CalWORKs budget cuts killing us - how's everyone managing without the extra payment?

same boat. cant believe they took away $247 with barely any notice!!! my rent is due next week and im short now.

The supplement payment was always meant to be temporary, but I agree they should have given better notice. Here are some resources that might help: 1. If you're struggling with rent, apply for CalWORKs Homeless Assistance - even if you're not homeless yet, they can provide temporary rental assistance if you're at risk of eviction. 2. Make sure you're getting the maximum childcare assistance if you're working or in WTW activities. 3. Check if you qualify for the diaper stipend if you have children under 3. 4. Apply for CalFresh if you haven't already - the income limits are higher than many people realize. 5. Look into whether you qualify for LIHEAP for help with utility bills. And be sure to submit your SAR7 and recertification forms on time so your benefits don't get disrupted further.

theyr always finding ways to cut our benefits its BS!!! my friend in nevada gets way more than CA gives us and cost of living is cheaper there too. thinking about moving tbh

I was DEVASTATED when they cut the extra payment!! I'm a single mom with 3 kids and that money was paying our internet bill which the kids need for school homework. I literally cried when I saw my benefits amount this month. Have you tried calling the county to ask about emergency assistance? I couldn't get through for DAYS - kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. FINALLY I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person at the CalWORKs office in like 20 minutes. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE - basically they wait on hold for you then call you when they get a real person. I used it to ask about emergency funds and found out I qualified for a one-time crisis payment because my son has special needs. Not everyone will qualify but worth asking! Their website is claimyr.com

I feel your pain. When my cash aid got reduced, I had to completely redo my budget. Here's what helped me: - Called 211 for emergency utility assistance programs - Started using food banks to supplement CalFresh - Joined Buy Nothing groups on Facebook for kids' clothes - Applied for a reduced-rate internet program through my provider - Asked about the special needs supplement (extra $100/month if your child qualifies) Also, make sure you're reporting any child support you receive correctly on your SAR7 - sometimes they calculate it wrong and you end up with less than you should get.

im so sry ur struggling!! its been hard for me to. i think some counties still have covid emergency funds u can apply for once a year. its worth asking. also check if ur eligible for the increased income disregard for working families. they dont tell u about it but if ur working they should be disregarding more of ur income when calculating ur cash aid amount. i found that out by accident and got more money!

just a heads up - if you get increased hours at work make sure to report it if it puts u over the IRT (income reporting threshold). i got a few extra shifts and didnt report it cause i didnt think it was enough to matter and they hit me with an overpayment for 2 months worth. now im paying back $650 out of my already too small benefit check 😭

This cut sucks so bad. I'm doing DoorDash on weekends now while my mom watches the kids. Not ideal but it helps. Make sure your WTW hours are being counted right if you're working - sometimes they mess that up and it can affect your benefits.

One thing nobody mentioned yet - if you've been on CalWORKs for a while, be careful about your 48-month time limit. You might want to consider asking for an exemption during really tough times (like now) so you don't use up your months when you really need them. There are exemptions for various reasons including lack of childcare, domestic violence, caring for an ill family member, etc. Those exempt months won't count against your lifetime limit.

This whole situation is so frustrating! I'm in the same boat - that extra payment was helping me cover my daughter's after-school program so I could work more hours. Now I had to pull her out and I'm back to part-time only. Has anyone had luck with the county's emergency rental assistance? I heard they have some funds left but the application process is confusing. Also wondering if anyone knows about getting help with car repairs - mine needs new brakes but I can't afford it and need it to get to my WTW activities. Hang in there everyone, we'll figure this out together. It shouldn't be this hard just to keep a roof over our kids' heads.