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!

Hi Kayla! I'm in a similar situation - single mom with 2 kids working part-time. I applied for CalWORKs about 6 months ago and it was honestly one of the best decisions I made. Based on your income and family size, you're probably looking at around $300-400 in monthly cash aid after they calculate your income deductions. The application process was smoother than I expected - I did everything online through BenefitsCal and it took about 3 weeks to get approved. Make sure you have all your documents ready (birth certificates, pay stubs, rent receipt, etc.) before you start. For Welfare to Work, since you're already working 20 hours, you'll just need 10 more hours of approved activities. I do online job training courses that count toward my hours, and it's actually helping me work toward a better paying job. The biggest surprise was all the extra benefits - childcare assistance, utility discounts, and my kids qualified for free school supplies and backpacks. It really adds up! Don't let anyone discourage you from applying - your family deserves the support. Good luck! 💪

Hey Kayla! I just wanted to add that when you apply, make sure to ask about the Special Needs allowance too. If either of your kids has any medical conditions, learning disabilities, or even just needs special dietary items, you might qualify for extra monthly payments. My 6-year-old has ADHD and we get an additional $75/month for his special needs. Also, if you're nervous about the interview process, you can request a phone interview instead of going in person. I found that way less stressful with my kids. The worker was actually really helpful and walked me through everything step by step. One last thing - start keeping track of all your work hours and any job search activities you do now, even before you apply. They'll ask about it during your Welfare to Work assessment and having that documented makes everything go smoother. You've got this! 🙌

Hey Kayla! I just went through the CalWORKs application process 2 months ago with my two kids (ages 5 and 8) and wanted to share my experience. I was also working part-time (about 18 hours/week at $15/hour) when I applied. The income calculation is pretty straightforward once you understand it. They gave me the Maximum Aid Payment for a family of 3, then subtracted my countable income. Like others mentioned, they disregard the first $450 of your earnings, then only count 50% of what's left. So with your income, you're probably looking at around $350-450/month in cash aid. For the Welfare to Work requirements, they were actually really flexible since I was already working. My caseworker helped me create a plan that worked around my current job schedule. You can do things like online classes, job skills training, or even volunteer work to make up those extra 10 hours you'd need. Honestly, the hardest part was just getting started and gathering all the paperwork. Once I submitted everything, the process moved pretty quickly. And don't forget to ask about transitional benefits - if you get a raise or more hours later, they don't just cut you off immediately. There's a grace period to help you transition off assistance. The extra support has been a lifesaver for us. Definitely worth applying!

Hi Kayla! I'm a single mom with 3 kids and have been on CalWORKs for about a year now. Based on your income and family size, you're probably looking at around $300-400 in monthly cash aid after they calculate your earnings deduction. The application process was actually easier than I expected - definitely do it online through BenefitsCal if you can. Make sure you have all your documents ready before you start (ID, birth certificates, pay stubs, rent receipt, bank statements). For Welfare to Work, since you're already working 20 hours, you'll only need 10 more hours of approved activities. I do a mix of online job training and volunteering at my kids' school, which both count toward my hours. One thing I wish someone had told me - ask about ALL the programs when you apply! Besides cash aid, we got approved for childcare assistance (only pay $35/month for daycare now), utility discounts, and even a clothing allowance for the kids. It really adds up and makes a huge difference. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me, but it was so worth it. Don't let the paperwork intimidate you - your family deserves this support! Feel free to ask if you have any other questions. Good luck! 💕

Hey Kayla! I'm a CalWORKs recipient in Riverside County with 2 kids (ages 6 and 10), and I wanted to share some practical tips that really helped me through the application process. First, about the cash aid amount - with your part-time income, you're probably looking at around $300-450/month after they do the income calculations. But here's what I wish I'd known: apply for Emergency Aid at the same time! If you're behind on rent or utilities, they can sometimes give you immediate help while your regular application is processing. For documents, take clear photos of everything and save them in a folder on your phone. The online system sometimes glitches and you might need to resubmit things. Also, if you have any irregular income (like if your hours vary week to week), bring pay stubs from the last 4-6 weeks to show the average. The Welfare to Work orientation is actually really informative - they go over ALL the programs you qualify for. Besides the obvious ones people mentioned, ask about: - Bus passes (free transportation) - School fee waivers for your kids - Emergency food boxes - Back-to-school vouchers One more thing - if your caseworker seems overwhelmed or unhelpful, you can request a different one. Don't feel stuck with someone who doesn't communicate well. You deserve good service! The system isn't perfect, but the financial relief is real. You're making a smart choice for your family. Best of luck with your application! 🙏

