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Anastasia Kozlov

CalWORKs eligibility with 100% P&T disability for family of 5 - also receiving CalFresh and Medi-Cal

Hi everyone, my husband became permanently and totally disabled (100% P&T rating) through the VA last year. We have 3 kids (ages 2, 4, and 7) and currently receive CalFresh ($1,180/month) and Medi-Cal for the whole family. We've been struggling even with his disability payments trying to keep up with rent increases, and someone told me we might qualify for Cash Aid/CalWORKs even with his disability income? We're a family of 5 total. Has anyone with a 100% P&T disability successfully gotten CalWORKs benefits? Would applying affect our CalFresh or Medi-Cal at all? I'm worried about messing up the benefits we already have by applying for something new.

Sean Flanagan

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You might qualify for CalWORKs, but it depends on your total household income. VA disability payments DO count as income for CalWORKs eligibility, unlike for some other programs. For a family of 5, the income limit is pretty low - around $1,698 monthly after deductions. If your husband's 100% P&T disability pays more than that (which it likely does), you probably wouldn't qualify for the cash assistance part. However, I'd still recommend applying because you might qualify for other supportive services through CalWORKs even if you don't get the cash aid portion. And applying for CalWORKs won't negatively affect your existing CalFresh or Medi-Cal benefits.

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Thank you for the information! His disability payment is $3,738 monthly, so it sounds like we're over the income limit. What other supportive services might we still qualify for? Would I still need to do the Welfare to Work requirements if we only qualify for services but not cash?

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Zara Mirza

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my brother has 100% PT and they told him no for calworks bc his VA pay was too much. they still let him keep calfresh and medical though so dont worry about losing those

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Thanks for sharing your brother's experience. Did he try applying for any other assistance programs after being denied for CalWORKs?

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NebulaNinja

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With 100% P&T VA disability, you should look into these options instead of CalWORKs since your income will likely be too high: 1. CAPI (Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants) if anyone in your household isn't a citizen 2. Housing assistance programs - many counties have special programs for veterans with disabilities 3. Diaper assistance program if you have children under 3 4. Check with CalVet about additional state benefits for 100% disabled veterans 5. CalFresh supplements - some counties have additional food assistance Definitely don't worry about losing your CalFresh or Medi-Cal by applying for other programs. They're separate eligibility determinations.

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This is really helpful! I didn't know about the diaper assistance program, and our youngest is 2. I'll definitely look into the housing assistance too since rent is our biggest struggle right now.

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Luca Russo

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i get 90% disability and my family still qualifys for calworks but just a small amount like $112/month. the lady at the office told me they count VA disability different than SSI. you should still apply becuase the worst they can say is no but they might give u something. do u get dependecy benefits to for the kids from VA?

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Yes, we get dependency benefits from the VA for the kids. I hadn't thought about that - would those count separately toward the income limit? $112 extra per month would still help us a lot honestly.

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Nia Wilson

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I tried calling our county office about a similar situation (80% disability though, not 100%) and was on hold for literally 2 hours before getting disconnected. So frustrating! I ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me through to a real person in about 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE When I finally spoke to someone, they told me that even though we didn't qualify for the cash aid part of CalWORKs with my husband's VA disability, we were eligible for their childcare assistance program which has been a HUGE help. Definitely worth applying even if you don't get the cash aid part.

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Oh wow, I hadn't even thought about childcare assistance! That would be amazing. Our 4-year-old is in part-time preschool and it's so expensive. I'll check out that Claimyr thing too because every time I call our county office I just get an automated system and can never reach a real person.

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Mateo Sanchez

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VA DISABILITY DONT COUNT AS INCOME FOR CALFRESH OR MEDICAL!!!! But it DOES count for calworks! its so stupid how they count it for some things and not others. your prolly not gonna get cash aid but they can still help with other stuff like others said.

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Aisha Mahmood

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That's not entirely accurate. VA disability compensation is counted for CalWORKs but not for CalFresh, that part is correct. However, for Medi-Cal it depends on which Medi-Cal program you're in. For MAGI Medi-Cal (most families), VA disability IS counted. For non-MAGI Medi-Cal (elderly, blind, disabled), it is NOT counted. It's super confusing but important to understand the difference.

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Aisha Mahmood

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Since your husband has 100% P&T disability, you should specifically ask about the Welfare to Work exemption if you do apply for CalWORKs. In many cases, families with a disabled parent can be exempt from the work requirements even if they receive some benefits. Also, definitely check if your county has a Veterans Services Office - they often have additional resources specifically for veteran families that most eligibility workers don't know about. One thing to note: If you're receiving VA Aid & Attendance in addition to the base disability, that portion is sometimes treated differently, so make sure to clarify all sources of your income when you apply.

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Thank you! I didn't know about the Welfare to Work exemption possibility. We aren't receiving Aid & Attendance currently, just the base disability payment with dependent benefits. I'll look up our county's Veterans Services Office too.

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Sean Flanagan

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I wanted to add one important thing - if you apply for CalWORKs and get denied due to income, make sure to get that denial in writing. That denial letter can actually help you qualify for other programs that give preference to families who've been denied CalWORKs. This includes certain housing assistance programs and some county-specific benefits. Also, since your children are young, definitely ask specifically about the diaper stipend ($30 per month per child under 3) and childcare assistance. Even families who don't qualify for the cash aid portion of CalWORKs can sometimes still access these supplemental benefits.

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That's such good advice about getting the denial in writing! I never would have thought of that. I'll definitely apply and make sure to ask about all these specific programs you all have mentioned. Thank you everyone for being so helpful!

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I'm new to this community but wanted to share what I learned from my own experience. My family was in a similar situation - we have a disabled veteran with 90% rating and were receiving CalFresh and Medi-Cal. When we applied for CalWORKs, we didn't qualify for cash aid due to income limits, but we were approved for several other benefits including childcare assistance and transportation vouchers for medical appointments. One tip I wish someone had told me earlier: when you apply, specifically ask about ALL the CalWORKs supportive services, not just cash aid. The eligibility worker might not automatically tell you about everything you could qualify for. Also, the application process took about 6 weeks in our county, so don't expect immediate results. Your existing benefits (CalFresh and Medi-Cal) are completely protected - applying for CalWORKs cannot negatively impact them at all. Good luck with your application!

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