Newly separated dad in San Diego - qualify for CalWORKs or CalFresh after leaving everything behind?

I'm really sorry about your situation. Dealing with that kind of betrayal while trying to provide for your kids is incredibly tough. To answer your questions - yes, you can likely qualify for CalFresh on your current income. CalFresh income limits are higher than CalWORKs. For a household of 1, the gross monthly income limit is around $2,430 for 2025, so you'd be under that. For CalWORKs (Cash Aid), it would depend on whether your children will be staying with you part-time. If they're with you at least 50% of the time, you could potentially apply as a family of 3. If they're only visiting occasionally, you might not qualify as a single adult. The income limits for Cash Aid are much lower than CalFresh. I recommend applying through BenefitsCal.com - you can apply for multiple programs at once. Make sure to clearly explain your current living situation and custody arrangement in the application. You'll need to provide proof of identity, residency in San Diego County, and your income from your new job.

man i been thru similar sh*t 2 yrs ago, its rough. def apply for calfresh like the person above said. u can do it online and its pretty easy. one thing tho - ur brothers might need to write a letter saying ur paying them some rent or something, cuz they ask about your living situation. if u say ur just staying free they might think ur getting more support than u are

Since you mentioned wanting help with housing too, you should know there's a special program through CalWORKs called Permanent Housing Assistance (PHA). It can help with security deposits and last month's rent when you're ready to get your own place. But like the previous poster said, you'd need to have your kids with you at least part-time on a regular basis to qualify for CalWORKs. For now, definitely focus on CalFresh. With your income, you could get around $300/month in food benefits which would free up money for saving toward housing. There's also General Relief which is a very small amount of cash aid for single adults, but it's a loan you have to pay back when you get on your feet. Don't forget to apply for Medi-Cal too when you apply for CalFresh. One application covers all programs on BenefitsCal.

I went through a very similar situation when my husband left. The system is COMPLETELY BIASED against dads even when they're the ones trying to do right by their kids!!! When I applied as a mom with kids, I got approved for everything right away. My ex tried to get help and got denied for everything except CalFresh. You should DEFINITELY apply for child support modification immediately with the court. If you're paying child support based on your old income, that needs to be adjusted ASAP. Also, fight for 50/50 custody - it's your RIGHT as a father and the courts are supposed to favor that arrangement now.

Hey, I know calling the county to follow up on your application can be a nightmare. I was in your shoes last year trying to get CalFresh approved while staying with family after my divorce. Kept calling and getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Finally I used this service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual person at the San Diego County office in 10 minutes when I'd been trying for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE Their website is claimyr.com - basically they wait on hold for you then call you when they get a live person. Totally worth it when you're dealing with enough stress already and don't have hours to sit on hold. Just sharing because it saved me a ton of frustration during an already difficult time.

One more important point I forgot to mention: When you apply, you need to tell them your full situation including that you plan to have your children stay with you when you get stable housing. This establishes your intent to care for them part-time. Also, be prepared that they may ask for verification of your separation (it doesn't need to be legal divorce papers). This could be as simple as different addresses, a statement explaining the situation, or any documentation showing you're living separately. For the BenefitsCal application, use your brothers' address in San Diego County as your residence address. The county office will schedule an interview after you apply - it can be done by phone. Make sure to answer their call or you'll have to reschedule.

For your application, you should only include your current household and income information - which would be just you and your income from your new job. You don't need to include your wife's income or your previous household situation since you're no longer living together. Just be clear about your current living situation with your brothers and that you're paying them some money for utilities/food. Make sure to explain during your interview that you recently separated from your wife and are establishing a new household. The eligibility worker should understand and only look at your current situation for benefits. They might ask when you separated just to verify the timeline.

If you're having trouble finding an affordable apartment in San Diego (which is crazy expensive right now), you might also want to look into the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program. The waitlist is long, but it's worth getting on it now. Also, there are some rapid rehousing programs through the San Diego Housing Commission that might help someone in your situation. They prioritize families with children, and even though your kids aren't with you full-time, you're still technically a family unit with partial custody. Hang in there man. It gets better. I was sleeping on my sister's couch two years ago after my breakup, and now I have my own place and see my kids regularly.

forgot to say make sure u check the box for expedited calfresh when u apply! if ur income is low enough and ur rent/utilities are high enough, they can approve u in like 3 days instead of 30. worth a shot

Your situation sounds rough, sending you positive thoughts. When my husband and I split, I also applied for benefits. One thing that tripped me up was the verification process. They kept asking for more and more documents! Make sure you respond quickly to any requests for verification or your application can get denied just for not responding in time. Also just a heads up that they usually send notices through the mail, so make sure your brothers' address is a secure place for you to receive mail. My benefits got discontinued once because I missed an important notice when I was between homes.