Can a family of 4 receive calworks and snap while one parent is in school and the other working? We have two kids together aren't married yet but we do live together. He works full time and I currently don’t work due to having a baby. I plan on going back to school but I won't be able to work full time. Can we apply for calworks? Does he still need to be put on child support? We live in cali our rent is $2,300 not including utilities he works for Amazon and makes between $3k-4k a month depending on his hours. Do they even consider our monthly bills or just go based off income. I’m not even sure if it’s even worth trying.

It's definitely worth applying for CalWORKs and CalFresh (SNAP) in your situation. A family of 4 can qualify even with one parent working, especially when the other parent is in school. For CalWORKs, your household income and resources will be evaluated against the eligibility threshold. With your partner making $3-4K monthly and your high rent, you might qualify for partial benefits. They do consider your family size and some expenses, though not all bills. Since you live together and have children together, your partner's income will be counted in your household income calculation regardless of marital status. Regarding child support - if you apply for CalWORKs, you typically must cooperate with child support enforcement, but since your children's father is in the home and part of the application, this requirement likely won't apply to your situation. For school, the CalWORKs program actually has educational supports through their Welfare-to-Work program that might help with your education goals. The only way to know for sure is to apply. You can apply online through BenefitsCal.com or at your local county human services office. Even if you don't qualify for CalWORKs, you might still be eligible for CalFresh or other programs.

I'm in a similar situation and wanted to share what I learned when I applied. You're right that it's worth trying! One thing to keep in mind is that CalWORKs has a time limit (usually 48 months lifetime), so you might want to think about whether now is the best time to use those benefits or if you'd rather save them for when you're deeper into your education. Also, since your partner works for Amazon, make sure to report his income accurately including any overtime or bonuses - they'll verify it anyway. The good news is that California has relatively higher income limits compared to other states, and with your high rent costs, you might be surprised at what you qualify for. If you do apply and get approved, definitely look into the CalWORKs education programs. They can help with books, supplies, and sometimes even childcare while you're in school. The combination of benefits plus educational support could really help you reach your goals. Start with the pre-screening tool on BenefitsCal.com to get an idea of what you might qualify for before doing the full application.

Based on your situation, I'd strongly encourage you to apply! With a household of 4 and rent at $2,300, you're likely spending over half your income on housing alone, which actually helps with CalWORKs eligibility calculations. A few key points for your situation: - CalWORKs considers your entire household income, but they also factor in your family size and high housing costs - Since you're unmarried but living together with shared children, you'll apply as one household unit - The child support requirement typically doesn't apply when the father lives in the home and is part of the CalWORKs case - Being a student can actually work in your favor - CalWORKs has educational incentives and you may be able to meet work requirements through school participation For CalFresh (SNAP), the income limits are generally higher than CalWORKs, so even if you don't qualify for cash aid, you might still get food assistance. I'd recommend using the pre-screening tool on BenefitsCal.com first to get a rough idea of eligibility. Even partial benefits could help significantly with your budget. The application process takes time, so starting sooner gives you a better chance of getting help when you need it most. Don't let uncertainty stop you from trying - the worst they can say is no, but you might be pleasantly surprised by what support is available!