CalWORKs Diaper Allowance not showing up in my monthly benefits? How to check if I'm receiving it

Yes, the diaper benefit should be automatically included in your CalWORKs payment - you don't need to apply separately. For 2025, it's $30 per month for each child under 3 years old who needs diapers. So with two eligible children, you should be getting an extra $60 per month added to your regular cash aid amount. It won't show as a separate deposit or line item - they just increase your total benefit amount. Check your Notice of Action (NOA) that shows your benefit calculation. It should list the diaper allowance as part of the calculation. If it's not there, call your caseworker because you might need to update your case to show you have children under 3.

I had the EXACT same problem last year!!! My worker never mentioned the diaper benefit and I didn't know about it until my sister told me (she also gets CalWORKs). When I finally reached my worker they said I needed to VERIFY the children were under 3 even though they already had their birth certificates on file!!! So frustrating. But yes you should be getting $30 PER CHILD under 3 years old automatically with your cash aid. CALL THEM and make sure they fix it AND give you retroactive payments!!!

Try using Claimyr to get through to someone at CalWORKs. I was dealing with the same issue last month (missing diaper benefit for my 18-month-old) and spent days trying to reach someone. Then I found this service at claimyr.com that got me connected to a real CalWORKs worker in less than 20 minutes. They hold your place in line and call you when an agent is available. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE Once I got through, they fixed my benefit amount and added the diaper allowance I was missing. I also got retroactive payments for the 3 months they had missed it.

Spoke to my eligibility worker about this last month. The official name is the "CalWORKs Diaper Assistance Benefit" and here's what I learned: - It's $30/month per child under 3 years old - Automatically included in your total benefit amount (not separate) - Should be listed in your benefit calculation breakdown - No separate application needed - System should automatically add it based on child's DOB - If missing, they can add retroactive payments for missed months If your NOA doesn't show it, definitely call your county office. And yes, you're entitled to back payments for any months missed as long as your case was active and the children were under 3.

my worker told me the diaper benefit has income requirements??? does anyone know if thats true cuz i thought everyone on calworks got it for kids under 3

happened to me to. I didnt even no about the diaper $$ until my friend told me. had to call like 100 times to get a huiman. they fixed it but only gave me back pay for 3 months even tho my daughter was on calworks for 9 months. something about some stupid rule that they only go back 90 days for retroactive benefits. still better than nothing i guess.

UPDATE: I just checked the latest CalWORKs Handbook update (March 2025), and there's something important to note: If your children are enrolled in a subsidized childcare program through CalWORKs where diapers are provided, you may not qualify for the separate diaper benefit. This is a newer policy some counties are implementing. If this applies to you, you should ask your worker specifically about this potential exemption and whether it's being applied to your case correctly.

this is so annoying, CalWORKs never tells us about all the benefits we qualify for!! i just learned about the diaper thing last month and my baby is already 2.5 yrs old 😡 missed out on so much help

Did you ever get this resolved? I'm curious because when I finally got my diaper benefits added, they also reviewed my case and found I qualified for the CalWORKs Special Needs Transportation payment that I never knew about! Sometimes when you get them to fix one thing they find other benefits you should be getting. Keep us posted!

That's amazing that you got it resolved! I'm so glad the callback service worked for you. It's ridiculous that we have to jump through hoops to get benefits we're entitled to, but at least you're getting the backpay now. I'm dealing with a similar issue with my 8-month-old - I think I've been missing the diaper benefit for 4 months now. Did they ask you for any additional documentation when you called, or were they able to just add it based on what was already in your file? I'm going to try calling tomorrow but want to have everything ready if they need paperwork.

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble reaching your caseworker by phone, you can also try visiting your local county office in person. I know it's not always convenient with little ones, but sometimes showing up in person gets faster results than waiting on hold for hours. When I had issues with missing benefits last year, I went in person with my kids and they were able to pull up my case right away and fix the problem on the spot. Plus they gave me a printed copy of my updated benefit calculation so I could see exactly what I was getting. If you do go in person, try to go early in the morning - that's usually when wait times are shortest.

I work at a county office and wanted to clarify a few things that might help everyone here. First, the diaper benefit is indeed automatic - if you have children under 3 and receive CalWORKs cash aid, it should be included in your monthly payment without a separate application. However, sometimes there are system glitches or data entry errors that cause it to be missed. If you're missing the benefit, here's what I recommend: 1) Check your most recent Notice of Action for a line item mentioning "diaper assistance" or similar wording, 2) If it's not there, contact your worker immediately, and 3) Ask specifically about retroactive payments - the policy varies by county but most will go back at least 90 days. One important note: the benefit does have some exceptions. If your child is in a subsidized daycare program that provides diapers, or if there are other duplicate services, you might not qualify. But most families with children under 3 should be receiving this automatically. Don't give up if the first person you talk to seems confused - ask to speak with a supervisor if needed.