CalWORKs FAQ
Q: Who can apply for assistance?
A: Any person has the right to apply for assistance. An applicant who appears ineligible must still be allowed to exercise his/her right to make an application.
Q: Who is eligible for CalWORKs?
A: Families are eligible if there is a minor child in the home whose parents(s) are unable to provide adequate support because:
- Either parent is deceased;
- Either parent is physically or mentally incapacitated;
- The principal earner is unemployed;
- Either parent is continually absent from the home in which the child is living
Q: Where can I apply for CalWORKs?
A: To start the application process, you may apply online 24-hours a day, 7 days a week by visiting BenefitsCal.com. Once your application is received, you will be contacted by a Fresno County Department of Social Services Eligibility Worker, during normal business hours.
You can also visit one of our locations to pick up a paper application
Q: How much cash aid can be received?
A: The chart below, effective October 1, 2023, shows the maximum CalWORKs cash benefits a household can receive on a monthly basis.
A household with a non-parent caretaker or a household that the adults are receiving temporary or permanent disability can receive the higher exempt MAP
Person(s) on Cash Aid
|
Non-Exempt MAP
|
Exempt MAP
|
1
|
$693
|
$768
|
2
|
$881
|
$984
|
3
|
$1,112
|
$1,244
|
4
|
$1,342
|
$1,494
|
5
|
$1,573
|
$1,753
|
6
|
$1,803
|
$2,012
|
7
|
$2,033
|
$2,267
|
8
|
$2,264
|
$2,529
|
9
|
$2,494
|
$2,783
|
10 or more
|
$2,723
|
$3,045
|