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Also, just to clarify something important - your CalWORKs Cash Aid and CalFresh (food stamps) benefits follow DIFFERENT issuance schedules. So don't assume they'll be deposited on the same day. Your Cash Aid follows the case number pattern I mentioned above, while CalFresh uses the first 3 letters of your last name to determine the date (between the 1st and 10th of the month). This confuses a lot of people who are new to receiving benefits. If you're receiving both programs, you'll have two separate deposit dates each month.
wait WHAT?? is that why my food money and cash money come different days?? ive been on benefits 8 months and didnt know this lol. I thought they were just being weird about it
Thank you all so much for the helpful responses! I found my approval notice and my case number ends in 7, so I should get my deposit on the 7th of each month (or the Friday before if it falls on a weekend). I also downloaded the ConnectEBT app which is super helpful for tracking everything. This community is amazing - the county should really explain these things better!
Glad you got it sorted out! One final tip: mark your deposit dates on your calendar for the next few months so you can plan your bill payments accordingly. And remember that if your income changes significantly (goes above the Income Reporting Threshold on your approval notice), you need to report it within 10 days even if it's not time for your SAR7 report yet. Good luck!
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I'm wondering if anyone knows - when you have to resubmit documents, does that reset your application date? I'm concerned about losing out on retroactive benefits if I have to resubmit everything now.
Great question! No, resubmitting missing documents should NOT reset your application date. CalWORKs benefits should be paid from the date of your initial application if you're approved, regardless of how long it takes to process due to missing documents. However, you usually have only 30 days to provide requested documents before they might close your application entirely. If that happens, you would need to start over with a new application date. Always ask for a specific deadline when they request additional documents.
UPDATE: I just got a call from my worker - they received my mailed documents and my application is now approved! Benefits will be backdated to my original application date. So relieved this nightmare is finally over. For anyone else dealing with pending applications - keep calling until you get answers!
congrats!! how long did it take after you mailed everything in??
Only 3 business days after they received my mailed documents! Much faster than I expected. The worker said once they have everything they need, the approval can happen quickly - it's just getting all the required documents to the right person that's the challenge.
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am in the program right now got my ged in 4 months and now doing cna training. they pay for everything and the childcare benefit is HUGE. my tip is get to know the job counselors at the career center not just ur regular worker, they know all the good programs and can help u get in
That's great to hear! I'm interested in healthcare too. How many hours a week did you have to do for your GED program to meet the WTW requirements?
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everyone here is sayin u dont need child support for calfresh but i swear when i applied they asked about my kids dad on the application??? why they need his info if they aint gonna make him pay??
They do ask about household composition and may ask about absent parents on the application forms since the same forms are used for multiple programs. However, for CalFresh specifically, they don't use that information for child support enforcement purposes. They mainly need it to understand your household situation and determine eligibility and benefit amounts correctly.
Thank you everyone for all the helpful advice! I'm going to apply for just CalFresh through BenefitsCal and make sure I don't check the CalWORKs box. It's such a relief to know I can get food assistance without messing up my co-parenting situation. I'll update if I run into any issues with the application!
Good plan! Just remember that during your interview, be very clear with the eligibility worker that you're only applying for CalFresh. If you ever change your mind about CalWORKs in the future, you can always apply later. Best of luck with your application!
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Just to clarify something important - CalWORKs and CalFresh (food stamps) have different processing timeframes. CalFresh has to be processed within 30 days, but can be expedited in 3 days if you qualify. CalWORKs technically has a 45-day processing timeframe, though many counties try to do it in 30. Make sure your cousin applied for both programs! And yes, benefit start date is the application date, not the interview date, as long as she meets all the eligibility requirements on that date.
Oh! I didn't realize they had different timeframes. She did apply for both, thankfully. The CalFresh would help a lot with food so they can put more money toward rent.
december and january are ALWAYS backed up with appointments. the holidays mess everything up. plus lots of workers take vacation time so there's even fewer people answering phones. ur cousin should definitely try calling but also prepare for the possibility that jan 2 might be the earliest they can do
This is very true. End of December/beginning of January is probably the worst time of year to apply for benefits because of the reduced staffing and holiday office closures. OP, make sure your cousin doesn't miss that Jan 2 appointment even if she can't get an earlier one - they might make her start the whole application process over if she misses it.
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UPDATE: I finally got through to a worker using that Claimyr service someone recommended! They could see I had started an application but it was marked as
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Im in the same boat, that $95 is my utilitys every month. im so scared about what happens. does anyone know if we can appeal this or something?? its not fair they just stop it when everythings so expensive now!!
Unfortunately, this isn't something you can appeal. The emergency allotments were always temporary and tied to the public health emergency. I know it's really tough timing with inflation. If you haven't had a mid-year adjustment to your regular CalWORKs grant based on income changes, you might want to report any decreased income or increased expenses (like rent) to see if your regular benefit amount could increase.
