How much Cash Aid would I get for 2 kids on CalWORKs if we only have CalFresh now?

The amount depends on a few things - your income, county, and if you have other adults in the household. For a family of 3 (you + 2 kids) with part-time income like yours, probably somewhere around $675-775/month. But that's just a guess based on my situation last year. They'll calculate your 'Maximum Aid Payment' and then subtract a portion of your earnings. Definitely worth applying! The WTW hours aren't too bad with young kids.

I'm in LA County and have 2 kids (5 & 8). When I applied in January 2025, we got approved for $824 in Cash Aid. But I wasn't working at all then, so yours will be less because of your income. They take your gross income, subtract $450 (income disregard), then subtract 50% of what's left from your maximum aid payment. So if you make about $1,420/month (20 hrs × $16.50 × 4.3 weeks), your countable income would be about $485. That means if your maximum is around $824, you'd get about $339 in Cash Aid. For Welfare to Work, since you already work 20 hours/week, you'll only need to do 10 more hours of approved activities to meet the 30-hour requirement. Could be job training, school, or additional work hours.

dont listen to these ppl everyone gets diffrent amounts. i got 3 kids and only get $602 but my friend with 2 gets $912 it depends on ur situation

The application process isn't too bad if you have all your documents ready. They'll need: - ID for everyone - Birth certificates - Proof of income (pay stubs) - Proof of address/rent - Bank statements You can apply online through BenefitsCal.com which is way easier than going in person. For Welfare to Work, since you're already working part-time, you'll just need to make up the difference to reach 30 hours/week total. With a 3-year-old, you can also get help with childcare costs through CalWORKs!

When I applied, I had to wait on hold with the county for HOURS trying to ask questions about my application status. It was impossble to talk to a real person. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that holds your place in line and calls you back when a worker is available. Saved me so much time! They have a demo video if you want to see how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE

One more thing - they will ask about the children's father(s) and whether you get child support. If you don't have a child support order, they'll require you to cooperate with child support services unless you request a good cause exemption (like if there's domestic violence history). This surprised me when I applied, just so you know what to expect.

good luck getting CalWORKs lol. took me 3 months to get approved and then they gave me the wrong amount. then i had to do this stupid orientation and my worker never shows up for appointments. the cash helps but the system is a mess

Also don't forget that once you're on Cash Aid, you qualify for other benefits automatically. My kids got free phones through the Lifeline program, and we got a discount on our internet bill and electric bill. Plus they have a diaper stipend if your 3-year-old still uses them - it's like $30/month extra.

I went through the CalWORKs application process about 8 months ago with my 2 kids (ages 4 and 9). Like others mentioned, the amount really depends on your county and exact income situation. In Orange County, our family of 3 gets about $421/month after they deduct from my part-time earnings. A few tips that helped me: - Apply online through BenefitsCal first thing in the morning - the system is faster then - Take photos of ALL your documents before uploading, sometimes they get lost in the system - Ask specifically about the Emergency Aid program when you apply - you might qualify for immediate help while your regular application processes - The CalWORKs orientation is mandatory but it's actually helpful, they explain all the programs you qualify for The childcare assistance was a game changer for us. My 4-year-old goes to a licensed daycare and I only pay $47/month out of pocket. Without that, I couldn't work at all. Definitely apply for that right after you get approved for cash aid. Don't get discouraged if it takes a while - it's worth the hassle for the financial relief!