CalWORKs cash aid increase in 2025? Anyone heard about minimum payment level changes?

Has anyone heard if California is raising the minimum payment level for CalWORKs in 2025? I got a text from my cousin saying there's some state law change that's gonna increase our cash aid amounts, but my worker hasn't mentioned anything about it during my last check-in. I'm a single mom with two kids and currently get $898/month. If they're actually increasing the payments that would be HUGE for us right now with rent being so expensive. Don't wanna get my hopes up if it's just a rumor though. Anyone's worker mention anything about this??

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30 comments

Emma Wilson

•9M

This increase only applies to CalWORKs cash aid. CalFresh (food stamps/EBT) is a separate program with different funding and eligibility rules. The good news is that CalFresh also got an increase in October 2024 due to the annual cost of living adjustment, so your food benefits might already be a little higher than they were last year. If you're struggling to make your CalFresh benefits last through the month, you might qualify for emergency food assistance through local food banks as well.

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Freya Pedersen

•9M

If you're having trouble getting information from your CalWORKs worker about the upcoming increase or any other issues, I recommend using Claimyr to get through to someone at the county office. I was trying for DAYS to reach someone about my SAR7 and kept getting disconnected. With Claimyr, they called the county for me and actually got me connected to a real person within 20 minutes! You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE and their website is claimyr.com. It saved me from having my benefits cut off when I needed to submit verification documents.

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Ravi Gupta

•9M

Just to clarify some information here: The 5% increase to CalWORKs grants was approved in the 2024-2025 California state budget. The increase takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to the Maximum Aid Payment (MAP) levels, which determine how much cash aid a family can receive. Your exact increase will depend on: 1. Your family size 2. Which region of California you live in (high-cost counties get higher payments) 3. Whether you have other income that's counted against your grant If you currently receive $898 for a family of three, the increase might be around $45 per month, but that's just an estimate. County offices typically send out notices about 30-45 days before changes take effect, so expect to see something in late May or early June.

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Ravi Gupta

•8M

Los Angeles is in Region 1, which receives the highest grant amounts because of the higher cost of living. The official new MAP levels haven't been published yet, but based on the 5% increase, a family of 3 in Region 1 with no income would go from approximately $1,030 to about $1,081. You can check the current rates on the CDSS website, and they'll post the new rates there before July. Just search for "CalWORKs Payment Standards" and look for the most recent chart. The new rates won't be posted until closer to the implementation date.

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Brianna Muhammad

•4M

I'm new to CalWORKs and this is really helpful information! I just got approved last month and was wondering if new recipients like me will automatically get the increased amount in July, or if there's a waiting period? My case worker mentioned something about a 6-month review but I wasn't sure if that would affect getting the increase. Also, does anyone know if this increase might help with the asset limits too? I'm trying to save up for a car so I can get to work but worried about going over the $2,750 limit.

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Dmitry Smirnov

•4M

Welcome to CalWORKs! Yes, as a new recipient you'll automatically get the increased amount in July as long as you're still eligible - there's no waiting period for cost of living increases like this. Your 6-month review is just the normal check-in they do to make sure you still qualify, it won't affect getting the increase. Unfortunately this 5% increase only applies to the monthly grant amounts, not the asset limits. The $2,750 asset limit stays the same. But the good news is that one car (regardless of value) doesn't count toward that limit if you use it for transportation to work, job training, or looking for work. So you should be okay saving for a car! Just keep track of your other assets like savings accounts.

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Selena Bautista

•3M

This is such great news! I've been stressed about money lately and even a small increase would help so much. My worker hasn't mentioned anything either but now I know to look out for that Notice of Action letter in May or June. Thanks everyone for sharing the details - it's so helpful to have this community where we can get real information from each other when the county offices are hard to reach. Does anyone know if they're planning any other benefit increases or just this one-time CalWORKs adjustment?

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Diego Fernández

•3M

I'm glad this information is helping! From what I've seen, this is just a one-time adjustment for 2025, but California does try to do cost of living increases periodically when the budget allows. They've been doing these CalWORKs increases every few years - there was one in 2022 and another smaller one in 2023. The good news is that once your grant amount goes up in July, that becomes your new baseline, so future increases would build on top of this higher amount. I haven't heard about any other benefit programs getting increases right now, but things can change when they finalize the state budget each year. It's definitely worth staying connected in communities like this where people share updates!

