Does GI Bill BAH count as income for CalWORKs and CalFresh? Student veterans confused

This is actually a complicated topic with different rules for CalFresh vs CalWORKs. For CalFresh, your GI Bill BAH is NOT counted as income - it's completely exempt. This is federal policy for SNAP benefits (which is what CalFresh is). But for CalWORKs, it gets trickier. Generally, the BAH portion IS counted as unearned income for CalWORKs purposes. However, there are some educational expense deductions you might qualify for that could offset some of it. Make sure you clearly explain to both workers that you're receiving BAH from the GI Bill specifically, not regular income. Ask for a supervisor if they seem confused about the policy.

we were in the EXACT same boat last year!!!! my husband is the veteran and gets gi bill. calfresh didnt count it but calworks did count the bah part. we still qualified for some cash aid but not as much. bring your award letter that shows the breakdown of tuition vs housing money. thats what they wanted from us

I work with student veterans dealing with benefits, and this confusion happens ALL THE TIME. Here's the breakdown: • CalFresh (SNAP): GI Bill BAH is 100% EXEMPT from income calculations • CalWORKs: BAH *IS* counted as unearned income, BUT education expenses can be deducted Here's what you need to do: 1. For your CalWORKs application, gather ALL documentation of educational expenses including books, supplies, transportation to/from school, childcare during classes, etc. 2. Request a breakdown letter from VA showing exactly what portion is BAH vs. tuition 3. Ask your school's Veterans Resource Center for help - they often have staff who understand these benefit interactions Many eligibility workers don't understand veteran benefits well. Don't be afraid to ask for a supervisor if needed.

The county people always get this wrong!!! I had to fight for months about my sons gi bill. They kept denying us calfresh even tho it's NOT supposed to count. I had to file for a hearing before they finally fixed it. So frustrating!!!!

If you're struggling to get through to your CalWORKs worker to clarify this, I'd recommend trying Claimyr. I was in a similar situation with confusion about my student income and couldn't get anyone on the phone for weeks. Used claimyr.com and they got me through to a real person at the county within 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE Once I actually spoke with a knowledgeable worker (had to ask for a supervisor), they were able to correctly apply the rules about my education income. Saved me so much stress and prevented a denial based on incorrect information.

Yes, they just connect you to the county office, but the big difference is you don't wait on hold for hours. Once I got through, I specifically asked for someone who handles veteran cases or a supervisor who could clarify the GI Bill policy. It took asking a couple times, but I eventually got someone who knew exactly how to code it in their system.

theyre all wrong!!! i get gi bill to and they told me it ALL counts for calworks and calfresh! i got denied everything and now im behind on rent. someone said theres a law about this but idk what it is. does anyone have the actual regulation number or something i can tell them???? im so confused

I remember when I was on CalFresh they told me only certain types of educational income don't count but others do? So confusing!

One important thing to know - make sure you're reporting your student status on your application/SAR7 forms correctly. For CalFresh, being a student can actually make it HARDER to qualify unless you meet certain exemptions, even though the GI Bill itself isn't counted. Being a veteran actually helps here, as it's one of the student exemptions. For CalWORKs, your student status can count toward your Welfare-to-Work participation requirements, which is helpful. Make sure to provide your class schedule as verification.

Great question! If you and your husband file together as one household (which you should), then as long as ONE of you meets a student exemption (like being a veteran), you can both receive CalFresh. The student restrictions only apply if NOBODY in the household meets an exemption. So your veteran status should cover both of you for the student eligibility issue.

also make sure u tell them if u have kids!!! we get the diaper stipend for our baby thru calworks and that helps a ton

This thread has been so helpful! I'm a student veteran too and went through this exact same confusion last year. One thing that really helped me was getting a letter from my school's financial aid office that specifically stated which portions of my GI Bill benefits were for tuition/fees versus housing. Also, if you're getting pushback from workers, ask them to document in your case file exactly what they're counting and why. Sometimes just asking them to write it down makes them double-check the policy. And definitely keep copies of everything - your VA award letter, school enrollment verification, and any educational expenses. I had to resubmit documentation multiple times because different workers kept asking for the same things. The student veteran community at my school was a lifesaver for navigating all this. If your school has one, they might have other students who've been through the same process with the same county office.

