I'm going through this same situation right now with my 8-month-old son! The father disappeared when I was 5 months pregnant and I literally only know his first name and the bar where we met. I was so scared about the cooperation requirement that I almost didn't apply at all. But my caseworker explained that "cooperation" doesn't mean you have to be a detective - it just means you share whatever you do know and don't intentionally hide information. I filled out the CW 2.1 form with his first name only and wrote "unknown" for everything else. During my LCSA interview, I explained that I met him at a bar, we only knew each other for a few weeks, and I have no way to contact him or his family. The worker said this happens more often than people think and that my honesty was exactly what they needed to see. My benefits were approved and they opened a child support case, but when they couldn't locate him with just a first name, that was the end of it. No one questioned me further or made me feel bad about not having more info. Your sister should definitely apply - the worst thing she can do is not try to get help she needs for her baby.

I want to add something that might help ease your sister's worries - the child support cooperation requirement is actually meant to protect families, not punish them. The state wants to make sure children get financial support when possible, but they also recognize that sometimes parents genuinely don't have information about the other parent. I've been through this process twice (different counties) and both times the workers were much more understanding than I expected. The key thing to remember is that "cooperation" is defined by your willingness to help, not by how much information you actually have. Your sister should bring whatever documentation she has (even if it's just the birth certificate without the father's name) and be prepared to explain her situation honestly. Most importantly, she shouldn't let fear of this requirement delay getting help for her baby. The benefits can be life-changing for a single mom, and this cooperation issue is usually much less complicated in practice than it seems on paper.

The confusion is totally understandable - CalWORKs payment timing can be really confusing when you're new to the system! From what you've described, those payments definitely indicate you've been approved. The $100 on March 31st was your prorated benefit for the remaining days of March after your approval, and the $120 on April 1st is your regular monthly grant amount. Your benefit amount being around $120 makes sense given that you're working 15 hours per week. CalWORKs has income disregards, but they still reduce your grant based on your earnings. The $20 cash aid portion might be a separate supplement or transportation allowance. Even though you haven't received your approval letter yet, the payment pattern you're experiencing is exactly how new approvals work. Keep trying to reach your worker for confirmation and to get a copy of your benefit calculation worksheet - that will show you exactly how they arrived at your grant amount. In the meantime, you can expect your regular monthly payment to continue on the same date each month (likely the 1st based on your April payment).

I went through this exact same confusion when I first got approved! The random small payments followed by what seemed like a tiny regular amount had me so worried. But based on everything you've shared, you're definitely approved - that payment pattern is totally normal for mid-month approvals. Since you're working part-time, your $120 monthly grant actually makes sense mathematically. CalWORKs subtracts a percentage of your earnings after the first $450 is disregarded. With 15 hours at minimum wage, you're probably earning around $1000+ monthly, so after they do the calculations, $120 sounds about right for your situation. The key thing now is making sure you stay compliant with all the Welfare to Work requirements they'll send you. Don't skip any appointments or orientations because that can result in sanctions that reduce your benefits even further. And definitely keep reporting any changes in your work hours within 10 days - even small changes can affect your grant amount. You should be getting your regular payment on the same date each month going forward. Hang in there with trying to reach your worker for that benefit calculation worksheet - it's frustrating but totally worth getting that documentation!

As someone who's been on CalWORKs for about 6 months, this entire discussion has been absolutely eye-opening! I had no idea about any of these additional programs that everyone keeps mentioning - Housing Support Program, Special Needs Allowance, Permanent Housing Assistance. My worker has never brought up a single one of these options during any of our interactions. What really strikes me is how this community is providing more practical, actionable guidance than any official source I've encountered. The specific tips about using exact language like "I need to update my shelter costs for CalFresh benefit calculation" instead of just saying rent went up - that's the kind of insider knowledge that makes all the difference but nobody tells you upfront. I'm definitely going to call my worker this week armed with all the program names and phrases shared here. That question about "What additional programs or services might I qualify for?" should honestly be asked at every single appointment, but apparently we have to be the ones to demand that information. For everyone dealing with housing cost increases - while it's frustrating that CalWORKs cash aid won't go up with rent, it's reassuring to know there are these other assistance options available if you know to ask for them specifically. This thread has shown me that advocacy and knowing the right questions to ask is absolutely crucial for getting the help that's actually available. Thank you to @StardustSeeker for starting this important conversation and to everyone who shared their real experiences. This kind of peer knowledge sharing is invaluable for navigating such a complex system! 🙏

