CalWORKs denied for my newborn and 3 older kids - can they refuse to add children to my case?

That doesn't sound right at all. CalWORKs is specifically designed for families with children. Did they give you any reason why they denied adding your children? There are only a few situations where children wouldn't qualify: - If they receive SSI (Supplemental Security Income) - If they already receive foster care payments - If they don't meet citizenship/immigration requirements - If they don't live with you full-time But otherwise, your biological or adopted children should absolutely qualify to be on your case. Did you get the denial in writing? You should definitely request a hearing if they're denying benefits without proper reason.

It sounds like there might be confusion about your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT). The IRT increases with household size, so adding children should actually make you MORE likely to qualify, not less. Here are possible issues: 1. They might be calculating your income wrong 2. You might need to provide verification documents for all children 3. The worker might be confusing CalWORKs with another program What you should do immediately: 1. Request a written notice of action with explanation 2. File for a fair hearing (you have 90 days) 3. Bring birth certificates, school records, or medical records proving the children live with you Don't take no for an answer without proper explanation. CalWORKs eligibility is based on income relative to family size. With 4 children, your income limit should be higher than with fewer children.

Omg the same thing happened to my cousin last year!!! The worker kept telling her she couldn't add her new baby without a social security card but that's NOT TRUE. You can use the hospital birth record temporarily while waiting for the official birth certificate. They are just trying to make it harder for u to get benefits!!!

I had SUCH a hard time getting through to someone at CalWORKs when I needed to add my nephew to my case! Spent days trying to get through on the phone, got disconnected constantly. Finally I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me connected to a real worker in about 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE Once I actually talked to someone, they explained I needed to show proof that I had legal guardianship, not just that he lived with me. For your case, sounds like you need birth certificates for all kids, possibly school enrollment forms for the older ones, and maybe proof of income. If you're getting contradictory info, definitely talk to a supervisor!

the worker is LYING to u, call and ask for a supervisor immediately. i have 5 kids on my case and they all qualify. they just dont want to do the paperwork. make sure u have birth certificates and if the kids are in school bring proof of enrollment. they tried to deny my teenager too saying she was "too old" but kids qualify until 18 (or 19 if still in high school). FIGHT THIS!!!

You need to find out EXACTLY why they're denying you. There are specific eligibility requirements for CalWORKs, and they should be clear about which one they think you don't meet. Possible reasons: • Income exceeding the limit for your family size • Citizenship/immigration status issues • Verification documents missing • Child support cooperation requirements • Time limit issues if you've previously received aid If you've received CalWORKs before and already used some of your 48-month time limit, that wouldn't affect your children's eligibility - they could still get a child-only grant even if you're timed out. Request a written denial notice that states the specific regulation they're using to deny benefits. Then you can request a fair hearing if you disagree with their decision.

wait u said u got benefits in another county? thats prob the issue!!! they need to transfer your case not start a new 1. happened to me when i moved from sacramento to san diego. they kept saying i couldnt apply but really they just needed to do a county transfer. took FOREVER but i finally got my benefits.

did u apply on BenefitsCal or in person? the online system is sooooo glitchy sometimes i swear it loses half my info when i submit it 🤦‍♀️

Just to update you on what documents you'll likely need: 1. Birth certificates for all children (official ones, not hospital records) 2. Social Security numbers or proof of application for them 3. School records or medical records showing the children live with you 4. Your ID and proof of residence 5. Income verification (pay stubs, etc.) 6. Any child support documentation if applicable And definitely ask for a supervisor if the worker still gives you trouble. The income limits for a family of 5 (you plus 4 children) are actually quite reasonable, so unless you have significant income, you should qualify. Remember to ask for retroactive benefits too - they should go back to the date you first tried to add the children if you were eligible then.

Update: I went back to the office today with ALL the documents for my kids. Turns out there was a mix-up with my case - they had me confused with someone else who has a similar name!!! The supervisor apologized and they're processing my application now. They also said I can get benefits backdated to when I first tried to apply. Thank you everyone for your help and advice!! I was so stressed about this but now it's getting fixed! For anyone else having similar issues - definitely ask for a supervisor and bring ALL your documentation!!

So glad to hear you got it resolved! This is a perfect example of why it's so important to persist and ask for a supervisor when something doesn't seem right. Mix-ups with similar names happen more often than you'd think in the system. For anyone else reading this thread who might face similar issues - Dmitry's experience shows that sometimes the problem isn't with your eligibility at all, but with administrative errors. Always trust your instincts if something seems off, especially when you know you should qualify based on income and family size. And great job getting the retroactive benefits too! That can make a huge difference financially. Thanks for coming back to update us on the outcome - it really helps other community members who might be going through the same thing.