CalWORKs prorated benefits for adding baby/new person mid-payment period?

Congratulations on your baby! Yes, you should absolutely get a prorated amount when adding your newborn. According to CalWORKs regulations, when you add a person to your case, the increase should be prorated from the date you reported the change (or the date of birth for newborns). If you reported right away, you should get benefits calculated from their birth date through the end of the month. For example, if your baby was born on the 15th and the monthly increase would be $150, you should get around $75 (half the month's worth). They calculate the daily rate and multiply by the number of days. Make sure your worker noted the exact date of birth in your case notes!

i didnt get no prorated amount when i had my baby last yr. they just added her benefits starting the next month. when i asked about it they said somthing about how the system processes changes and couldnt do partial months. maybe depends on ur county?

Congrats on ur baby!!! I got a prorated amount when I added my son last year but it took like 6 weeks to come through. It was super random, just showed up on my EBT card one day with no notice or letter explaining it. I thought it was a mistake at first lol. But my friend who added her boyfriend to her case when he moved in didn't get any prorated amount, just the increase starting the next month. So maybe it's different for babys vs adults?

Hey there! This forum is having the same exact question I had a few months back!!! I added my newborn in january and YES i did get the prorated amount but it was SUPER CONFUSING how they did it. They added it to my NEXT months regular payment but there was nothing in the notice that explained the breakdown so i had no idea why my payment was higher than what the approval letter said i would get monthly. Then the third month it went down to the regular ongoing amount. check your payment carefully when it comes!

I've added 2 babies to my CalWORKs case over the years and had completely different experiences each time. First baby (2022) - got prorated amount separately about 3 weeks after reporting. Second baby (last year) - nothing prorated, just started the next month. When I asked why, they said something about my reporting timeframe being different but I reported both within 5 days of birth! The whole system seems so inconsistent.

Here's the official policy: When a new person is added to an existing CalWORKs case, benefits must be prorated from the date the change is reported (or date of birth for newborns if reported within 10 days). This is considered a mid-period change that increases benefits, which counties must act on. The prorated amount should be issued as a supplement to the current month, or added to the next month's benefits if processing time doesn't allow for a current month supplement. If your worker told you you'd get a prorated amount, you almost certainly will, but timing of payment varies by county and workload. Some counties are better at timely processing than others. Make sure you received a Notice of Action (NOA) showing the addition of your baby - the NOA should indicate the benefit amount change.

am i the only 1 who thinks its weird they call it 'prorated'?? like were not talking about car insurance lol. but yah i got it when i added my niece to my case when i got custody but it came random like 2 months later. no letter or nothing just extra $ on my card one day

Update for everyone: The prorated amount should appear on your Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, the same way your regular Cash Aid does. The timing can vary significantly between counties. If a month passes and you haven't received the prorated amount, I strongly recommend contacting your worker directly. Also, for the original poster - make sure they have your baby's birth certificate on file. Some counties won't process the prorated benefits until they have the official birth certificate, even if they've added the baby to your case based on the hospital documentation.

Congratulations on your new baby! I just went through this exact situation 3 months ago. I reported my daughter's birth the day after we got home from the hospital, and I did receive the prorated amount, but it took about 4 weeks to show up on my EBT card. What helped me was keeping detailed records - I wrote down the exact date I reported the birth, who I spoke with, and what they told me. When the prorated amount finally came, it was added to my regular monthly payment without any explanation, so I had to call to confirm what the extra money was for. My advice: be patient but persistent. If you don't see anything by your next regular payment date, definitely follow up with your worker. The policy is clear that you're entitled to it, but sometimes you have to advocate for yourself to make sure it actually happens. Good luck and enjoy your little one! 💕

Congratulations on your new baby! 🎉 I'm a newer CalWORKs recipient and this thread has been so helpful to read through. I haven't been in this situation yet, but I'm bookmarking this for future reference. It sounds like the prorated amount is definitely something you should receive, but the timing and processing varies a lot between counties and even between workers. From reading everyone's experiences, it seems like the key things are: 1) You reported right away (which you did!), 2) Make sure they have all the documentation they need, and 3) Be prepared to follow up if it doesn't come automatically. The fact that your worker specifically mentioned it is a good sign that they're aware of the policy. I hope your prorated amount comes through smoothly! And thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world information that's hard to find anywhere else. It's so frustrating that the system is so inconsistent, but at least we have this community to help each other navigate it.