I'm brand new to CalWORKs (literally just got approved last week) and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I was completely clueless about how any of this works, and reading everyone's real experiences has taught me more than my entire intake appointment did. What's honestly shocking to me is learning that there are all these assistance programs - Housing Support Program, Special Needs Allowance, Permanent Housing Assistance - that workers apparently don't tell you about unless you specifically ask by name. It seems so backwards that families who need help have to become detectives just to find out what resources exist! I'm writing down all the specific language everyone has shared here, especially asking to "update shelter costs for CalFresh benefit calculation" and that crucial question "What additional programs or services might I qualify for?" The fact that so many experienced members only got help after using these exact phrases really shows how important it is to know the system's language. As someone who's terrified about potentially facing housing issues myself, it's both reassuring and frustrating to learn that CalWORKs cash aid won't change with rent increases. At least it won't go down, but knowing that housing costs keep rising while benefits stay flat is pretty scary for long-term planning. Thank you to everyone who's shared their knowledge and experiences - this community is providing the kind of practical guidance that should be standard information but clearly isn't. You're all helping newcomers like me feel so much more prepared to navigate this system! 💙

I'm new to this community and just got approved for CalWORKs two weeks ago! This whole thread has been a lifesaver - my caseworker barely explained anything about the child support process and I've been so confused about how it all works. From reading everyone's experiences, it sounds like I should expect to wait about 6-8 weeks from my approval date before seeing any payments on the blue DCSS card, especially since my ex isn't currently in their system yet. The $100 disregard for my one child seems small compared to the $380/month he's supposed to pay, but I'm starting to understand that it's really extra money on top of my other benefits. A few questions based on what I've read here: 1. Should I wait to call DCSS or is it better to contact them proactively to make sure they have my case? 2. For those who had to wait for paternity establishment - how long did that part of the process take? 3. Is there anything I can do to speed up the process, or is it really just a waiting game at this point? Thank you all for sharing such detailed experiences - this is exactly the kind of real information that new people like me need to understand how this system actually works!

Welcome to the community! I can totally relate to feeling overwhelmed by this whole process - the child support cooperation requirement was one of the most confusing parts when I first got approved for CalWORKs. Just to add to all the great information already shared here: make sure you keep copies of ALL your paperwork from both CalWORKs and DCSS. I learned this lesson when there was a mix-up with my case and I had to prove what forms I had signed and when. Also, something that really helped me was writing down every phone call I made to DCSS - the date, time, who I spoke with, and what they told me. The system can be frustrating with different representatives sometimes giving different information, so having that record saved me a lot of headaches later. The $100 disregard really is "extra" money that won't affect your CalWORKs grant amount, which is important to remember. And while it seems small compared to what your ex is paying, it can actually help with those little expenses that CalWORKs doesn't quite cover - things like school supplies, kids' clothes, etc. Stay patient with the process! It's slow but it does work eventually, and having that support system in place will be worth it in the long run.

I'm so glad you found all this helpful information! As someone new to the CalWORKs system, I'm learning a lot from this thread too. One thing I wanted to add - when you go to the VITA site, bring any documents you have like your CalWORKs award letter, Social Security cards for you and your kids, and any records of that babysitting income (even if it's just a note you wrote yourself with dates and amounts). Also, I've heard that some VITA sites get really busy during peak tax season, so it might be worth calling ahead to make an appointment or ask about their busiest/slowest times. The fact that you can potentially get thousands back in credits is amazing - that money can really make a difference for families like ours!

This thread has been so eye-opening! I'm also a CalWORKs recipient with a 4-year-old, and I had no idea about these tax credits. My case worker never mentioned filing taxes since I'm not working. Reading about people getting thousands back is amazing - that kind of money could help me finally get my car fixed so I can look for work more easily. I'm definitely going to find a VITA site near me. Does anyone know if they can help with previous years too? I think I missed filing last year because I assumed I didn't need to without a job. Also, for those who mentioned keeping records of the babysitting income - should I write down what I remember from memory, or is it better to be honest that I don't have exact records? I don't want to get in trouble but I also don't want to miss out on credits I'm entitled to. Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this community is such a lifesaver!