Need CalWORKs emergency appointment ASAP - can't wait until next month for diapers and rent help!
I just applied for CalWORKs yesterday online through BenefitsCal and got an appointment scheduled for next month (May 15). Is there ANY way to get an earlier appointment? I'm in a really tight spot financially. I managed to scrape together most of my rent but I'm still $280 short, and after paying what I can of rent, I literally have $0 left for my son's diapers, wipes, and other basic necessities. I'm a single mom with a 14-month-old and we're barely surviving right now. Can I walk into the county office and explain my situation to get an emergency appointment? Do they offer any immediate assistance while waiting for the regular application to process? I heard something about Immediate Need but don't know if I qualify or how to request it. Also wondering about emergency homeless assistance for the rent I'm short on. Please help - I'm desperate and don't know what to do!
15 comments
Join the conversation
Harold Oh
You absolutely can request Immediate Need! Call your county office ASAP and tell them you need to request Immediate Need assistance because you have less than $100 in resources and need help with essentials like diapers. You can get up to $200 in emergency aid while your regular application is processing. For the rent issue, ask specifically about Homeless Assistance - if you have a pay or quit notice, you might qualify even if you're not technically homeless yet. Don't wait for your scheduled appointment. Either call tomorrow morning when they open (keep calling if busy) or go in person and tell the front desk you need to speak with someone about an Immediate Need request for your pending CalWORKs application.
0 coins
Payton Black
•Thank you! I'm going to try calling tomorrow morning but I've tried calling a few times already and keep getting stuck in the automated system. Do you know if I should bring any specific documents if I decide to go in person instead? And will they really help with diapers through Immediate Need or is that only for food?
0 coins
Amun-Ra Azra
I was in your situation last year. If you're calling and can't get thru, try using Claimyr.com - it's a service that calls the county office for you and gets you connected to an actual human. I was waiting 2+ hours on hold before I found out about it. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE Also, def ask for Immediate Need like the other person said. You qualify if you have less than $100 in resources and have an emergency need for food, shelter, utilities, clothing or medical care. Diapers count! Make sure to specifically say you're requesting "Immediate Need" - that's the magic phrase that gets them to process it within 3 days.
0 coins
Payton Black
•Thank you for that tip! I've never heard of that service but I'm definitely going to try it. Getting through to a real person seems impossible. Did you have to bring proof of your emergency situation for the Immediate Need?
0 coins
Summer Green
Def go in person!! They cant ignore u when ur standing right there w/ ur baby. I waited 2 weeks on phone calls and got nowhere then walked in and got help same day. Bring ID, birth certificate for baby, any bills u have, bank statements showing ur broke, and any eviction notice if u have one.
0 coins
Gael Robinson
•This is good advice but sometimes u still wait allllll day even in person. I went at 7am once and was still there at 3pm with my kids. Pack snacks if u go this route!!!!
0 coins
Edward McBride
CalWORKS is better than CalFresh for emergencies imo. With CalFRESH u wait 30 days no matter what but CalWORKS has the Immediate Need option that can get u cash in 3 days. U gotta ask for it tho they dont just offer it!!!
0 coins
Harold Oh
•To clarify, CalWORKs is Cash Aid and CalFresh is food benefits (formerly food stamps) - they're different programs but you can have both. CalFresh can actually do expedited benefits in 3 days too, but you need to specifically request expedited service. But you're right that for the diaper situation, CalWORKs Immediate Need is what will help since diapers aren't covered by CalFresh.
0 coins
Darcy Moore
THE COUNTY WORKERS WILL NEVER TELL YOU ABOUT IMMEDIATE NEED UNLESS YOU ASK FOR IT SPECIFICALLY!!! They will let you sit and wait a month while your baby has no diapers. I went through this EXACT same thing and wasted 2 weeks not knowing I could get emergency help. The system is designed to make you jump through hoops and they don't care if your kids have diapers or not. Walk in tomorrow morning with all your documents and DEMAND to speak to a worker about immediate need. Don't leave until they help you!!!
0 coins
Dana Doyle
•This isn't completely accurate. While it's true you should specifically ask for Immediate Need, it's not because workers are hiding it from you. Many eligibility workers are overwhelmed with caseloads of 200+ families and simply don't have time to explore every possible option with every applicant. I work with many dedicated workers who genuinely want to help. The system has problems, but portraying all county workers as uncaring isn't fair or accurate.
0 coins
Payton Black
Thank you everyone for the advice! I'm definitely going to try calling first thing tomorrow morning (using that Claimyr service if I can't get through directly) and specifically ask for Immediate Need assistance. If that doesn't work I'll go to the office in person with all my documents. Quick question - for the homeless assistance for my rent, will they help even though I don't have an eviction notice yet? I'm just behind on rent but my landlord hasn't given me any formal notice. Also, would they potentially help with the full $280 I'm short?
0 coins
Harold Oh
•For Homeless Assistance without an eviction notice, it depends on your county. Some counties require a pay-or-quit notice, others will accept a letter from your landlord stating the amount owed and that you're at risk of eviction if not paid. The amount they'll cover varies, but they can potentially cover the full $280 if that's what you need to prevent eviction. Bring your rental agreement and any communication from your landlord about the unpaid amount. Good luck tomorrow!
0 coins
Summer Green
btw check with WIC too for help with formula if ur baby needs it while ur waiting
0 coins
Payton Black
•Thanks for reminding me about WIC! I actually had it when he was younger but it expired and I didn't renew it. I'll definitely look into that again too.
0 coins
Dana Doyle
Just to add some information about what to expect: When you request Immediate Need, they must make a determination within one working day and if approved, issue payment within 3 working days. You'll need to complete a one-page Immediate Need request form. The maximum amount is $200, and it's an advance on your first CalWORKs grant (meaning it will be deducted from your first regular payment). For Homeless Assistance, there are two types: Temporary (hotel vouchers) and Permanent (rent/deposit assistance). Since you have housing but are behind on rent, you'd be applying for Permanent. You'll need to demonstrate that your rent is within 80% of your total household income to qualify. For the verification, a landlord statement showing the amount due should suffice if you don't have a formal eviction notice. Good luck, and don't forget to also ask about the diaper benefit - California now provides $30/month per child under age 3 for diapers as a supplemental payment to CalWORKs recipients.
0 coins