Can I get CalWORKs for my baby if father is incarcerated and didn't sign birth certificate?

Yes, you can absolutely still get CalWORKs for your baby even if the father hasn't signed the birth certificate! When the father isn't listed on the birth certificate, CalWORKs will typically require you to cooperate with child support services as a condition of receiving benefits. This is called the 'child support cooperation requirement.' However, since he's incarcerated, you may qualify for a 'good cause' exemption from this requirement. When you fill out that form, indicate that paternity hasn't been established and explain that the father is currently incarcerated. They'll likely have you work with DCSS (Department of Child Support Services), but benefits can still be approved while this process is happening.

my situation wasnt exactly the same but similar, my babys dad wasnt on the birth cert either (he was out of state) and i still got calworks no problem. they did make me fill out some extra forms for child support stuff but my benefits started before all that was done anyway. the worker just said i had to "cooperate" with child support which basically meant answering their questions

They gonna make u cooperate with child support unless u can prove it would cause harm to u or your baby!!! I went thru this last year and it was a NIGHTMARE. They kept saying I wasnt cooperating even tho I gave all the info I had. Be prepared for DCSS to keep sending u letters and possibly delay ur benefits if they think ur not cooperating enough. The whole system is designed to make it hard!!!

In my experience trying to reach someone at the county office about paternity issues was impossible - would call and be on hold for 2+ hours only to get disconnected! I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that held my place in line and had a CalWORKs worker call ME back. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE showing how it works. Saved me so much stress when dealing with my child support cooperation issues. The worker actually explained all my options regarding the father not being available to sign documents.

ur supposed to list him as the father on calworks app even if birth certificate isnt signed. they can still establish paternity later. dont hide that u know who the father is or they can claim fraud later. just be honest that hes locked up right now. my friend got in trouble cuz she said she didnt know who the dad was but they found out later she did

To give you a specific answer about your situation: You need to complete the following on your CalWORKs application: 1. List the father's information, including his full name and that he's currently incarcerated 2. When asked about paternity declaration, mark that it has not been established 3. Request a CW 51 form (Good Cause Claim for Noncooperation) if not provided 4. Provide information about which facility he's in if possible Your child is eligible for CalWORKs regardless of the paternity status. The paternity question is about child support enforcement, not eligibility. You may be required to work with DCSS later to establish paternity once he's released, but this should not delay your benefits if you provide all the information you have now.

i think they just have to ask all those questions for their records but it wont stop u from getting benefits for ur baby, my cousin got calworks for all 3 of her kids and none of the dads signed birth certificates

btw make sure u ask about the$50 diaper/wipes stipend that they started giving last year for babies under 3 on calworks! my worker never mentioned it and i found out by accident 6 months later that i couldve been getting that extra money the whole time!!

One last thing - make sure to apply for CalFresh as well if you haven't already. With a newborn, you'll likely qualify for both programs, and the income limits are different. Also look into applying for WIC (Women, Infants & Children) which can provide formula or breastfeeding support, food benefits, and other resources for you and your baby. These programs can all work together to provide more support during this difficult time.

Just wanted to add that you might also want to ask about emergency aid if you're in immediate need while waiting for your regular benefits to start. Some counties offer expedited processing for families with newborns, especially if you can show you have little to no income right now. Also, if you're having trouble with childcare while dealing with all these appointments and paperwork, ask your worker about CalWORKs childcare assistance - they can help cover costs for daycare or babysitting while you're attending required meetings or looking for work later on. Good luck with your interview, sounds like you're getting great advice here!

I went through almost the exact same situation when my daughter was born 2 years ago! Her father was incarcerated during my entire pregnancy and for months after she was born. Here's what worked for me: I was completely honest on my application about him being the father but explained he was incarcerated and couldn't sign the birth certificate. My eligibility worker was actually really understanding and helped me fill out the good cause exemption form (CW 51) right during my interview. The key is having as much information as possible - his full name, date of birth, last known address before incarceration, and which facility he's in if you know. My benefits were approved within about 3 weeks and I never had issues with DCSS because the incarceration was documented. Don't stress too much about it - they see this situation more often than you'd think and there are protections in place for cases like yours!

