When to report pregnancy to CalWORKs for adding baby to my Cash Aid case?

Congratulations on your pregnancy! You don't have to report the pregnancy right now to CalWORKs, but you do need to report it within 10 days after the baby is born. There's actually a special form called the CW 8A "Report of New Child In Home" that you'll need to submit along with the birth certificate. As for your WTW hours, pregnancy itself doesn't automatically exempt you, but if you have any pregnancy complications that make it difficult to meet your participation requirements, you can get a doctor's note for a medical exemption. Once you're in your third trimester, you might qualify for reduced hours depending on your situation.

I had baby last year and didnt tell them til he was born and it was fine. they added him next month after i brought birth certficate. your grant goes up with more kids but not by alot tbh

dont wait to tell them!!! my cousin had a baby and didnt report for 2 months and they almost discontinued her for not reporting the change!!!! they say u have 10 days after the birth and thats IT

Here's exactly what you need to know: 1) You don't need to report your pregnancy now, but you must report within 10 days after the baby is born using form CW 8A 2) You'll need to provide the birth certificate (hospital documentation works temporarily) 3) Your cash grant will increase by approximately $110-140 per month for the additional child 4) The increase typically takes effect the month following your report if you report within the first 10 days of the month 5) You may qualify for a diaper stipend of $30/month for children under 3 6) While pregnant, you might qualify for CalWORKs Special Needs payment for pregnancy special needs ($47/month) if you provide medical verification of pregnancy Regarding WTW requirements, pregnancy alone doesn't exempt you, but if you have complications, get medical verification for possible exemption.

i HATE that we have to report every little thing to them but they take forever to process anything!!! when i had my last baby they took almost 2 months to add her to my case and i had to call like 10 times and nobody would pick up!! so frustrating

To add to what others have said, you may also qualify for the CalWORKs Pregnancy Special Needs payment while you're pregnant, which is $47 per month. You'd need to provide medical verification of your pregnancy to receive this. After birth, make sure to also apply for CalFresh if you don't already have it, as your eligibility amount may increase with the additional household member. If you're receiving CalWORKs childcare assistance for your 2-year-old, you'll want to update that as well after the baby is born so you can potentially receive childcare for both children if/when you return to WTW activities.

I went through this last summer! Make sure when you go to your prenatal appointments to ask for documentation of your pregnancy. My worker wouldn't give me the pregnancy special needs payment until I had medical verification. But honestly, the extra $47/month helped with buying maternity clothes. Also, after my baby was born, I submitted everything but they somehow "lost" my paperwork twice!! I ended up having to physically go to the office to get it sorted out. Just keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit. The system is so broken sometimes.

One more thing - technically you can report your pregnancy now if you want to receive the Pregnancy Special Needs payment ($47/month). You'd need to provide medical verification of your pregnancy and expected due date. Some people choose to wait until closer to their due date or after birth to notify CalWORKs, but reporting now could get you that additional assistance during your pregnancy.

oh and forgot to say get on WIC if ur not already!!! they give u extra food for being pregnant and then even more when ur breastfeeding plus formula if u need it

Just wanted to add a few practical tips from my experience having a baby while on CalWORKs: 1) Start gathering your documents early - get a copy of your birth certificate and social security card ready so you have everything when the baby arrives 2) If you deliver at a hospital, ask the staff for help getting the birth certificate process started right away. Some hospitals can help expedite this 3) Consider asking your caseworker now what the current cash aid amount is for your family size so you know exactly what to expect when the baby is added 4) If you're planning to breastfeed, you might qualify for additional CalFresh benefits through the breastfeeding women category 5) Don't forget to also report the new baby to your health insurance (Medi-Cal) within 60 days of birth Good luck with your pregnancy! The system can be confusing but you're asking the right questions ahead of time which will help everything go smoother.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I went through this same situation about 18 months ago. Just to clarify a couple things I'm seeing in the responses - you actually CAN report your pregnancy now if you want to get the Pregnancy Special Needs payment of $47/month, but you're not required to. I chose to report mine around 20 weeks when I had my ultrasound paperwork to make it easier. One thing I wish someone had told me - when you do report the birth, try to do it as early in the month as possible if you can. If you report after the 15th of the month, sometimes the increased benefits don't start until the following month. Also, make sure you ask specifically about the diaper allowance ($30/month) because they don't always automatically add it. The process is pretty straightforward once you know what to expect. The CW 8A form is simple and your caseworker should walk you through it. Just make sure you have multiple copies of the birth certificate because everyone seems to want one - CalWORKs, CalFresh, Medi-Cal, etc. Best of luck with everything!

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I just went through this process a few months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. I decided to report my pregnancy at around 16 weeks to get the Pregnancy Special Needs payment ($47/month) - it really helped with buying maternity clothes and prenatal vitamins. You'll need a doctor's note confirming your pregnancy and due date. After my baby was born, I made sure to report within the first week of the month (like others mentioned, timing matters!). Here's what made the process smoother for me: - I filled out the CW 8A form ahead of time and just left the birth date blank - Had multiple copies of the birth certificate ready - Called my caseworker the day after I got home from the hospital - Asked specifically about ALL the benefits: increased cash aid, diaper allowance, and any other special needs payments One thing I learned - if you're having trouble reaching your caseworker by phone, try calling first thing in the morning (around 8 AM) or right after lunch. Those seem to be the best times to actually get through. The whole process took about 3 weeks from when I reported to when I saw the increased benefits in my account. Make sure to follow up if you don't see changes within a month! Good luck with everything - you're being smart by planning ahead!

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I'm also on CalWORKs and just wanted to add that when I was pregnant last year, I found it really helpful to establish a relationship with my caseworker early on. Even though you don't have to report the pregnancy right away, I'd suggest maybe giving them a heads up during your next regular check-in so they know what's coming. One thing I wish I had known - start keeping a folder now with all your pregnancy-related documents (ultrasound photos, doctor visit summaries, etc.) because you never know what they might ask for. Also, if you end up needing any medical accommodations for work or school requirements due to pregnancy symptoms, get those documented right away. The other moms here have given great advice about the special payments and timing. I just wanted to emphasize that staying organized and keeping good records really makes the whole process less stressful when you're dealing with a newborn. Best of luck with your pregnancy and navigating the system!

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I just wanted to add something that helped me when I was in a similar situation - if you decide to report your pregnancy now to get the Pregnancy Special Needs payment, make sure to ask your doctor specifically for a "medical verification of pregnancy" letter rather than just bringing in your ultrasound photos. Some caseworkers are pickier about the documentation format than others. Also, I'd recommend starting a simple log now of any pregnancy-related expenses (prenatal vitamins, maternity clothes, etc.) because sometimes they ask about special needs beyond the standard $47/month payment if you have documented medical requirements. One more tip - when you do report the birth later, ask about the "layette allowance" which is a one-time payment for baby essentials like clothes and blankets. Not all caseworkers mention it automatically, but it's available for newborns. The amount varies but it's usually around $100-150 and can really help with those first baby purchases. Good luck with everything! You're being really proactive by asking these questions ahead of time.