I'm a case manager at a legal aid organization and we see this exact issue constantly with veteran clients! The confusion between workers is unfortunately very common because veteran benefits are complex and not all staff receive adequate training on them. Here's what I always tell clients in your situation: **For CalFresh:** Your GI Bill BAH is 100% exempt. If they try to count it, they're wrong. The federal regulation is 7 CFR 273.9(c)(10) - print this out and bring it with you. **For CalWORKs:** Only the BAH portion counts as income, but you can deduct educational expenses dollar-for-dollar from your countable income. Keep receipts for everything - books, supplies, transportation, even a laptop for school. **Pro tip:** When you meet with workers, start by saying "I'm a veteran receiving GI Bill benefits" and ask if they need to consult with a supervisor about veteran benefit policy. Many workers will appreciate the heads up rather than guessing. If you get denied or they miscalculate, request a hearing immediately. We've won many of these cases because the county applied the wrong rules. Your local Veterans Service Office can also advocate for you - that's part of their job. Don't give up! You have rights and these benefits exist to help veterans like you succeed in school.

I'm a veteran who went through this exact same situation about two years ago! The confusion between workers is so real and honestly really frustrating when you're already stressed about finances. What saved me was getting everything in writing. I brought my VA award letter that clearly breaks down tuition vs BAH, plus I got a letter from my school's Veterans Affairs office explaining what the GI Bill covers. Having those official documents made a huge difference with the county workers. Also, one thing that really helped - I found out my county has a specific Veterans Benefits Coordinator who handles these kinds of cases. You might want to ask if your county has something similar. This person actually understood the policies and didn't give me conflicting information like the regular eligibility workers did. The educational expense deductions for CalWORKs are legit too - I was able to deduct my textbooks, lab fees, and even parking passes. Keep ALL your receipts from anything school-related. Hang in there! It's a pain to navigate but you'll get through it. The benefits are there to help veterans succeed in school, so don't let confusing workers discourage you from getting what you're entitled to.

I'm also a student veteran dealing with benefits confusion! Reading through everyone's responses has been incredibly helpful. I wanted to add one more resource that helped me - the Student Veterans of America (SVA) has a benefits hotline where you can talk to someone who specifically understands GI Bill interactions with other programs. They helped me understand the CalFresh vs CalWORKs differences before I even applied. Also, if you're struggling with the educational expense documentation for CalWORKs, your school's financial aid office can often provide a letter listing typical costs for students in your program (books, supplies, etc.) even if you don't have every single receipt. This helped me when I was missing some receipts from earlier in the semester. One thing I learned the hard way - make sure to report any changes in your class schedule or GI Bill payments right away. When I dropped a class mid-semester, it changed my BAH amount and I had to update both programs. Better to over-communicate than have issues later! Good luck with everything! The system is confusing but you're asking all the right questions.

I'm a newer community member but went through something similar recently! One thing that helped me was bringing a printed copy of my Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the VA along with my award letter. The COE clearly shows you're entitled to educational benefits as a veteran, which seemed to help the workers understand this wasn't just regular income. Also, if you haven't already, check if your school has a Veterans Resource Center or Veterans Affairs office on campus. The staff there often have direct relationships with county offices and can sometimes make calls on your behalf or provide documentation that carries more weight with eligibility workers. I noticed from other comments that asking for a supervisor or Veterans Benefits Coordinator is key - don't feel bad about advocating for yourself! These workers deal with hundreds of different programs and it's totally normal for them to need to double-check veteran-specific policies. One last tip: if you do end up needing to appeal or request a hearing, document everything from your appointments (dates, worker names, what they told you). I wish I had done this from the beginning when I was getting conflicting information. You've got this! The fact that you're asking these questions and gathering information shows you're being proactive. Don't let the confusion discourage you from getting the benefits you've earned.