One thing to know - you should see an increase in your regular CalWORKs grant starting January 2025 due to the annual cost of living adjustment. It's not going to make up for the whole $95, but it should help a little bit. My worker told me the standard 2025 COLA should be around 3.7% which isn't huge but it's something at least.
That's good to know about the COLA increase. Every little bit helps I guess. I'm still going to have to figure out how to make up that $95 gap in my budget though.
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I work as a tax preparer, and here's what you need to know: 1. CalWORKs Cash Aid is NOT taxable income 2. Medi-Cal benefits are NOT taxable 3. Unemployment IS taxable income 4. With children and some earned income, you SHOULD file because: - You'll likely qualify for Earned Income Credit - You'll likely qualify for Child Tax Credit - These can result in thousands of dollars in refunds While technically you might not be required to file if your income is below the filing threshold ($12,950 for single filers in 2024), you'd be leaving money on the table by not filing. The IRS and CalWORKs are separate systems. Your tax refund will NOT count as income for CalWORKs, and as someone mentioned, refunds are excluded from resource limits for 12 months after receipt.
Thank you so much for this clear explanation! I didn't realize I could actually get money back even though I barely worked. I guess I'll definitely file then. One last question - does it matter if I do it myself using the free file or go to a VITA site? Is one better than the other?
Either option is good! If you're comfortable using a computer, the Free File options through the IRS website are user-friendly and guide you through everything. If you prefer having someone help you in person, VITA sites are staffed by IRS-certified volunteers who specialize in tax situations like yours. They'll make sure you get all the credits you're entitled to. Just bring your ID, Social Security cards for everyone on your return, and all your tax documents (W-2, 1099-G for unemployment, etc.). And don't worry about your CalWORKs - filing taxes won't affect your benefits at all. The systems don't automatically share information in that way.
This is so helpful! I think I'll look for a VITA site near me since I'd feel better having someone guide me through it. I get nervous about making mistakes on important forms. Thanks everyone for all the great advice - I feel much better about this now!
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Has anyone had a problem with CalWORKs and school attendance verification? My worker keeps saying my Cash Aid is delayed because they need verification my kids are in school, but the school already sent the forms twice! So annoying.
That's a separate issue but happens frequently. Ask your worker which specific form they need and take it to the school yourself to be completed, then hand-deliver it to the CalWORKs office. Get a receipt showing they received it. @OP, you might need school verification for your 8-year-old too.
Quick update: I FINALLY got through to someone at the county office (took 3 hours on hold) and you were all right - they needed the child support cooperation form AND school verification for my 8-year-old! I'm heading to the office in person tomorrow with ALL my documents. The worker said I should be approved within a few days once everything is verified. Thanks again for all your help!
Great news! Make sure to ask them about expedited processing since your rent is due soon. They can sometimes issue emergency Cash Aid while they process the full application. Also, don't forget to ask about CalWORKs childcare assistance - you qualify for that while job searching!
Molly Chambers
I just realized I should mention something important - if you're receiving any State Disability Insurance (SDI) or Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits during your maternity leave, you MUST report this. It counts as income and not disclosing it could lead to an overpayment that you'd have to pay back later. Bring any award letters showing these benefits if you're receiving them. Also, does your boyfriend qualify for Unemployment Insurance benefits since he lost his job? If so, he should apply for that immediately. It won't necessarily disqualify you from CalWORKs, but it will be factored into your benefit calculation.
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Anna Stewart
•Yes, I'm getting disability payments! I totally forgot about that - thank you for reminding me. It's about $850 every two weeks. Will that disqualify us completely? My boyfriend applied for unemployment but hasn't heard back yet.
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Kaylee Cook
With your disability payments of approximately $1,700/month, you may still qualify for some CalWORKs benefits, but it will be reduced. For a family of 3, the income limits for 2025 are around $2,550/month (gross) in most California counties. Be completely transparent about these payments during your interview. Bring the award letter showing the payment amounts and duration. If your boyfriend starts receiving unemployment, that will also count toward your household income. Even if you qualify for a smaller Cash Aid amount, you'll likely still be eligible for other benefits like CalFresh and Medi-Cal, which can be very helpful. The CalWORKs program can also help with childcare costs when you return to work, which is a significant benefit for working parents. Make sure to update your worker if your income situation changes after approval. You're required to report within 10 days if your income exceeds the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT), which they'll explain during your interview.
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Anna Stewart
•Thank you so much for all this information. I feel much more prepared now. I'll definitely bring my disability award letter and be upfront about everything. Even a small amount of Cash Aid would help us right now, and the childcare assistance when I go back to work sounds amazing. I appreciate everyone's help!
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