Approved for only $23/month CalWORKs benefit - mistake or actual minimum payment?
Just had my CalWORKs interview this morning and checked my BenefitsCal account a few hours later. Somehow I'm already showing as 'approved' but only for $23 per month in Cash Aid?? That can't possibly be right, can it? I'm a single parent with two kids working part-time making about $1,850/month. I thought CalWORKs was supposed to actually help families. $23 doesn't even buy diapers for a week! Is this some kind of system glitch or preliminary approval? I'm so confused why they wouldn't just deny me completely if I make too much instead of approving such a tiny amount that doesn't help at all. Has anyone else gotten approved for a ridiculously small amount? Did your benefit amount change later?
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Ava Hernandez
That $23 is actually a real benefit amount. CalWORKs uses an income disregard formula, and depending on your exact income and family size, you can end up with very small grant amounts. The system is designed to phase out gradually rather than creating an all-or-nothing cutoff. Even though $23 seems pointless, it does keep your case open which means you still qualify for other linked benefits like childcare assistance, job training, and Welfare to Work services. Those additional services are often worth WAY more than the cash benefit itself.
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Noah Lee
AuthorWait so I can still get childcare assistance with only $23 in Cash Aid?? My caseworker didn't explain ANY of that. I'm spending almost $800/month on childcare right now which is killing me financially. Do I need to apply for childcare separately or is it automatic with CalWORKs?
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Isabella Martin
I had the exact same thing happen last year! Got approved for $42/month and thought it was a joke. But then I found out I qualified for subsidized childcare through the CalWORKs program which saved me over $1,200/month! You need to specifically ask about it though - fill out the CCP 1 form for childcare. Also since you're working part-time, look into the Welfare to Work program. They can help with job training, transportation costs, and even some work expenses. The cash grant is tiny but the support services are the real benefit.
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Elijah Jackson
THIS IS CORRECT!! small cash aid = still eligible for services. my worker never told me eithre had to find out myself by acident. the system sucks at explaning things clearly to people
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Sophia Miller
Honestly tho $23 is kinda insulting. Like what does the county expect you to do with that? Buy 1/4 of a grocry trip? Pay 1/50th of your rent? The whole system is so messed up
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Mason Davis
Yeah but like the others said, it's about the other benefits that come with it. My sister got approved for $19 and was ready to not even bother until she learned about the childcare benefit. Now she gets like $1,400 in childcare coverage monthly which is HUGE for her budget! Worth dealing with the stupid $19 direct deposit lol
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Mia Rodriguez
Call your worker ASAP to make sure they calculated everything correctly. They might have made a mistake with your income, housing costs, or family size. I've seen workers forget to apply certain deductions or income disregards. Ask them to explain exactly how they calculated your grant amount. BTW if you're having trouble reaching your worker (which is super common), I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to my county worker after weeks of trying. It holds your place in line and calls you back when a real person is available. Saved me hours of hold time! Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE
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Noah Lee
AuthorThanks for the tip. I've been calling ALL day and can't get through to anyone. Just automated messages and disconnects. So frustrating! I'll check out that service because I really need to understand what's happening with my case.
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Jacob Lewis
my freind got $27 and she said same thing but her caseworker said even with small amount she still qualifies for free childcare and that ended up saving her like $900 a month so its worth it just for that. but yeah they should explain it better!!!!!
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Ava Hernandez
Exactly! The childcare benefit alone can be worth thousands over the course of a year. Plus having an active CalWORKs case makes it easier to get priority for certain housing programs and other assistance. That $23 is actually unlocking much more valuable benefits.
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Mason Davis
To confirm what others are saying - the childcare benefit is the golden ticket here. With your part-time job, you should qualify for childcare assistance for work hours plus travel time. You need to complete a CCP 1 form (Childcare Plan) and CCP 2 (Request for Childcare Payment). Your worker should have explained this but many don't bother. And since you're already working, you're fulfilling your Welfare to Work requirements which is great.
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Noah Lee
AuthorThank you SO MUCH for the specific form names! I'm going to download those right now and submit them. This could literally change everything for our budget if we can get childcare assistance. I seriously can't believe my worker didn't mention any of this during our interview. All she talked about was the cash aid amount!
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Sophia Miller
Does anyone know if the $23 amount changes if your income changes? like if i lose some hours at work will they increase the cash aid?
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Isabella Martin
Yes, it absolutely will change if your income decreases. You need to report income changes if they push you over the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) that's listed on your approval notice. But even if your income goes down, you can contact your worker to report it so they can increase your benefits. The CalWORKs grant is calculated based on a formula that compares your income to the Minimum Basic Standard of Adequate Care (MBSAC) for your family size.
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Elijah Jackson
i had this happen 2 me in 2023. got $31 cash aid. was so mad but then found out i could get Welfare to Work services that helped me get better job training. now im making $22/hr insted of minimum wage. also the childcare benefit is HUGE. i paid $0 for childcare for almost 8 months. so dont ignore the approval even if cash amt is small!!!
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Noah Lee
AuthorThat's amazing! I'm so happy that worked out for you. I need to learn more about these Welfare to Work services. I'm currently making $16.50/hr but really want to get into medical coding or something with better pay. Maybe they can help with that too?
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Clay blendedgen
Yes they can definitely help with career training! I'm a Welfare to Work specialist and we have partnerships with local community colleges and vocational schools. Medical coding is actually one of our most popular programs because it leads to good paying remote work. You'd need to work with your WtW coordinator to develop an educational plan, but they can cover tuition, books, and sometimes even provide a laptop. The key is showing how the training will lead to self-sufficiency. Since you're already working part-time, you might qualify for the "education as work activity" option which is perfect for programs like medical coding certification.
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