This thread has been so helpful! I'm a single dad with a 3-year-old daughter, currently receiving CalWORKs benefits, and I've been offered a position at a warehouse that would be $15.75/hour for about 32 hours a week (roughly $2,016 monthly gross). Reading everyone's experiences has given me the confidence to seriously consider this job. I was especially relieved to learn about the income disregard calculation - I had no idea they don't count all your earnings against your benefits! And knowing that childcare assistance is available is huge since my daughter would need daycare while I'm working. One question I have is about the timing of everything - how quickly do the benefit changes take effect after you report your new job? I want to make sure I understand the timeline so I can budget properly during the transition period. Also, does anyone have experience with warehouse work specifically while on CalWORKs? I'm wondering if the physical demands or potential overtime opportunities create any special considerations I should be aware of when reporting to my worker. Thank you all for sharing your stories - it's made such a difference knowing that taking this job could actually improve our financial situation rather than hurt it!

As someone who went through this exact transition about a year ago, I can't emphasize enough how much better off you'll be taking that job! I was making almost the same hourly rate ($16.25) for similar hours with 2 kids, and I was so scared about losing benefits. Here's what actually happened: My cash aid went down from about $700 to around $350, BUT my total monthly income went from $700 to over $1,400 because of my work earnings plus the reduced cash aid. The income disregard calculation really does protect a big chunk of your earnings. The best part was the childcare assistance - I ended up with quality care for my kids that I never could have afforded otherwise. And like others mentioned, your CalFresh might actually increase to help offset the cash aid reduction. One practical tip: Start looking for childcare providers NOW, even before you officially start the job. The approval process can take a few weeks, and you want to have everything lined up. Also, keep detailed records of all your paystubs and communications with your worker - it makes everything smoother. You're making the right choice for your family's future. The transition might feel uncertain at first, but within a couple months you'll wonder why you ever hesitated. Take that job!

This has been such an incredible learning experience reading through everyone's stories! I'm currently applying for CalWORKs in Santa Cruz County with my two kids (family of 3) and had absolutely no idea about the regional payment differences until I found this thread. From what I've gathered, Santa Cruz should be Region 1, so I should expect around $983 for a family of 3 if I get approved, right? The application process has been pretty intimidating - there's so much paperwork and so many requirements to keep track of. But seeing how supportive and knowledgeable everyone is here gives me confidence that I can navigate this system successfully. I'm definitely going to bookmark this thread and come back to it once I start receiving benefits to make sure I'm getting the correct amounts. Thank you all for creating such a valuable resource for people like me who are new to CalWORKs and trying to understand how everything works!

I'm so grateful I found this thread! I'm currently navigating CalWORKs in Riverside County with my 3 kids (family of 4) and had no idea there were regional payment differences until reading all these helpful comments. Based on what everyone has shared, Riverside should be Region 2, so I should expect $1,181 for a family of 4, right? I've been getting around $1,120 per month and never questioned it, but now I'm realizing I might be missing out on about $61 each month! I'm definitely going to call my worker tomorrow and ask for that detailed benefit calculation breakdown that everyone keeps mentioning. The phone system struggles you all describe are so real - I've spent countless hours on hold only to get disconnected. But reading how everyone here helps each other figure out their benefits gives me hope that I can get this sorted out. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and creating such a supportive space for people trying to understand this complex system!

Hey Oliver! I went through this exact situation about 8 months ago when I got laid off from my job at a distribution center. I was getting $390/week from EDD and was so worried about applying for benefits because I thought it would mess up my unemployment somehow, but that's not how it works at all! Your EDD benefits definitely count as income for CalFresh and CalWORKs, but that doesn't mean you won't qualify - especially with kids. I ended up getting about $315/month in CalFresh benefits for me and my two kids, plus some CalWORKs cash aid. It made such a huge difference while I was job hunting. One thing I learned that really helped - when you apply on BenefitsCal, make sure you list ALL your monthly expenses: rent, utilities, phone, transportation costs for job interviews, etc. These deductions actually help you qualify for more benefits, so don't skip anything thinking it's too small to matter. Also, since you mentioned this is all new to you - CalFresh is California's name for food stamps, and EBT is just the card they give you to access the benefits. Same thing, different names. The application covers both CalFresh and CalWORKs cash assistance, so you only have to fill it out once. You're doing the right thing by looking for help while you're between jobs. That's exactly what these programs are designed for - helping families stay stable while getting back on their feet. Don't feel bad about it for even a second!

