Pregnant with 9-year-old and needing more CalWORKs Cash Aid to move from family's living room - due in 3 weeks!

you need to report your pregnancy IMMEDIATELY if you haven't already!!! i had almost the exact situation and once i got documentaton from my doctor about the pregnancy and due date, they increased my grant amount. you should also ask about the ONCE IN A LIFETIME CalWORKs homeless assistance payment. it can help with deposit on a new place or back rent. but dont wait til baby arrives to report!!!

You need to submit a "mid-period report" about your pregnancy with verification from your doctor showing your due date. Don't wait until the baby is born! Also, since you're in an overcrowded living situation, you should absolutely apply for the Permanent Homeless Assistance benefit through CalWORKs. It can help with security deposit and first month's rent. The fact that you're in someone's living room qualifies as "homeless" under their definition.

Try using Claimyr to get through to your worker - it's the only way I could ever reach mine when I was pregnant! They connect you directly to a real person at the county office so you don't have to keep calling and waiting on hold forever. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE. I used it when I couldn't get a response about my WTW exemption during pregnancy. Once you get through, definitely ask about both the IMMEDIATE add of your unborn (with medical verification) AND the homeless assistance program since you're in an overcrowded living situation.

OMG everyone telling you to report the pregnancy is 100% RIGHT!!! The caseworkers won't automatically add the unborn to your case even if you mentioned it during redetermination!!! You need to SPECIFICALLY request it and provide verification!!!! I learned this the hard way and had to struggle with lower benefits for 2 months after my baby was born because the county said I "never officially reported it" even though I told my worker THREE TIMES during our calls!!!! Get it in writing and ask for a "pregnant woman supplement" specifically!!!!

I'm really confused about one thing - when did you last talk to your worker? If you had a redetermination recently and told them you were pregnant, they should have noted it in your case. When was your last SAR7 or recertification? Sometimes they need the pregnancy officially documented on one of those forms, not just verbally told to them. Also, you mentioned "renting from family" - be careful because sometimes they reduce your grant if they think you're getting free or reduced rent from family members. Make sure to clarify it's a formal rental agreement at market rate.

I went thru simlar situation last year and YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL because when I told my worker I was moving from my mom's house to my aunt's house they almost closed my case completely!!! They said it was still the same "household composition" because it was family helping family and tried to count my aunt's income!!! Make sure when you report your new living situation you're VERY CLEAR that this is a landlord/tenant situation with a real rental agreement even though it's family. Also the Permanent Homeless Assistance only works if you haven't gotten it before (it's once in a lifetime) and you need to have the new place already lined up when you apply.

Ok I just want to confirm that you SHOULDN'T wait until after baby comes!! The county actually has a specific rule that they can add an UNBORN child to your household size in the LAST TRIMESTER which you're in now!!! That increases your grant before baby arrives!! It's called the "pregnant woman supplement" and it's supposed to help you prepare for the baby! Also for the Permanent Homeless Assistance you need to have a written eviction notice or statement from where you currently stay saying you need to leave. Sometimes they count overcrowding as a reason but its county by county. Sacramento County approved mine when I was sleeping on my friend's couch with my kids.

alot of ppl don't no that when u get the homeless assistance u CANT get it again for same family members ever so make sure this new place will work long term. my worker never told me that n i wasted mine on a bad apartment that had roaches n i had to leave after 3 months but cudnt get the assistance again. also make sure ur cousin will accept the payment from the county cus some landlords dont want to deal with all the paperwork n inspection.

To summarize the advice here: 1) Submit a mid-period report about your pregnancy with medical verification immediately, 2) Ask specifically for the pregnant woman supplement since you're in your third trimester, 3) Apply for Permanent Homeless Assistance with documentation of your current overcrowded living situation, 4) Ensure you have a formal rental agreement with your cousin at market rate, and 5) Get this all done BEFORE the baby arrives. Your grant should increase both for the pregnancy and again when the baby is born if you follow these steps.