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Zara Malik

•3M

This is really encouraging to hear! I've been on CalWORKs for about 8 months now with my 4-year-old daughter and we're in Riverside County. Currently getting $714/month which barely covers anything with these crazy prices. Even a 5% increase would help - that's like an extra $35 which could cover a week of gas or help with groceries. I'm glad I found this thread because I was starting to think my cousin was just spreading rumors when she told me about it. Now I know to watch for that notice in May/June. Has anyone heard if they might do more frequent increases going forward since inflation has been so bad? It seems like by the time they raise benefits, everything else has already gotten more expensive again.

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Daniela Rossi

•3M

I totally understand your situation with the rising costs! You're right that inflation keeps outpacing these benefit increases. From what I've read, California is actually looking at ways to make these adjustments more regular instead of waiting years between increases. There was some discussion in the legislature about tying CalWORKs grants to an automatic cost of living formula, similar to how Social Security works, but I'm not sure if that got approved yet. For now though, this July increase is definitely happening and every little bit helps! Riverside County should send you that Notice of Action letter around the same time as everyone else. It's so frustrating how far behind these payments are compared to actual living costs, but at least it's movement in the right direction.

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Paolo Rizzo

•2M

I'm so grateful for all this detailed information! I've been on CalWORKs for about 6 months with my twin boys (they're 3) and getting $823/month in Orange County. My caseworker never mentioned anything about increases coming, so I was really worried when my cousin told me about it - thought maybe it was too good to be true. It's such a relief to know it's real and automatic! Even an extra $40-50 would make a difference with daycare costs while I'm in my job training program. This community is amazing - you all know more than some of the workers do! Does anyone know if the WTW (Welfare-to-Work) program has any changes coming too, or just the cash aid part?

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Paolo Rizzo

•2M

I'm so happy this thread helped you too! As far as I know, this 5% increase is specifically for the CalWORKs cash aid grants - I haven't seen any announcements about changes to the WTW program requirements or supportive services. The WTW program is governed by different federal and state rules, so those changes usually happen separately from grant amount adjustments. But the good news is that if you're in job training, you should still get the full benefit of this increase since training programs are an approved WTW activity. Your $823 should go up by around $41 in July, which I know isn't huge but every bit helps with those daycare costs! Keep up the great work with your training program - that's going to make the biggest difference in your family's financial situation long-term.

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Hazel Garcia

•2M

This is such helpful information! I'm a single dad with a 6-year-old son in San Diego County and currently receive $649/month through CalWORKs. I had no idea about this 5% increase coming in July - my worker definitely hasn't mentioned it during our monthly check-ins. It's frustrating how we have to find out about these things through community forums instead of from the county offices directly! Even an extra $32-35 would help with school supplies and clothes for my son. I'm working part-time at a grocery store while doing my GED classes, so I know my increase might be less because of my income, but anything helps. Thanks to everyone who shared the details about the Notice of Action letters coming in May/June - I'll be watching my mailbox!

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AaliyahAli

•24d

I completely agree about how frustrating it is that we have to find out about these changes through forums like this! You'd think our caseworkers would give us a heads up about something this important. San Diego County is in Region 1 so you should get the full 5% increase on whatever your current grant calculation is. Since you're working part-time, your actual increase might be a bit less than the full amount, but you're right that every dollar helps especially with school costs. It's great that you're working on your GED while managing everything - that's really going to pay off for you and your son in the long run! Definitely keep an eye out for that NOA letter in May or June so you know exactly what your new amount will be.

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Isabella Ferreira

•17d

This thread has been so informative! I'm a single mom with one toddler in Fresno County and I've been on CalWORKs for about 4 months now. Getting $492/month currently which is really tough to stretch, so hearing about this 5% increase gives me some hope. I was actually starting to panic because I heard rumors that they might be cutting benefits due to budget issues, so this is such a relief! My caseworker hasn't said anything about it either - seems like that's a common theme here. I'm not working right now because I'm taking care of my 18-month-old full time, so hopefully I'll get the full increase amount. Does anyone know if Fresno County is usually quick with sending out those Notice of Action letters, or do they tend to be on the slower side? I want to make sure I don't miss it!

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Yara Sayegh

•8d

I'm so glad this thread helped ease your worries about potential cuts! It's totally understandable to feel anxious with all the budget talk going around. Since you're not working and just caring for your toddler, you should get the full 5% increase on your $492 - that would be around $25 more per month starting in July. I know it doesn't sound like much, but when you're stretching every dollar it really does help! As for Fresno County, I don't have specific experience with them, but most counties seem to send the NOA letters around the same timeframe - usually 30-45 days before the change takes effect. So definitely watch your mail in late May and early June. If you don't receive anything by mid-June, I'd recommend calling your worker or using that Claimyr service someone mentioned earlier to make sure you don't miss any important notices. You're doing an amazing job taking care of your little one during such a challenging time!

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