Welcome to the community! As a new member myself, I've been reading through all these responses and I'm amazed at how much detailed, accurate information everyone is sharing. The breakdown of the $976 maximum for a family of two, the pregnant woman benefit starting 90 days before due date, and all the additional programs like the diaper stipend and childcare assistance is incredibly helpful. I'm also dealing with navigating government benefits for the first time, and it's reassuring to see there are community organizations like the Community Action Partnership that can help guide us through the process. The tip about calling first thing in the morning and keeping detailed records of all interactions seems especially important given how challenging it can be to reach caseworkers. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where we can learn from each other's experiences!

As someone new to this community and the CalWORKs system, I'm incredibly grateful for all the detailed information shared here! I'm currently expecting my first child and had no idea about so many of these benefits and procedures. The breakdown of the $976 maximum benefit amount, the ability to apply during pregnancy for the two-person rate starting 90 days before due date, and all the additional programs like the $53 diaper stipend is exactly what I needed to know. I'm also really appreciative of the practical tips about documentation, calling early in the morning, and the community resources like the Community Action Partnership. It's clear that while the system can be challenging to navigate, having this kind of peer support and shared knowledge makes such a difference. I feel much more prepared now to start my application process. Thank you all for creating such a helpful and welcoming community!

Sending you so much support during this difficult time! As someone who works with families navigating public benefits, I want to emphasize that you should absolutely apply - you clearly meet the eligibility criteria. A few additional tips that might help: - When you call for the expedited interview, mention that you have a child under 6 and are experiencing homelessness. This puts you in priority status. - If possible, try calling the county office first thing in the morning (8-9am) when phone lines are less busy. - Keep a journal of your applications, calls, and interactions - dates, times, worker names if you get them. This helps if you need to escalate later. - Ask about emergency aid while your application is processing - some counties have small emergency funds for immediate needs like diapers/formula. You're being a strong advocate for your daughter by seeking help when you need it. That takes courage, and you should be proud of taking this step. Wishing you both stability and security soon! 💙

I just wanted to add that if you run into any roadblocks with your application, don't give up! Sometimes it helps to visit the office in person if phone calls aren't working. Bring your daughter with you if you can - workers often respond more urgently when they see the actual child who needs help. Also, once you get approved, look into local food banks and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children program) if you haven't already. WIC specifically helps with formula, baby food, and other essentials for kids under 5. Many food banks also have diaper programs. One more thing - if your county has a Family Resource Center or similar community organization, they often have advocates who can help you navigate the system and make sure you're getting all the benefits you're entitled to. Some even have emergency assistance programs while you're waiting for CalWORKs approval. You're doing everything right by reaching out and getting informed before applying. Your little girl is lucky to have such a determined mom fighting for her! 🙏

I'm also navigating CAPI benefits and had similar tax confusion! What everyone said is correct - CAPI itself isn't taxable income, but you definitely should file taxes for any work income you had. I'd also suggest keeping detailed records of when you received CAPI versus when you had work income, just to make everything clear if questions come up later. Since you mentioned your immigration status is pending, having organized documentation showing you're following all tax requirements properly could be really helpful for your case. The VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program often has volunteers who are familiar with immigrant tax situations if you need free help preparing your return.

I've been through a similar situation with mixed income sources during immigration proceedings, and I just want to echo what others have said about the importance of filing taxes for your work income even though CAPI isn't taxable. One thing that really helped me was creating a simple timeline showing when I received different types of income throughout the year - it made tax preparation much clearer and gave me confidence that I was reporting everything correctly. Also, if you're nervous about making mistakes, many community organizations offer free tax prep specifically for immigrants and low-income families during tax season. They understand the complexities of having benefits alongside work income and can walk you through everything step by step. Don't let the confusion discourage you - you're asking all the right questions and being proactive about compliance, which speaks well for your character during your immigration process!

Here's something that might help - I've found that Credit Union ATMs are often really reliable for EBT withdrawals too. Places like Golden 1 Credit Union or Schools First Federal Credit Union usually don't charge surcharge fees for EBT transactions. Also, if you're in a bind and need cash fast, some Walmart locations have customer service desks where you can withdraw cash directly with your EBT card and ID - no ATM needed. They can usually do larger amounts than the ATM limits too. Just make sure to bring your ID and know your PIN. The customer service option has been a lifesaver for me when all the ATMs seemed to be down or out of service.

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who shared their tips! As someone who's also pretty new to CalWORKs (got approved about 6 months ago), I remember how overwhelming it was trying to figure out the whole EBT card system. One thing that really helped me was calling the customer service number on the back of my EBT card - they can tell you your exact balance and also help you find ATMs near you that work with the card. The wait time isn't usually too bad, maybe 5-10 minutes. Also, I've had good luck with ATMs at Costco and Sam's Club if you have memberships there. They never seem to have issues with EBT cards and don't charge extra fees. It's such a relief when you find reliable spots where you know your card will work!

Just to clarify something important: even though the COLA is a "known" change, the different benefit systems (CalWORKs, CalFresh, SSI) don't automatically talk to each other as well as they should. The best practice is: 1. If the COLA puts you over your IRT - report immediately (required for CalWORKs) 2. If the change is more than $50/month - report for CalFresh (technically required) 3. If under both thresholds - you can wait until your next SAR7, but reporting now prevents any possible issues Report it through BenefitsCal and get a confirmation number as proof. This covers you completely.

Just wanted to add my experience - I'm a former county eligibility worker and can confirm that yes, you should report the COLA increase even though it seems redundant. The issue is that while SSI data flows into CalWIN, the actual benefit calculations for CalWORKs and CalFresh run on different schedules and sometimes don't sync up properly. What happens is SSI reports the COLA to the state, but your individual case might not get recalculated until your next review period unless YOU trigger it by reporting the change. This is especially true if your county is backlogged (which most are). The safest approach: Report any income change over $50 through BenefitsCal within 10 days. Take a screenshot of the confirmation. This way you're covered for both programs and won't get hit with an overissuance later. The system should work automatically, but it doesn't always, and the burden falls on you to prove you reported it.