Hi Lourdes! I just wanted to add one more resource that really helped my family when we were in a similar situation. Since your boyfriend has construction experience and is dealing with depression, you might want to look into the "America's Job Center of California" (AJCC) locations in your area. They often have specialized programs for people in the building trades and can provide additional support that works alongside your CalWORKs requirements. What's great about AJCC is they sometimes offer things like: - Construction-specific job placement services - Tool lending libraries (so he doesn't have to buy expensive tools upfront when he finds work) - Connections to union apprenticeship programs - Mental health support specifically for unemployed workers The best part is that participating in AJCC programs usually counts toward WTW hours, and their services are free. When you go to your CalWORKs interview, ask if your county has partnerships with AJCC - many do, and they can sometimes coordinate your boyfriend's activity plan between both programs. Also, since you mentioned you work retail, some AJCC locations have "dual customer" programs where they can help both parents in a household simultaneously - you might be able to get career advancement resources for your retail work while he gets construction-focused help. The combination of CalWORKs cash aid plus these additional employment services can really help families get back on their feet faster. You're asking all the right questions and planning well - that extra $150-200/month is going to make such a difference for your family! 💪

Hi Lourdes! I just wanted to share my experience as someone who was in almost the exact same situation last year. My boyfriend lost his warehouse job and was really struggling with depression while I was working part-time at a grocery store with our 2-year-old. Adding him to our CalWORKs case was honestly one of the best decisions we made, even though it felt overwhelming at first. A few things that really helped us: **The financial impact was immediate** - we got an extra $175/month which made such a huge difference for diapers, groceries, and gas. That money literally kept us afloat while he was getting back on his feet. **The WTW requirements weren't as bad as expected** - since you're already working 25 hours, he'll only need about 10 hours of activities. Our worker let him start with just online job search through CalJOBS for the first month while he adjusted to the program. **Mental health support was a game changer** - they connected him with free counseling through the county mental health services, which honestly helped more than any job search activity. Once he started feeling better mentally, everything else fell into place. **Document everything now** - start gathering his ID, Social Security card, and that construction job termination letter. Having everything ready made our interview so much smoother. The program really can be a lifeline when you need it most. You're already showing great responsibility by working and planning ahead. Don't let the paperwork scare you - the extra support is so worth it! Feel free to ask if you have specific questions about the process. You've got this! 💪

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely amazed by this incredible success story and the outstanding level of support everyone provided! @Zainab, huge congratulations on your hard-fought victory - your persistence through multiple incorrect denials is truly inspiring and demonstrates what determined advocacy can accomplish. What really strikes me as someone new to navigating these systems is how your experience highlights such serious training gaps among eligibility workers. The fact that you had to escalate three times just to find someone who understood that VA Chapter 35 benefits are educational assistance rather than regular income is deeply concerning - and makes you wonder how many other deserving students are being wrongfully denied without knowing they can fight back. This thread has become an absolutely invaluable resource! From the specific MPP section citations to practical tools like Claimyr, the community's response shows the incredible power of shared knowledge and experience. Your detailed documentation of what actually worked - bringing specific regulations, VA documentation, school schedules, and escalating to knowledgeable supervisors - creates a perfect roadmap for other families facing similar bureaucratic battles. This is exactly why communities like this are so essential for helping people overcome systemic barriers that shouldn't exist in the first place. Thank you for refusing to give up on your daughter's case and for taking the time to share your victory with such detail. This thread will undoubtedly help countless other veterans' families secure the benefits they're rightfully entitled to!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely inspired by this incredible thread and @Zainab's amazing victory! Your persistence through multiple incorrect denials really shows what determined advocacy can accomplish when navigating these complex benefit systems. What strikes me most as someone new to understanding CalFresh and VA benefits is how this case reveals such concerning training gaps. The fact that multiple eligibility workers didn't understand that Chapter 35 benefits are educational assistance rather than regular income is deeply troubling - it makes you wonder how many other deserving students are going without food assistance simply because they don't know they can push back and escalate. The level of expertise and practical support this community provided is remarkable. From the specific MPP section citations to tools like Claimyr, everyone contributed real, actionable knowledge that directly helped resolve this situation. This thread has become such a comprehensive resource showing not just the problems students face, but the exact step-by-step solutions that actually work. Your detailed follow-up about what succeeded - bringing documentation, citing specific regulations, escalating to knowledgeable supervisors - creates an invaluable roadmap for other families facing similar battles. It's exactly why communities like this are so crucial for helping people overcome bureaucratic barriers that shouldn't exist in the first place. Thank you for not giving up on your daughter and for sharing your journey with such detail. This thread will undoubtedly help countless other veterans' families get the benefits they're entitled to!

