Great job taking that step! One last tip: When you have your interview, be very clear about your lack of parental support and independent status. Sometimes workers need to hear this explicitly to understand your situation correctly. Good luck, and definitely let us know how it goes!

Good luck with your application! I went through a similar process last year as a 20-year-old student. Just wanted to add that when you do your interview, make sure to emphasize that you're financially independent from your parents - the worker needs to understand this clearly to process your case correctly. Also, don't be discouraged if they ask for additional documentation after your interview. It's pretty common and doesn't mean you won't be approved. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me from application to first payment. Hope everything works out for you!

Does anyone know if this affects childcare payments too? My provider hasn't been paid for February either and she's starting to get upset with me about it. I can't lose my childcare or I'll definitely lose my Cash Aid for not meeting WTW hours.

Good news! Just got both my February and March transportation payments today on my EBT card! Check yours if you haven't already - looks like they're fixing the issue now.

Wait so u still get CalWORKs for ur husband?? My worker told me if either parent works full time they count both parents income against just the kids?? I'm so confused now

I went through something similar when I first applied for CalWORKs. The "excluded member" rule is actually pretty common but they don't explain it well. What helped me understand it was thinking of it like this: they're trying to help as many family members as possible, so if your income disqualifies you but not the rest of your family, they'll exclude you to keep benefits flowing to your husband and kids. One thing I learned is that even though you're excluded from the grant, you might still be eligible for other support services through CalWORKs like job training or childcare assistance. Have you asked your worker about those? Also, being excluded from CalWORKs doesn't automatically exclude you from other programs - you might still qualify for things like WIC or reduced-price school meals for your kids. The key is making sure they calculated your income correctly with all the proper deductions. If you're not sure, definitely ask for that income calculation worksheet someone mentioned earlier!

One more tip - when you reapply, you can actually request a reasonable accommodation based on your disability. This means they can give you extra time to submit documents, help you fill out forms, or even do a phone interview instead of requiring you to come in person if your back injury makes it difficult to travel. Just be sure to mention your need for accommodation when you apply.

I just went through this exact situation 6 months ago! Definitely reapply - don't waste time with an appeal. Since your income changed due to becoming disabled, that's a completely new circumstance and appeals won't help you here. When you reapply, make sure to bring your SDI award letter as proof of your new income level. Also ask about expedited processing since you have a young child and are dealing with a disability. In my county they processed my reapplication in about 10 days once I had all the right paperwork. Pro tip: Since you're now on disability, you'll likely qualify for the disability exemption from work requirements, which means you won't have to do job search or training activities while you're recovering. This is a huge relief when you're already dealing with health issues! Good luck - you've got this! Your situation is exactly what these programs are designed to help with.

did the walmart atm end up working for u? jw for next time I travel

This thread is so helpful! I'm bookmarking it because I travel to see family pretty regularly and had no idea about needing to call ahead. Quick question - does anyone know if this same process applies to SNAP benefits (food stamps) when traveling out of state? Or is it just the cash aid that gets blocked? I usually only use my card for groceries but want to make sure I don't run into the same issue next time I visit my brother in Oregon.