VA education benefits counted as income for CalWORKs? Got denied over GI Bill

Unfortunately, your caseworker is correct. VA educational benefits ARE counted as income for CalWORKs, even though they're not counted for CalFresh. It's a really frustrating distinction, especially for student veterans. The Montgomery GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill payments are considered income that's available to meet your basic needs according to CalWORKs regulations. The only portion that might be exempt would be any verified amount that goes directly to tuition/fees that the school requires.

This is BS!! The system is TOTALLY rigged against veterans. I had the same thing happen when I tried to use my benefits. They count every penny of GI Bill but if someone gets a pell grant or other financial aid its somehow not counted??? make it make sense!

have u tried asking for a fair hearing? sometimes they make mistakes with the calculations. they counted my student loans as income once and i had to fight it. maybe the worker doesnt understand the difference between different parts of ur VA benefits?

I went through this exact situation last year. You might want to check if any portion of your GI Bill is specifically designated for books or supplies - those portions can sometimes be excluded from the income calculation. Also, make sure they're not counting your housing allowance AND your tuition payment as income when the tuition goes directly to the school. I finally got through to a supervisor who helped review my case after weeks of trying to reach someone. If you're having trouble reaching someone at the county office, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach a live person instead of getting disconnected constantly. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE that shows how it works. Saved me hours of frustration when I was dealing with this same issue.

This happened to my brother too. Have you looked into the CalWORKs exemptions for students? I think there's still a way to qualify if you're a single parent with a child under 6. Might be worth asking specifically about that.

what about applying for calfresh instead? they dont count gi bill as income i think. at least thats what my cousin said and hes a vet using gi bill

I appreciate all the suggestions everyone. I'm going to try several things: 1) Request a breakdown of how they calculated my income to make sure they're not counting the tuition portion that goes to the school, 2) Apply for CalFresh since apparently they don't count VA benefits as income, 3) Ask specifically about the single parent exemption for WTW hours, and 4) Request a fair hearing if needed. This is all so complicated and frustrating, but I'm determined to make this work somehow. I just want to complete my degree and make a better life for my kid.

I'm also a veteran dealing with similar issues, though I haven't hit this specific problem yet since I'm still in the application process. This whole thread has been really eye-opening - I had no idea VA benefits were treated differently than other educational aid for CalWORKs. It seems really backwards that we're penalized for using benefits we earned through our service. I'm definitely going to apply for CalFresh first based on what everyone's saying here, and maybe hold off on CalWORKs until I understand all the implications. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this kind of real-world info is so much more helpful than trying to navigate the official websites and conflicting information from different workers.

This is such an important conversation and I'm really glad to see veterans supporting each other through these complicated benefit interactions. As someone who works with veterans transitioning to civilian life, I see this VA education benefits vs. CalWORKs issue come up frequently. One additional resource I'd suggest is contacting your local Veterans Service Organization (VCO) - organizations like DAV, VFW, or American Legion often have benefit counselors who specifically understand how different veteran benefits interact with state programs. They might know about advocacy efforts to change these policies or have connections with county supervisors who can help escalate cases. Also, if you do end up needing to request a fair hearing, don't go in alone - bring documentation showing exactly how your GI Bill funds are being used for educational expenses versus living expenses. The more detailed your breakdown, the better chance you have of getting a favorable review. Keep fighting for what's right - you've earned these benefits and deserve support while you're improving your situation through education.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's incredibly frustrating how the system seems to work against veterans trying to better themselves through education. One thing that might be worth exploring is whether your county has any local veteran-specific programs or hardship assistance that could help bridge the gap while you're in school. Some counties have discretionary funds or partnerships with veteran organizations that aren't widely advertised. Also, have you checked if your school offers any emergency financial assistance programs for student parents? Many colleges have small grant programs specifically for situations like this where students are caught between benefit eligibility gaps. It's not a long-term solution, but it could help with immediate needs like rent while you work through the appeals process. The fact that you're determined to complete your degree for your child shows incredible strength - don't give up, even though the system is making it unnecessarily difficult.