I'm new to this community and just started my CalWORKs application last week! This thread has been incredibly helpful - I was getting so much conflicting information from friends and family about how payments work. Reading through everyone's experiences really cleared things up for me. It sounds like the confusion about "split payments" is super common because people mix up CalWORKs cash aid (which comes all at once) with CalFresh food benefits (which get split if over $200). I'm still waiting to hear back about my application status, but now I know what to expect when I do get approved. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's so reassuring to find a community where people actually understand these programs and are willing to help newcomers navigate everything! Also definitely going to ask about that diaper benefit when I meet with my worker since I have an 18-month-old. Had no idea that was even a thing!

I'm also new to this community and just got approved for CalWORKs about two weeks ago! This thread has been so helpful because I had the exact same question when I first got approved. My caseworker explained it really clearly during my appointment - CalWORKs Cash Aid always comes as one payment per month, usually within the first few days based on your case number. The confusion about "split payments" that so many people have (including me at first!) comes from CalFresh benefits getting split into two payments when they're over $200. I just got my first CalWORKs payment last week and it came all at once on the 1st, just like everyone here is saying. It's such a relief to have that certainty for budgeting purposes, especially as a single parent trying to make sure rent and bills are covered. Thanks to everyone who's been sharing their experiences - it really helps us newcomers understand what to expect! This community seems like such a great resource for navigating all these different programs.

@Andre Dupont - I'm a community advocate who works with families facing housing crises, and I'm so glad you found this thread! The amount of detailed, practical advice everyone has shared here is incredible. I want to add one crucial resource that hasn't been mentioned yet - many counties have a "CalWORKs Emergency Services" hotline that's separate from the main eligibility line. This hotline is specifically for housing emergencies and connects you directly to homeless prevention specialists. Try searching "[your county name] CalWORKs emergency housing hotline" or ask when you go in tomorrow. Also, when you meet with the housing specialist, ask about "Diversion Services" - this is another CalWORKs program that can provide one-time financial assistance to prevent homelessness. It's different from the permanent housing assistance and can sometimes be approved even faster. One practical tip for your landlord search: look for properties managed by nonprofit housing organizations or community development corporations. They're often more familiar with government assistance programs and willing to work with CalWORKs payments. From everything shared here, you now have multiple safety nets: immediate emergency assistance through 211 and local organizations, temporary motel vouchers through HA-TEMP, and longer-term security deposit help through HA-PERM. That's a solid plan. Your determination to fight for your kids' stability is inspiring. Tomorrow is going to be a big day, but you're walking in there armed with knowledge and a clear strategy. We're all rooting for your family!

@Andre Dupont - I'm a single mom who used CalWORKs housing assistance about 8 months ago when we faced eviction. Reading your story brought back all those sleepless nights worrying about my kids. This community has given you AMAZING advice! I want to add one thing that really helped me - when you go tomorrow, bring a simple list of questions written down so you don't forget anything in the stress of the moment: 1. "I need to apply for both HA-TEMP and HA-PERM due to housing crisis" 2. "Can my case be marked for expedited processing since I have children facing homelessness?" 3. "What is the timeline for temporary motel vouchers?" 4. "Can I speak with the Homeless Prevention Specialist?" Also, if they say "we don't have that program" or seem confused, don't give up! Politely ask for a supervisor. Some workers genuinely don't know about all the housing programs available. The emergency assistance calls you made tonight were smart - even $200-300 from a local church or nonprofit can help with application fees or moving supplies while CalWORKs processes. You're being such a strong advocate for your kids. The fact that you researched all this and came prepared shows you're doing everything right. This situation is temporary - in a month you'll be in stable housing telling someone else how you made it through. Keep us posted tomorrow! We're all cheering you on.

I'm in a really similar situation and this thread has been SO helpful! I've been putting off applying for CalWORKs because I was scared about losing my CalFresh benefits, but seeing everyone's real numbers makes it clear that you come out way ahead overall. The $200-300 reduction in food stamps but gaining $600-900 in cash aid is definitely worth it, especially since you can use that cash for rent and bills that food stamps can't cover. One question though - for those who got approved, did you notice any difference in how quickly your applications were processed if you applied for both programs at the same time through BenefitsCal versus applying separately? I'm trying to figure out the best approach since I really need help with both food and housing costs ASAP. Also, did anyone have issues with the transition period where one benefit changes before the other? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world info you can't find on the official websites!

I just wanted to add my experience since I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago! Everyone here is absolutely right - your CalFresh will decrease but you'll definitely have more money overall. In my case, I was getting $625 in CalFresh and when I got approved for $780 in CalWORKs, my food stamps dropped to around $390. So I ended up with about $545 more per month total, which was huge for my family. The biggest relief was finally being able to pay my rent on time and cover utilities without having to choose between keeping the lights on or buying groceries. I also love that I can use the cash aid for things like my kids' school clothes, gas for the car, and household supplies that I was previously trying to squeeze out of my grocery budget. One tip - during your interview, don't be afraid to ask your caseworker to explain everything clearly. Mine was really patient and walked me through exactly how they calculated my new amounts. Also, keep your confirmation numbers from BenefitsCal and take photos of any paperwork you submit - it saved me when they temporarily couldn't find part of my application. You're making a smart choice applying for both programs - the flexibility and extra support really does make a big difference!