I'm so glad you found this community! Your situation is definitely manageable and you're asking all the right questions. Just to add to the excellent advice already given - when you go to your interview, bring any documentation you have about his incarceration (like booking number, facility name, etc.) as this will help speed up the good cause exemption process. Also, don't be surprised if they ask you to sign some forms giving DCSS permission to contact the correctional facility - this is standard procedure and actually helps protect you from future cooperation requirements. The most important thing is getting your application submitted ASAP since CalWORKs can be retroactive to the month you applied. You're being a great mom by seeking out all available resources for your baby!

I just wanted to say how heartwarming it is to see this community come together to help you navigate this challenging situation! As someone who works with families in similar circumstances, I can confirm that everything folks have shared here is spot-on advice. The fact that you're being proactive about getting support for your baby shows what a caring parent you are. One small additional tip - when you meet with your eligibility worker, don't hesitate to ask them to explain anything you don't understand. They're there to help, and it's better to ask questions upfront than to have confusion later. Also, keep copies of everything you submit - it can be helpful if you need to reference information later or if paperwork gets misplaced. You've got this mama, and your little one is lucky to have someone fighting so hard for them!

I'm going through a similar situation right now with my 3-month-old! My baby's father has been incarcerated since before she was born, and I was so worried about the CalWORKs application process. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - especially learning about the CW 51 form and the fact that his incarceration can actually qualify you for a good cause exemption. I had no idea about the retroactive benefits either, which is huge! My interview is scheduled for next week and I feel so much better prepared now. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences, it really helps to know we're not alone in navigating these complicated situations. The advice about bringing all the facility documentation and being completely honest about knowing who the father is seems really important. I'm also definitely going to ask about that diaper stipend and emergency aid - every bit of help makes a difference when you're doing this solo!

I'm a caseworker and want to reassure you that your situation is very common and absolutely manageable! The most important thing to know is that your baby's eligibility for CalWORKs is NOT dependent on having the father's signature on the birth certificate. What matters is that you cooperate with the child support process, and since the father is incarcerated, you'll likely qualify for a "good cause" exemption which makes this much simpler. When you complete your application, be completely transparent about knowing who the father is and his current incarceration status - this honesty actually protects you and makes the process smoother. Make sure to ask your eligibility worker for the CW 51 form during your interview if they don't offer it automatically. Also, bring any documentation you have about his incarceration (facility name, booking info, etc.) as this will help expedite your good cause claim. Don't let this delay your application - submit everything as soon as possible since benefits can be retroactive to your application month. You're doing everything right by seeking help for your baby!

I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been so incredibly helpful! My baby's father has been incarcerated for about 4 months now and I was really stressed about how to handle the CalWORKs application. Reading everyone's experiences here has given me so much clarity - especially learning that being honest about knowing who the father is actually helps the process rather than complicating it. I had been worried they would deny benefits because he couldn't sign the birth certificate, but now I understand that's not how it works at all. The advice about the CW 51 form and bringing incarceration documentation is exactly what I needed to know. I'm also going to ask about the diaper stipend and emergency aid that were mentioned - as a new mom doing this alone, every bit of assistance makes such a difference. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories, and especially to the caseworker who confirmed this is a common situation. It really helps to know there's a whole community of people who understand what we're going through!

I'm really impressed by how supportive and knowledgeable this community is! As someone new to navigating government assistance programs, reading through all these detailed responses has been incredibly educational. It's clear that situations involving incarcerated fathers are more common than many people realize, and there are established processes to handle them. The key takeaways I'm seeing are: be completely honest about knowing who the father is, bring all incarceration documentation to your interview, ask specifically for the CW 51 good cause exemption form, and don't let paternity issues delay your application since benefits can be retroactive. It's also great to learn about additional resources like the diaper stipend, emergency aid, and expedited processing for families with newborns. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and especially to the caseworker who provided professional insight - this kind of peer support makes such a difference when dealing with complex government systems!