualify immediately when pregnant. They provide vouchers for milk, eggs, and other nutritious foods specifically for pregnancy. The WIC office is usually much more responsive than the welfare office too. Since you mentioned handling food separately from your partner, just be honest about your actual living situation. The system is designed to support pregnant women, not create obstacles. You've got this - take that first step and report your pregnancy this week! Best of luck mama! 💕

Congratulations on your pregnancy! As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share my recent experience since I was in almost the exact same situation just a few months ago. You should definitely report your pregnancy right away - don't wait for your next SAR7! When I reported mine at around 10 weeks, my CalFresh benefits increased from $275 to $441 per month because they immediately counted me as a household of 2. The increase was retroactive to when I reported it, which was such a relief. I used the BenefitsCal website to report online and it was so much easier than trying to call. Just make sure you have the pregnancy verification form from your doctor ready to upload with your due date clearly stated. The whole process took about a week from submission to seeing the increase in my benefits. For CalWORKs cash aid, you're right that you typically need to wait until your third trimester unless you have pregnancy complications. But I'd recommend gathering your documents now (pay stubs, rent receipts, etc.) so you're ready when the time comes. Also apply for WIC immediately! It's completely separate from CalFresh and you qualify right away when pregnant. They provide vouchers for milk, eggs, cheese, and other nutritious foods. The WIC office was much more helpful and responsive than the welfare office in my experience. Don't stress about the household composition questions - just be honest about your actual living arrangement with your partner. The system really is designed to help pregnant women access additional support. You've got this mama! 💕

Welcome to the community @5141cfe34e13! You're absolutely right about how supportive everyone is here - it makes such a difference when dealing with these bureaucratic challenges. Since you're new, here's another tip that might help: if you ever need to submit documents for CalWORKs, try to use the document upload feature in BenefitsCal whenever possible instead of faxing or mailing. It creates a digital trail and you get confirmation that they received it. Also, always keep screenshots/copies of everything you submit. The more you can document your interactions with the system, the better protected you are if any issues come up. This community has been a lifesaver for navigating all these processes - don't hesitate to ask questions!

This thread is such a perfect example of why this community is so valuable! @e34ddd90df8a I'm so relieved you got through and have your interview scheduled for Friday. The stress of potentially losing benefits when you have kids depending on you is just overwhelming. For anyone else who might be reading this later - one thing I learned the hard way is to always ask for confirmation of your interview time via text or email if possible. Some counties now offer text reminders for appointments, which can be a lifesaver. Also, if you have to reschedule for any reason, try to do it at least 24 hours in advance if possible - it shows good faith effort and they're usually more accommodating. The direct worker number tip really is gold! I've saved so much time using that instead of the general line. And @65e896fcd3a5's point about the separate interview units is spot on - my county has one and it cut my wait times down significantly. Good luck Friday @e34ddd90df8a - you've got all your documents ready and you've been proactive about everything. You've got this! 🍀