Will Social Security survivor benefits for my child count as income for CalFresh/CalWORKs?

Yes, unfortunately Social Security survivor benefits DO count as income for CalFresh even though they're in your daughter's name. Since she's a minor in your household, all her income has to be included in your household's total income. I went through something similar with my nephew who lives with me - his survivor benefits counted toward our household income for CalFresh calculations. For CalWORKs, it works the same way. The survivor benefits will count as income for your household and will likely reduce your CalWORKs grant amount (or could make you ineligible depending on your other income). The one small positive is that Social Security income is considered "unearned income" so it's treated a bit differently than wages from a job when they calculate your benefits.

The previous poster is correct. All income in the household counts for CalFresh and CalWORKs when the child is a minor. However, there's something important you should know - when you apply, make sure you list your daughter as receiving the Social Security survivors benefits, not yourself. There's a specific way they code this in the system and it can affect the calculation. Also, if you apply for CalWORKs, remember that since your daughter has her own income source, you can apply as a "Non-Needy Caretaker Relative" for yourself only. This would exclude her and her income from your CalWORKs case but still potentially allow you to get some assistance if you qualify otherwise.

im in this EXACT situation!!!!! my son gets $1340 from his dads passing and when i applied 4 calfresh they counted ALL of it! made us ineligible even tho i was only working part time. its so stupid bc that $ is supposed to be for HIM not for groceries for the whole family but thats how they count it. totally messed up system

Quick tip on this - when you apply through BenefitsCal, you'll need to enter the survivor benefits in the "Unearned Income" section and select "Social Security Benefits" as the type. Be super specific that these are survivor benefits for your child, not for you. Sometimes eligibility workers mix this up. Also, if your income is close to the threshold, ask about deductions you might qualify for - there are some expenses that can be deducted to help you qualify. Things like child care costs, some medical expenses, and even housing costs beyond a certain threshold can help reduce your "countable income." If you're having trouble getting through to a worker on the phone to ask these questions (which is common), I've had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through the phone queue. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE - basically it holds your place in line so you don't have to keep calling back.

@casual_commenter Yes, it worked for me when I needed to update my SAR7 info and couldn't get through for days. I was skeptical too but it actually connected me to a real person in about 25 minutes (when normally I'd be on hold for hours or get disconnected). The video demo on their site shows exactly how it works.

Does your daughter have any special needs or disabilities? If so, you might qualify for some exemptions. My nephew has some medical needs and we were able to get some of his SS benefits excluded from the CalFresh calculation because of his condition. It's a special rule that most workers don't tell you about unless you specifically ask. Worth looking into if it applies to your situation.

I think ur better off not reporting it at all tbh... they don't check with social security automatically. Thats what my cousin did and shes been fine for years. Thats just my 2 cents tho!!

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information. I'm going to go ahead and apply for CalFresh and report everything correctly, but I'll make sure to ask about the Non-Needy Caretaker Relative option for CalWORKs if I need to apply for that in the future. I'll also ask about any possible deductions that might help offset some of the survivor benefits when they calculate our eligibility. I appreciate all of you sharing your experiences and knowledge!

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I understand how confusing this whole situation must be on top of everything else you're dealing with. Everyone here has given you really solid advice about the survivor benefits counting as household income - that's unfortunately how the system works even though it seems unfair. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned yet: make sure you keep all your Social Security award letters and any other documentation about your daughter's survivor benefits organized and easily accessible. You'll need to provide proof of this income when you apply, and having everything ready will make the process smoother. Also, even though the survivor benefits might affect your CalFresh eligibility, don't let that discourage you from applying. The income limits change periodically, and you might still qualify depending on your household size and other factors. Plus, if you don't qualify for CalFresh, you might still be eligible for other programs like WIC if your daughter is under 18, or reduced-price school meals. Hang in there - navigating these systems is never easy, but you're asking the right questions and getting good information from this community.

I went through this exact situation when my stepson started receiving survivor benefits after his mom passed. The hardest part emotionally was that money meant to help him was actually hurting our ability to get food assistance. One thing that helped us was working with a local community organization that helps with benefit applications. They knew all the specific deductions to ask about and helped us calculate whether we'd still qualify before we even applied. In our case, we were able to deduct some of his medical expenses and my work-related childcare costs, which brought our "countable income" down enough to still qualify for a small amount of CalFresh benefits. Also, don't forget about the school breakfast/lunch programs - even if you don't qualify for CalFresh, your daughter might qualify for free or reduced school meals based on your household income. That can help offset some grocery costs even if it's not as comprehensive as CalFresh. I know it's overwhelming to deal with all this paperwork and rules while you're still grieving, but you're doing the right thing by getting informed before you apply. Wishing you and your daughter the best.