As someone who works with student veterans navigating benefits, I want to emphasize that you should NOT give up if you encounter workers who don't understand these policies. The confusion you're experiencing is unfortunately very common, but the rules ARE clear once you get to someone who knows them. A few additional points that might help: **Documentation is everything** - Beyond your VA award letter, consider getting a letter from your school's Registrar confirming your enrollment status and credit hours. Sometimes having "official" school letterhead helps with credibility. **Know your appeal rights** - If you get denied or they miscalculate your benefits, you have the right to request a State Hearing within 90 days. Don't be intimidated by this process - many veterans win these appeals when counties apply the wrong rules. **Connect with other veterans** - Your local VFW, American Legion, or campus veteran groups often have members who've dealt with identical situations. Sometimes hearing "I went through this exact thing with the same county office" is incredibly reassuring. The bottom line: Your GI Bill BAH should NOT count for CalFresh, but WILL count for CalWORKs (minus educational deductions). If workers are telling you otherwise, they need more training. You've served your country and earned these educational benefits - don't let administrative confusion prevent you from accessing the support programs you need while completing your education. Stay persistent and keep advocating for yourself!

I'm new to this community but going through a very similar situation right now! My wife is a veteran using GI Bill benefits and we've been getting completely different answers from different county workers about how it affects our CalFresh and CalWORKs applications. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening - especially learning that there's actually a specific federal regulation (7 CFR 273.9(c)(10)) that exempts GI Bill BAH from CalFresh income calculations. I had no idea there was an actual regulation number we could reference! What's been most frustrating for us is that we've had three different appointments and gotten three different explanations. One worker told us the entire GI Bill counts for both programs, another said none of it counts for either program, and the third said it depends on "how we use the money." It's been so confusing and stressful. I'm definitely going to try some of the strategies mentioned here - especially asking if our county has a Veterans Benefits Coordinator and getting documentation from our school's Veterans Affairs office. The tip about bringing the Certificate of Eligibility along with the award letter seems really smart too. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and resources. It's reassuring to know we're not alone in dealing with this confusion, and that there are clear rules once you get to the right person who knows them. This thread has given me the confidence to keep advocating for us to get the correct determination instead of just accepting whatever the first worker tells us.

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! Just had my CalWORKs interview last week and the worker told me my entire GI Bill counts as income, but when I called CalFresh they said something totally different. It's so frustrating getting conflicting information when you're already stressed about making ends meet as a student. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - especially learning about the specific regulation numbers and the difference between how CalFresh and CalWORKs treat GI Bill BAH. I had no idea there were educational expense deductions available for CalWORKs either. One thing I wanted to add - I've been keeping a notebook with dates, worker names, and exactly what each person tells me. It's already come in handy when I had to call back about something and could reference exactly what the previous worker said. Highly recommend this for anyone dealing with multiple appointments and conflicting information. Also, for anyone else struggling with this - I found my school's Veterans Services office super helpful. The coordinator there actually knew which county workers were most familiar with veteran benefits and helped me request to work with someone who had more experience with GI Bill cases. Thank you to everyone who shared resources and experiences. It's such a relief to know other student veterans have navigated this successfully and that there are clear rules once you get to the right person who knows them!

