Can student veterans with kids qualify for CalWORKs if only receiving VA benefits?

You should definitely apply! Based on what you've shared, you likely qualify for CalWORKs. Here's why: 1. VA disability benefits are EXEMPT income for CalWORKs eligibility - they don't count against you 2. Having young children under 6 can reduce or eliminate your Welfare to Work (WTW) hours requirement 3. Being full-time students can count toward your WTW participation if your education leads to employment You'll need to verify your student status, your husband's veteran status, and your children's information. Apply through BenefitsCal.com or visit your county office in person. They'll evaluate your specific situation during the interview.

i was on calworks last yr while getting va pension it wrkd fine they didnt count my husbands va money BUT they will ask for Child Support assignment if ur kids dad isnt in the home just fyi

I'm in a similar situation but my kids are a bit older. The county worker told me wrong information TWICE about VA benefits counting as income. Had to fight to get approved because they kept counting my husband's VA compensation. Make sure you specifically tell them it's VA DISABILITY COMPENSATION not just "VA benefits" - they get confused. Print out the policy that says VA disability is exempt and bring it to your interview!!! Also apply for CalFresh at the same time if you haven't already.

To directly answer your question: YES, you qualify based on what you've shared. VA disability benefits are exempt income for CalWORKs purposes. Since you have a child under 2 years old (your 8-month-old), you qualify for a Welfare to Work exemption that reduces your required participation hours. For your student status, you need to complete a WTW2 form to verify your education meets the Self-Initiated Program (SIP) requirements. Nursing programs typically qualify since they lead directly to employment. Computer science should qualify too. When you apply, request the "immediate need" payment if you're at risk of eviction or have urgent financial needs - they can issue benefits within 3 days if you qualify for expedited service.

The CalWORKs office is a NIGHTMARE to get through to. I spent 3 weeks trying to reach someone about my student exemption. When I finally got someone on the phone they told me I had been assigned the wrong worker and transferred me only to get disconnected. SO frustrating!!!

I went through the same situation last year! Just be careful because they will likely ask for proof of your student status every semester. I got my benefits cut off because I didn't turn in my new schedule fast enough even though I was still in school. Make sure you respond to EVERY piece of mail they send! But yes, VA disability should be exempt and with two little ones you should qualify. The amount you get depends on your family size and county - for a family of 4 with no countable income it's around $1,240/month in most counties.

You definitly qualify but be ready for the welfare to work requirement they made me do even tho i was a full time student. i had to do 20 hours of activities on top of my classes it was insane!!! some counties are better than others tho

Just wanted to mention that many counties are REALLY behind in processing applications right now. We applied in January and didn't get approved until March. Make sure you follow up constantly and keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit. They lost my husband's VA documentation twice and we had to resubmit it. So frustrating.

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share that I'm in a very similar situation! My partner is also a veteran receiving VA disability benefits and we have a toddler. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - I had no idea that VA disability benefits were exempt income for CalWORKs purposes. One thing I'm wondering about that I haven't seen addressed yet - does anyone know if there are specific deadlines we need to be aware of when applying? Like, if we're facing eviction next month, how quickly can we realistically expect to see benefits if we apply this week? The immediate need payment option that @Alicia mentioned sounds promising, but I'm curious about real-world timelines from people who've actually been through the process recently. Also, for those who successfully got approved - did you apply online through BenefitsCal or go to the office in person? I'm trying to figure out which route might be faster given our time crunch. Thanks so much for sharing all your experiences - it's giving me hope that we might actually qualify for help!