Hi Kayla! I'm a single mom in San Diego County with 2 kids (ages 4 and 9) and I've been on CalWORKs for about 8 months now. Your situation sounds really similar to mine when I first applied! With your part-time income at $16.50/hour for 20 hours, you're probably looking at around $350-400 in monthly cash aid. The income calculation works like this: they take your gross monthly income (about $1,430), subtract the $450 disregard, then only count 50% of what's left. So your countable income would be around $490, which they subtract from your Maximum Aid Payment. For Welfare to Work, since you're already working 20 hours, you'll only need 10 more hours of approved activities. I do a combination of online community college courses and job readiness workshops - both count and I can schedule them around my current job. A few things that really helped me: - Apply online early in the morning when the system is less busy - Keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit - Ask about expedited processing if you're facing immediate hardship - Don't forget to apply for childcare assistance right after you get approved - it's been a game changer for me The whole process took about 4 weeks for me, but the financial stability it's given us is incredible. Your kids deserve this support and so do you! Feel free to reach out if you have questions about navigating the system. You've got this! 💪

Hi Kayla! I'm new to this community but wanted to share my recent experience since your situation sounds so familiar. I'm a single mom with 2 kids (ages 5 and 8) and just got approved for CalWORKs about 6 weeks ago. I was also working part-time (22 hours at $15.75/hour) when I applied. Based on your income, you're probably looking at around $375-425 in monthly cash aid. The calculation everyone's mentioned is accurate - they'll take your gross income, subtract $450, then only count half of what's left against your maximum aid payment. What surprised me most was how many additional benefits open up once you're approved. Besides the cash aid, I got: - Childcare assistance (now only pay $28/month for my 5-year-old's preschool) - Free school lunches automatically enrolled - Discounted phone and internet services - Help with school supplies and fees The application process was honestly less scary than I thought it would be. I did everything online through BenefitsCal and it took about 3.5 weeks total. My biggest advice is to gather ALL your documents first - ID, birth certificates, 4 weeks of pay stubs, rent receipt, and bank statements from the last 2 months. For Welfare to Work, my caseworker was really understanding about working around my existing job schedule. Since you already have 20 hours, you'll just need 10 more hours of approved activities. I'm doing online career training that actually relates to getting a better job in the future. Don't let anyone discourage you from applying - your family deserves this support and it really does make a difference! The peace of mind alone is worth it. Good luck with your application! 💕

Hey Kayla! I'm also a single mom in California and went through the CalWORKs application process about 4 months ago with my 2 kids (ages 6 and 10). Your income situation sounds really similar to what mine was when I applied. Based on what you've shared, you're probably looking at around $325-400 in monthly cash aid after they calculate your income deductions. The way it works is they take your gross monthly income (about $1,430 for 20 hrs/week at $16.50), subtract the first $450 (that's the income disregard), then only count 50% of what's left against your maximum aid payment. For the Welfare to Work requirements, since you're already working 20 hours, you'll only need 10 more hours of approved activities to meet the 30-hour requirement. I do a mix of online job training courses and volunteer work at my kids' school - both count toward the hours and I can schedule them around my existing job. A couple of things that really helped me during the application process: - Apply online through BenefitsCal first thing in the morning when the system runs smoother - Have all your documents ready before you start (ID, birth certificates, pay stubs, rent receipt, bank statements) - Ask about Emergency Aid if you're behind on any bills - they can sometimes provide immediate help Don't forget to ask about childcare assistance once you're approved - that's been the biggest game changer for us! My kids' after-school care is almost completely covered now. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me and honestly, the financial relief has been incredible. Your family deserves this support - don't let the application process intimidate you. You've got this! 💪

Hi Kayla! I'm a single mom in Sacramento County with 2 kids (ages 4 and 7) and I've been on CalWORKs for about 10 months now. Your situation sounds almost identical to mine when I first applied - I was also working part-time (about 18 hours/week at $16/hour) and really struggling after a rent increase. Based on your income, you're probably looking at around $350-425 in monthly cash aid. The income calculation works like this: they'll take your gross monthly pay (roughly $1,430), subtract the $450 income disregard, then only count 50% of what's left against your Maximum Aid Payment. So your countable income would be around $490. For Welfare to Work, since you're already working 20 hours, you'll only need 10 additional hours of approved activities. I do online certificate courses through the local community college - they count toward my WTW hours AND I'm building skills for a better job later. A few tips that made my process smoother: - Submit your application online through BenefitsCal on a weekday morning when the system is less busy - Take photos of all documents before uploading in case you need to resubmit - Ask specifically about Emergency Aid during your interview - it can provide immediate help with overdue bills - Don't forget to apply for Stage 1 childcare assistance right after approval The additional benefits are incredible too - free school meals, utility discounts, back-to-school vouchers, and my kids qualified for free vision/dental care through Medi-Cal. The childcare assistance alone has been life-changing - I only pay $41/month now for my 4-year-old's daycare. It took about 4 weeks from application to first payment, but the peace of mind has been worth everything. Your kids deserve this support and so do you - don't hesitate to apply! Feel free to ask if you have questions about the process. You've got this mama! 💙