I'm really sorry for your loss and the difficult situation you're navigating. What you're going through with the survivor benefits is unfortunately very common, and the system can feel especially harsh when you're already dealing with grief. From my experience working with families in similar situations, I want to emphasize a few key points that others have touched on but are worth repeating: First, definitely apply even with the survivor benefits counting as income. The calculations are more complex than just looking at gross income - they factor in deductions like housing costs over a certain amount, dependent care expenses, and medical costs. Sometimes families are surprised to find they still qualify for some benefits. Second, when you apply, be very clear that these are survivor benefits for your daughter, not disability benefits for you. I've seen cases where this gets mixed up in the system and creates complications later. Third, consider applying for both CalFresh and school meal programs simultaneously. Even if CalFresh doesn't work out, the school programs have slightly different income calculations and you might qualify there. One practical tip: if you're working with a county worker who seems unfamiliar with survivor benefits situations, don't hesitate to ask to speak with a supervisor. Some workers see these cases less frequently and may not know all the applicable rules and deductions. You're being smart by asking these questions upfront. The process is challenging, but you're advocating well for your family.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing a parent is incredibly difficult, and having to navigate these complex benefit systems while grieving just adds another layer of stress. I've been a CalWORKs eligibility worker for several years, and I want to confirm what others have said - yes, your daughter's Social Security survivor benefits will count as household income for both CalFresh and CalWORKs purposes since she's a minor in your care. I know this feels unfair when that money is meant to replace her father's support, but that's how the federal regulations work. However, don't let this discourage you from applying! A few important things to keep in mind: 1. Make sure you report the survivor benefits correctly - they should be listed under your daughter's name as "Social Security survivor benefits," not just generic Social Security income. 2. Ask specifically about all possible deductions during your interview. Housing costs above the shelter cap, dependent care expenses if you're working, and medical expenses can all reduce your countable income. 3. If you do apply for CalWORKs later, definitely explore the Non-Needy Caretaker Relative option that was mentioned. This could allow you to receive assistance while keeping your daughter and her income out of the case. The income limits and deduction amounts change periodically, so even if you don't qualify now, it's worth checking back in the future. And definitely apply for school meal programs regardless - they have their own income calculations. Good luck with your application, and don't hesitate to ask for clarification if anything seems unclear during the process.

I'm so sorry for your loss and what you and your daughter are going through. This is such a difficult situation to navigate while you're still grieving. I wanted to share something that might be helpful - when I was dealing with a similar situation with benefits applications, I found that timing can sometimes make a difference. If your income fluctuates at all (maybe you have irregular work hours or seasonal employment), it might be worth applying during a month when your other income is lower, since they often look at current monthly income rather than annual averages. Also, I noticed several people mentioned keeping documentation organized, and I can't stress this enough. Create a folder (physical or digital) with copies of everything - the Social Security award letter, any bank statements showing the deposits, proof of your other income, rent/mortgage statements, utility bills, medical expenses, childcare costs if applicable. Having everything in one place will make the application process much smoother and help ensure you don't miss any potential deductions. One more thing - if you end up needing to call the county office, try calling right when they open in the morning. I've found that's when you're most likely to get through without waiting hours on hold. You're doing everything right by researching and asking questions before you apply. That preparation will really pay off. Wishing you and your daughter all the best with this process.

I'm really sorry for your loss. Going through this while you're still grieving must be incredibly overwhelming. I wanted to add one more resource that might help - many counties have Community Action Agencies or similar nonprofits that offer free assistance with benefit applications. They're often more patient than the county workers and can walk you through everything step by step. Some even have advocates who can attend your interview with you if you're feeling overwhelmed by the process. Also, if you're still employed, make sure to ask about the Earned Income Disregard when they calculate your CalFresh benefits. Even though the survivor benefits will count as income, if you have earnings from work, they disregard a portion of those earnings which could help you still qualify. One thing I learned the hard way - if you get approved for CalFresh but the amount is very small (like $20-50/month), don't assume it's not worth it. Even a small CalFresh benefit can qualify your daughter for free school meals automatically, which saves money and eliminates the separate application process for school meals. You're being such a good advocate for your family by asking all these questions upfront. That preparation is going to serve you well in the application process.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I can imagine how frustrating it must be to navigate these systems during an already difficult time. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should ask specifically about the "Standard Utility Allowance" when you apply for CalFresh. If you're paying for heating or cooling costs (even if utilities are included in your rent), you might be able to claim this deduction which can significantly reduce your countable income. Many applicants don't know to ask about this, but it can make the difference between qualifying and not qualifying. Also, when you do your CalFresh interview, make sure to mention ALL of your housing-related expenses - rent/mortgage, property taxes if you own, homeowner's/renter's insurance, and utilities. The shelter deduction can be substantial if your housing costs are high relative to your income. I know the survivor benefits counting as income feels particularly unfair since that money was meant to replace your daughter's father's financial support, not supplement your household's food budget. Unfortunately the system doesn't distinguish between the purpose of different income sources, but don't let that discourage you from applying. Between the various deductions available, you might still qualify for some assistance. Good luck with your application - you're asking all the right questions and clearly advocating well for your family during a really tough time.