Can I qualify for CalWORKs diaper allowance without receiving Cash Aid?

The diaper benefit is actually part of the CalWORKs cash aid program, not a separate benefit. If your income is over the limit for cash aid, you unfortunately won't qualify for the diaper benefit either. The $30 per month per child under 3 is an additional amount added to the cash aid grant for qualifying families. Since it's calculated as part of the total cash aid, you need to be eligible for the base CalWORKs program first. Have you checked if you're eligible for other benefits like CalFresh or Medi-Cal? Sometimes families can qualify for those even if their income is too high for cash aid.

i think ur caseworker is confused bc theres also somethin called diaper bank that some counties have thats seperate from calworks. u should call 211 and ask about diaper resources in ur area. thats how i got free diapers when i was between jobs last yr

The CalWORKs system is DESIGNED to keep people trapped!!! Think about it - if you work hard and make just a little more money, you lose WAY MORE in benefits! They literally punish you for trying to better yourself. I lost over $600 in total benefits (cash aid + diaper money + childcare assistance) when I got a $200 raise at my job. HOW DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE??? They should gradually phase out benefits, not cut them off completely when you hit some arbitrary number. The whole system is broken and nobody in Sacramento cares enough to fix it!!!

Hi there! There might be a way for you to still qualify. If your income is just slightly over the limit, you could potentially become eligible through something called "income averaging" or by applying during a month when your income might be lower. Here's what you can try: 1) If your income fluctuates at all (like if you sometimes get fewer hours), apply during a lower-income month 2) Ask your worker specifically about "income averaging" if you have months with lower income 3) Make sure they're correctly applying all the deductions you're entitled to (like childcare expenses while working) Worth a shot to try again! The diaper benefit is definitely worth pursuing if you can qualify.

Have you tried calling your county office directly to get a clear answer? I know it can be frustrating trying to get through on those phone lines though. I was dealing with a similar issue last month and spent THREE DAYS trying to reach someone at my county office. Finally I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a real person in about 10 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE that shows exactly how it works. Seriously saved me so much frustration and I got my questions answered right away instead of playing phone tag for a week.

i think some counties might have their own diaper programs too? i live in alameda and they have some local thing where u can get diapers even if ur not on cash aid but u still need to be low income. maybe your county has somethng similar?

Just to add one more thing - make sure you're factoring in all possible deductions when calculating your CalWORKs eligibility. The income limits can be higher than the basic chart shows once they apply all your deductions. Specifically for working parents, they should be deducting: - The first $500 of earned income (standard income disregard) - 50% of your remaining earned income - Childcare costs necessary for work - Transportation expenses for work So your actual countable income might be significantly lower than your gross income. This could potentially put you under the limit even if you think you're over. Definitely worth asking your worker to recalculate with all these factors considered.

also check out if ur local WIC office gives diaper vouchers cuz some do now

I went through this exact same situation with my twins last year! What ended up working for me was connecting with my local community resource center - they had partnerships with several organizations that provide diapers regardless of your CalWORKs status. Also, don't give up on the CalWORKs route yet. Like others mentioned, make sure they're calculating ALL your deductions correctly. I was initially told I didn't qualify, but when I brought documentation of my childcare costs and transportation expenses, it changed everything. In the meantime, check out these resources: - Local food banks often have diaper programs - Churches sometimes run diaper pantries (even if you're not a member) - Facebook mom groups in your area - they often share info about diaper drives and giveaways - Some pediatrician offices keep sample diapers they'll give to families in need Hang in there mama, there are people and programs out there to help bridge this gap!