Can I buy diapers with CalWORKs EBT Cash benefits? Confused about what's allowed
Hi everyone! First time posting here. I'm a mom of a 6-month-old and just got approved for CalWORKs last month. I know I can't buy diapers with my CalFresh EBT card (the food benefits), but can I use my Cash Aid EBT card for diapers? The worker who did my interview didn't really explain what I could buy with the cash portion. I'm trying to stretch my money and diapers are SO expensive now! Also, is there a special diaper benefit or something I could apply for? I heard someone at WIC mention that but wasn't sure if that's a real thing or if she was confused. Thanks for any help!
16 comments
Join the conversation
Carmen Diaz
Yes, you absolutely CAN use your EBT Cash card to buy diapers! The Cash Aid portion of CalWORKs is meant for necessities that CalFresh doesn't cover, and diapers definitely qualify. You can use that card anywhere that accepts EBT Cash - most grocery stores, Target, Walmart, drug stores like CVS, etc. Just select "EBT CASH" at checkout instead of "EBT FOOD". Regarding a special diaper benefit - there is something called a "diaper allowance" in California for CalWORKs families with children under 3. It's an extra $30 per month per eligible child. Your worker should have automatically included this in your grant calculation if you have a child under 3, but not all workers remember to add it. I'd suggest calling your caseworker to make sure you're receiving it!
0 coins
Yuki Tanaka
AuthorThank you so much! I'm relieved to hear I can use the Cash Aid for diapers. I don't think I'm getting that diaper allowance though - I don't remember seeing anything about that on my approval notice. Is that something I need to specifically request? I tried calling the county office twice this week but kept getting disconnected after being on hold forever.
0 coins
Andre Laurent
I use my cash aid for my babies diapers all the time! U can buy literally anything with the cash part except alcohol, cigarettes, gambling, and like adult entertainment stuff lol. But yeah diapers formula baby clothes all that is fine!!! the food stamps part is just for food obviously
0 coins
AstroAce
This is mostly right but just a heads up - you actually CAN'T buy formula with the Cash part if the formula is considered a food item! The stores code it as food so it only works with the CalFresh side of EBT. I found out the hard way standing at checkout with my baby screaming and my transaction declining when I tried using Cash side for formula. So embarrassing!!
0 coins
Zoe Kyriakidou
I had the EXACT same question when I first got on CalWORKs! The Cash Aid part of your benefits can absolutely be used for diapers and pretty much any non-food necessity. Just make sure you're choosing "EBT CASH" and not "EBT FOOD" when you check out. About that diaper benefit - yes, it exists! It's called the CalWORKs Diaper Benefit and it gives you an extra $30 per month for each child under 3 years old. BUT it's not automatic - you have to make sure your worker knows you have an eligible child. I had to specifically ask for it because my worker didn't mention it during my interview. If you're having trouble reaching someone at the county office, I'd recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was in the same boat - getting disconnected after waiting forever. Claimyr got me through to an actual person in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE. After I got through, I was able to get the diaper benefit added to my next payment and even got a supplement for the previous month.
0 coins
Yuki Tanaka
AuthorThank you for explaining! I'm definitely going to ask about the diaper benefit. And thanks for the Claimyr recommendation - I hadn't heard of it before but I'm desperate to actually talk to someone. Will check out the video. $30 extra would make a huge difference for us right now.
0 coins
Jamal Brown
when my son was little i used to take out CASH from atm with the ebt cash card and then buy whatever i needed. thats easier than trying to figure out what stores take it for what. just get the money out first!!!
0 coins
Mei Zhang
This is good advice, but keep in mind that some ATMs charge fees for EBT Cash withdrawals. Look for ATMs at banks like Bank of America, Wells Fargo, or Chase that offer fee-free withdrawals for EBT cardholders. The EBT app can show you which ATMs in your area are free to use. Might save you $2-3 each time you withdraw, which adds up!
0 coins
Liam McConnell
I've been on CalWORKs for 3 years with my kids and they NEVER told me about any diaper benefit!!! Is this new?? I have a 2 year old and I've been struggling so much with diaper costs. The system is SO BROKEN they don't tell us about benefits we're entitled to. My worker is useless, just rushes through our recertification interviews and doesn't explain anything. I'm calling tomorrow to ask about this. THREE YEARS of missing out on extra money we desperately needed!!!!
0 coins
Carmen Diaz
The diaper benefit has been around since January 2020, so you definitely should have been getting it for your 2-year-old. When you call, specifically ask for the "diaper supplement benefit" and request retroactive payments. They can sometimes backdate it if you can prove your child's age, but usually only for a few months, not the full three years. Document everything when you talk to them - who you spoke with and what they said. If they give you trouble, you can request a hearing by asking for a "Notice of Action" regarding the diaper benefit denial.
0 coins
AstroAce
One thing to watch out for - some stores have weird rules about what they allow for Cash EBT purchases. I went to a Dollar General once and they wouldn't let me use Cash EBT for diapers, but then the Walmart down the street had no problem with it. I think some store employees don't know the rules themselves and just make things up. If someone tells you that you can't buy diapers with Cash Aid, try a different store because they're wrong.
0 coins
Amara Oluwaseyi
im confused about one thing - does wic cover diapers? i thought they did but maybe thats different from calworks?
0 coins
Mei Zhang
WIC does NOT cover diapers - that's a common misconception. WIC (Women, Infants & Children) only covers specific nutritional items like formula, milk, cheese, cereal, fruits/vegetables, etc. They don't provide any non-food items like diapers or toiletries. CalWORKs (through the Cash Aid portion) can be used for diapers, and as others mentioned, there's the additional $30/month diaper benefit for children under 3 years old. There are also some community diaper banks in many counties that provide free diapers to families in need - you might want to check if there's one in your area!
0 coins
Yuki Tanaka
Update: I called the county office using that Claimyr service someone recommended above, and got through in about 15 mins! The worker confirmed I can definitely use my Cash Aid for diapers. She also said I wasn't getting the diaper benefit but should be eligible. She's adding it starting next month and said I'll get an extra $30. Not a fortune but every bit helps! Thank you all for your help and suggestions!
0 coins
Zoe Kyriakidou
That's great news! Glad you were able to get through. Did they mention anything about retroactive benefits? Since you already had CalWORKs for a month, they should give you the $30 for last month too. Sometimes you have to specifically ask for it.
0 coins
Zainab Ibrahim
You should definitely ask about the retroactive payment! I had a similar situation where they added a benefit I was eligible for but initially forgot to backdate it. When I called back and specifically asked about getting the previous month's amount, they were able to process it as a supplement payment. It might take a few extra days to show up on your card, but it's worth asking about since you've been eligible since your approval date.
0 coins