CalWORKs case when 18-year-old turns legal adult but still in high school - Will she need her own case?

She can stay on your case! As long as she's a full-time student and expected to graduate before she turns 19, she can remain on your existing CalWORKs case. The county will need verification of her school enrollment and expected graduation date. Just make sure you report her turning 18 on your next SAR7 and provide the school verification at that time.

they will TERMINATE her on the system when she turns 18 unless u already told them shes still in school!! happened to my nephew and it took 3 months to fix and get back pay!! dont wait for the sar7!! call NOW

Your granddaughter can remain on your case as long as she's a full-time student expected to complete high school before turning 19. You need to submit verification of her school enrollment and expected graduation date. I'd suggest submitting this BEFORE she turns 18 to prevent any automatic termination. If you've been trying to reach someone for 2 weeks without success, I'd recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation with my nephew's benefits and couldn't get through for almost a month. Claimyr got me connected to a live person at the CalWORKs office in less than 30 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE This is definitely something you want to handle proactively rather than fixing it after her benefits get cut off.

You need to submit school verification RIGHT AWAY. Don't wait for the SAR7. When someone turns 18, the system automatically processes them as an adult who needs their own case UNLESS there's a flag for "still in high school" on their file. Most workers know to check for this, but with your regular worker out on leave, things could fall through cracks. Bringing a letter from the school counselor showing current enrollment and expected graduation date should be enough. If you can't get through by phone, go in person and ask for the supervisor of the day if needed.

When my daughter turned 18 we had the same situation. She was still in high school for another 5 months. I forgot to tell them and her CalWORKs got discontinued automatically. We had to reapply and it was a huge mess. She ended up getting her own case even though she was still living with me because by the time we got it sorted out she was almost done with school anyway. So definitely do this BEFORE her birthday!

To clarify for everyone: A child who turns 18 can remain on the family's CalWORKs case IF they are: 1) A full-time student in high school or equivalent vocational/technical program 2) Expected to complete the program before their 19th birthday The key is providing verification BEFORE they turn 18. The system doesn't automatically know they're still in school - you have to provide proof. If you wait until after benefits are cut, you'll have to deal with getting them reinstated which is much more complicated. @OP - Definitely get that school letter and submit it ASAP. You can upload it through BenefitsCal if you can't reach someone by phone.

@Profile5 - Correct! They do NOT need their own case at 18 if they're still in high school expected to graduate before 19. They can stay on the family's case. The only time they would need their own case is if they're 18 AND either not in school OR not expected to graduate before 19.

my daughter got cut off when she turned 18 even tho she was still in school but thats because she wasnt gonna graduate before 19 (she had to repeat a year). so make sure your granddaughter is def graduating before 19 or they might still make her get her own case.

Great job being proactive @Mason Stone! You did exactly the right thing by getting that verification letter and submitting it both ways. That receipt is important - keep it with your records. Since she's graduating in June 2026 (well before turning 19), she should be able to stay on your case without any issues. You might want to follow up in a week or two to make sure the documentation was processed and added to her file, just to be extra sure. This is such good advice for other families in similar situations - handle it BEFORE the 18th birthday, not after!

I'm going through something similar right now! My nephew is 17 and will turn 18 next fall but won't graduate until the following spring. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea the system would automatically cut him off unless we provide school verification beforehand. One question for those who've been through this - do you need to update the verification every semester or school year, or is the initial letter showing expected graduation date enough until they actually graduate? Also, does it matter if their graduation date gets pushed back for any reason (like needing to retake a class)? Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences. This community is such a lifesaver for navigating all these CalWORKs rules!

This is such valuable information for families! I'm a case worker (though not in your county) and I can confirm everything that's been shared here is correct. The automatic termination at 18 is unfortunately common when proper documentation isn't on file beforehand. For anyone else reading this thread, here are a few additional tips: - If your teen is in an alternative education program or independent study, make sure the verification letter specifically states it's equivalent to traditional high school - Keep copies of everything you submit, including dates and who you spoke with - If your regular worker is unavailable, ask to speak with their supervisor - don't let coverage issues delay getting this handled @Mason Stone - you handled this perfectly by being proactive. That receipt is gold - keep it safe! And for others in similar situations, this thread shows exactly why this community is so helpful for navigating the system.

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm also new to the CalWORKs system and caring for my teenage niece who will turn 18 next year while still in high school. Reading through everyone's experiences really highlights how important it is to be proactive rather than reactive with these situations. @Mason Stone - you did exactly the right thing getting that documentation submitted early. It's so frustrating when your regular worker is unavailable during critical times like this, but you found a way to get it handled properly. One thing I'm curious about - for those who had to deal with getting benefits reinstated after they were cut off, how long did that process typically take? I want to understand the worst-case scenario in case something goes wrong despite proper preparation. It sounds like it can be a real nightmare from some of the stories shared here. Thanks again to everyone sharing their knowledge and experiences. This community is such a valuable resource for families trying to navigate these complex systems!