Hey Oliver! I just wanted to add another perspective as someone who's been through this process recently. I lost my job at a logistics company about 4 months ago and was getting $380/week from EDD - sounds very similar to your situation! The good news is that yes, you can absolutely get CalFresh while receiving unemployment benefits. The EDD income does count toward your total household income, but with kids, the income limits are much higher. I ended up qualifying for about $290/month in CalFresh benefits for me and my daughter, which honestly made groceries so much less stressful. A couple things that really helped me during the application: - Apply online through BenefitsCal.com but also call your county office 2-3 days later to make sure they received everything properly - If you qualify for CalWORKs cash aid, you'll automatically get the maximum CalFresh amount for your household size, which can be really helpful - Keep copies of everything - your EDD award letter, bank statements showing EDD deposits, rent receipts, utility bills One thing I wish I'd known earlier - if money is really tight right now while you wait for approval, look into your local food pantries and churches. Many have weekly food distributions that don't require any paperwork and can really help bridge the gap. You're absolutely doing the right thing applying for help. These programs exist for exactly this situation - when you're between jobs and need support to keep your family stable. Good luck with your application!

This has been such an incredibly helpful and comprehensive thread! As someone who's completely new to both CalWORKs and the SSI system, I've learned more from reading everyone's real experiences here than from hours of trying to decipher official government websites and pamphlets. What really impresses me is how consistently everyone emphasizes the importance of reporting immediately and getting everything in writing. Those seem to be the two golden rules for navigating these benefit transitions successfully. The detailed explanations of interim assistance reimbursement have been especially valuable - I had never heard of this process before but now understand it's completely routine and handled automatically between agencies. Katherine, congratulations on your daughter's SSI approval! Your question has created such a valuable resource for families in similar situations. The specific dollar amounts and timelines that people have shared really help paint a clear picture of what to expect during the transition period. To everyone who shared their personal experiences - thank you for being so generous with your time and knowledge. This is exactly the kind of practical, real-world information that makes navigating these complex systems feel much less overwhelming. I'm bookmarking this entire discussion for future reference, and I'm sure many other families will benefit from this incredible collection of insights and advice. What a wonderful example of how communities can support each other through challenging processes!

This thread has been absolutely amazing to read through! As a parent who's currently navigating the SSI application process for my 9-year-old daughter with developmental delays, I can't thank everyone enough for sharing such detailed, real-world experiences. Katherine, first off - huge congratulations on your daughter's SSI approval! I know how emotionally and mentally exhausting that application process can be, and you should be so proud for advocating for her through it all. What really stands out to me from reading everyone's responses is how the interim assistance reimbursement process, while initially scary-sounding, is actually a pretty standard and automated procedure. The fact that multiple people have confirmed you don't personally owe anything back and that it's handled directly between SSI and the county is such a relief to understand ahead of time. The consistency in everyone's advice about reporting immediately (within 10 days) really emphasizes how critical that timing is. I'm definitely going to save this thread and reference it when we hopefully get to the approval stage. The specific tips about having all documentation ready, asking for written confirmation, and requesting detailed explanations of calculations are pure gold. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space where families can learn from each other's experiences. This kind of practical knowledge makes navigating these complex systems feel so much less overwhelming!

Hi Yara! I'm new to this community too and just wanted to add my voice to all the incredible support you've received here. As someone who recently started the CalWORKs application process myself, this entire thread has been like a goldmine of practical information. One thing I learned during my application that I don't think was mentioned yet - if you're applying online through BenefitsCal, try to complete it in one sitting if possible. The system has a tendency to time out if you leave it idle for too long, and while it does save your progress, I found it easier to just power through the whole thing at once when I had a quiet moment. Also, when you get to the interview stage, don't hesitate to ask your caseworker to repeat or clarify anything you don't understand. I was so nervous during mine that I almost didn't ask about some of the deductions people mentioned here, but when I did, it actually increased my benefit amount by about $75 per month. The community support in this thread has been absolutely amazing to witness. You came here with a simple question and received what amounts to a complete guide to navigating the CalWORKs system successfully. It's clear you're going to be well-prepared for this process. Wishing you and your family all the best with your application!

Hi Yara! Welcome to our community! I'm also relatively new here but have found everyone to be incredibly supportive and knowledgeable. Reading through this amazing thread, I wanted to add one more tip that helped me during my recent CalWORKs application process. If you're having trouble getting through to your local office by phone, many counties also have online chat features or email contact forms on their websites that can be really helpful for getting quick answers to basic questions. I used the chat feature to confirm what documents I needed before my interview, and it saved me from having to make multiple calls. Also, since you mentioned you're not married but living with your partner who is the father of all three children, you might want to gather any documentation that shows his involvement in supporting the kids - things like being listed on school emergency contacts, medical appointments, etc. It can help demonstrate that you function as a family unit even without a marriage certificate. Everyone here has given you such comprehensive advice! The level of support and detailed guidance in this thread really shows what a wonderful resource this community is. You're definitely going to be well-prepared for your application. Best of luck to you and your family - please keep us updated on how everything goes!