I'm a student veteran who went through this exact same maze of confusion about 6 months ago! The inconsistency between workers is absolutely maddening when you're already stressed about finances. Here's what finally worked for me after multiple frustrating appointments: **Before your next meeting:** Call ahead and specifically ask to speak with someone who handles veteran cases or ask if they have a Veterans Benefits Coordinator. Many counties have designated staff for this but they don't always assign them automatically. **Bring this documentation:** - Your VA Certificate of Eligibility (COE) - Award letter showing the breakdown of tuition vs BAH - A letter from your school's financial aid office listing typical educational costs for your program - Printed copy of 7 CFR 273.9(c)(10) for CalFresh (this is the federal reg that exempts GI Bill from SNAP) **For educational expenses on CalWORKs:** Keep every single receipt - books, supplies, lab fees, parking passes, even your laptop if it's for school. I was able to deduct over $800 in educational expenses which significantly reduced my countable income. The key is being persistent and not accepting "I don't know" as an answer. You've earned these benefits through your service, and the rules ARE clear once you get to someone who knows them. If you continue getting incorrect information, don't hesitate to request a supervisor or even file for a hearing. I've seen too many veterans give up when they were actually entitled to benefits. You've got this! Feel free to ask if you need any clarification on the process.

I'm a newcomer to this community but currently dealing with this exact same situation! My partner is a veteran receiving GI Bill benefits and we just applied for both CalFresh and CalWORKs last month. The amount of conflicting information we've received from different workers has been absolutely overwhelming. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly validating - it's clear that this confusion happens to SO many veteran families, which makes me feel less alone in this struggle. The breakdown everyone has provided about CalFresh vs CalWORKs rules is exactly what I needed to understand. I'm definitely going to implement several strategies mentioned here: - Requesting a Veterans Benefits Coordinator or supervisor who understands these policies - Bringing printed copies of the federal regulation (7 CFR 273.9(c)(10)) for CalFresh exemptions - Getting documentation from our school's Veterans Affairs office - Starting to keep detailed notes of every interaction with county workers One thing I'm curious about - for those who successfully got their cases resolved, how long did the process typically take once you connected with knowledgeable workers? We're in a pretty tight financial situation while finishing school, so I'm trying to set realistic expectations for when we might see some resolution. Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences and resources here. This thread has been more helpful than hours of phone calls with the county office. It's amazing what a difference it makes to connect with people who have actually navigated this system successfully!

I'm new to this community but going through the exact same situation right now! My husband is also a veteran using his GI Bill benefits while we're both in school full-time. We've been getting completely different answers from different county offices about how his BAH affects our CalFresh and CalWORKs applications. This entire thread has been a lifesaver - I had no idea there was a specific federal regulation (7 CFR 273.9(c)(10)) that clearly exempts GI Bill BAH from CalFresh calculations! And learning about the educational expense deductions for CalWORKs is huge - we spend so much on textbooks and supplies that I never realized could be deducted. The strategy about asking specifically for a Veterans Benefits Coordinator makes so much sense. I've been accepting whatever worker they assign us, but it sounds like being proactive about requesting someone who understands veteran benefits could save us a lot of frustration. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and specific resources. It's incredibly encouraging to see so many student veterans who have successfully navigated this confusing system. Going to call our county office tomorrow and implement several of these strategies. Will definitely update on how it goes!

I'm a new community member but also a student veteran currently navigating this exact same confusing situation! My wife and I are both full-time students and I'm using my GI Bill benefits. We've gotten completely different information from three different county workers about how my BAH affects our eligibility for CalFresh and CalWORKs. This thread has been absolutely invaluable - I had no idea there was a specific federal regulation (7 CFR 273.9(c)(10)) that clearly states GI Bill BAH is exempt from CalFresh income calculations! And learning about the educational expense deductions available for CalWORKs is huge - we spend hundreds every semester on textbooks, lab fees, and supplies that I never realized could be deducted. The advice about specifically requesting a Veterans Benefits Coordinator or asking for a supervisor who handles veteran cases is brilliant. I've been passively accepting whatever worker they assign us, but it makes total sense to be proactive about getting someone who actually understands these complex policies. I'm planning to call our county office tomorrow armed with all this information - printed federal regulation, Certificate of Eligibility, detailed award letter breakdown, and documentation of our educational expenses. Will definitely update this thread on how it goes! Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and specific strategies. It's so encouraging to see that other student veterans have successfully navigated this system despite the initial confusion. This community is amazing!