Congratulations on your new job! This is such great news. I just went through this exact same situation about 3 months ago and I completely understand your anxiety about it. Here's what I learned: You absolutely do NOT have to pay back benefits that are already on your EBT card before you report the change. Those were issued correctly based on your circumstances at the time. The county worker explained to me that this overlap is totally normal and expected. Make sure to report within 10 days of your actual start date (March 3rd), not when you got the offer. When I reported mine, I used the SAR 3 form through BenefitsCal and included my offer letter showing my expected monthly income. One thing that really surprised me - I didn't lose ALL my benefits like I thought I would! Because of my rent and childcare costs, I still qualified for $89/month in CalFresh even with my higher income. So definitely don't assume you'll lose everything - let them do the calculations. My biggest tip is to screenshot your BenefitsCal account before and after reporting to document everything, and list ALL your expenses thoroughly (rent, utilities, work transportation costs, etc.) when you submit your change. These deductions really add up! You're being super responsible by planning ahead. The system is designed to help people transition to work, not punish them for it. You've got this!

Congratulations on your new job! This is such an exciting step and you're being really smart to plan ahead. I just wanted to add that when you report your income change on March 3rd, you might want to ask your caseworker about any work incentive programs that could help during the transition. Some counties have programs that can ease the benefit reduction process when you first start working. Also, if you're worried about the phone system being busy when you try to report, many county offices now accept SAR 3 forms via email or fax, which can be faster than waiting on hold. Just make sure to get a confirmation that they received it. One more thing - if your new job has any kind of probationary period, mention that when you report. Sometimes they can factor in employment uncertainty when calculating your benefits. You're doing everything right by being proactive about this!

Hey Eve! I'm a single mom who just went through this exact situation a few months ago - I had 3 kids and a newborn whose father wanted to provide support. I was SO confused about the same thing you're asking about! Everyone here has given you absolutely perfect advice - you definitely have to include ALL your kids, including your newborn. But here's what I wish someone had told me: it's actually not as scary as it sounds! With your baby's father providing $800/month, after that $250 disregard, you're only looking at $550 counting as income. But adding that 4th child to your case increases your maximum grant by way more than that amount gets deducted. What really helped me was calling ahead and asking if I could do a "benefit calculation estimate" over the phone before I even applied. Some counties will do this informally so you know exactly what to expect. Also, since you're postpartum and recently lost your job, definitely mention that when you apply - you might qualify for expedited processing. The whole process ended up being way more straightforward than I expected. Just be completely honest about everything from day one, and remember that voluntary support from a cooperative father is actually easier to work with than court-ordered situations. You've got this! Feel free to message me if you have any other questions about the process.

Hi Eve! I just wanted to add my perspective as someone who's been through the CalWORKs system with multiple kids and different support situations. Everyone here has given you fantastic advice, and they're absolutely right - you must include your newborn on your application even though her father is providing support. What really struck me about your situation is how you're thinking about this strategically for all your children, which shows you're a great mom! The $800/month your baby's father is providing actually puts you in a really good position. After the $250 disregard that others mentioned, only $550 counts as income, but adding that 4th child to your assistance unit will likely increase your maximum grant by much more than that reduction. I'd definitely recommend taking advantage of all the pre-application resources people have mentioned - the BenefitsCal calculator, requesting a consultation, and asking about expedited processing since you're postpartum and recently lost income. The transparency everyone's emphasizing is key too. I've seen families get into trouble trying to hide things, but being upfront from the start actually works in your favor. One last tip: when you meet with your caseworker, ask them to show you exactly how they calculated your grant amount. Understanding the math helps you feel more confident about reporting changes later. You're doing everything right by asking these questions upfront. Good luck with your application!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm a single mom on CalWORKs with a 2-year-old and had no idea I could still file taxes without working. I've been missing out for years thinking you only file if you have a job. One thing I'm wondering - for those who got refunds without earned income, did you need to save any specific paperwork from CalWORKs throughout the year? Like benefit statements or anything? I tend to just throw away most of the mail from the county once I know my benefits are continuing, but now I'm worried I might need some of that documentation for tax filing. Also, does anyone know if there's a deadline for filing? I know regular tax deadline is April but since I don't technically owe anything, is there a rush to get this done? Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community is so much more helpful than trying to navigate the system alone!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm also on CalWORKs with my 6-year-old and had zero work income this year. Reading everyone's experiences has given me hope that I might actually get something back when I file taxes. One question I haven't seen addressed - has anyone had issues with their CalWORKs caseworker questioning the tax refund money? I know several people said it doesn't count as income and doesn't need to be reported, but I'm still nervous about getting a large refund and having it somehow affect my benefits later. My caseworker can be pretty strict about everything. Also, for those who used VITA - did they help you understand how to handle the refund money? Like is there a smart way to use it that won't cause problems down the line? I'm thinking about using any refund to get my car fixed so I can eventually look for work, but I want to make sure that's okay. Thanks for all the great info everyone has shared - this is exactly the kind of real-world advice we need!

Congratulations on your pregnancy! 🎉 I'm new to this community but wow, this thread has been absolutely incredible to read through - so much valuable information from everyone who's actually been through this process! I just wanted to add my experience from when I added my baby to CalWORKs in San Joaquin County (Region 2) about 7 months ago. I received $146 extra per month for my newborn, which is on the lower end compared to Region 1 amounts, but still made a real difference for baby expenses. The $30 diaper benefit was automatically included, thankfully! One thing I don't think anyone has mentioned yet is to ask about the Infant Supplement program - it's a small additional benefit (around $15/month) for babies under 6 months in some counties to help with formula costs even if you're breastfeeding. Not all workers know about it, but it's worth asking! Also, I wanted to emphasize what others said about keeping detailed records. I actually started a simple notebook where I wrote down every phone call - date, time, who I spoke with, and what they told me. It saved me so much hassle later when there were discrepancies about what had been discussed. The tip about calling the main line (1-877-847-3663) is absolutely golden advice. I wasted so much time trying to reach my assigned worker initially. And definitely ask for email confirmation of any changes they make to your case! Liam, you're so smart to plan ahead! With all this amazing advice from everyone, you're going to be so well prepared. Best wishes for a healthy pregnancy and smooth benefit updates! 💕

Congratulations on your pregnancy! 🎉 I'm also new to this community but this thread has been absolutely amazing - so much helpful information from everyone's real experiences! I just went through this process in Kern County (Region 2) when I had my son 3 months ago. I received $149 extra per month for adding my newborn, which is similar to what others in Region 2 have mentioned. The $30 diaper benefit was included automatically, thankfully! One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet that might be helpful - when you call to report the birth, ask if they can expedite processing since you have a newborn. Some counties have special protocols to fast-track cases with new babies to ensure benefits start as quickly as possible. It doesn't hurt to ask! Also, I wanted to add that it's worth asking about the CalFresh (food stamps) increase too when you add the baby - that's separate from CalWORKs but having an additional family member usually means more food assistance as well. The advice everyone has given about using the main CalWORKs line (1-877-847-3663) is spot on. I saved myself weeks of frustration by calling that number instead of waiting for my caseworker. And definitely keep detailed records like others mentioned - I wish I had done that from the start! Liam, you're so prepared with all this incredible advice from everyone. Sacramento County should process everything smoothly for you. Best wishes for a healthy rest of your pregnancy! This community is truly amazing for real-world guidance! 💕

This whole thread is exactly why I love this community! As someone who's been navigating CalWORKs for a few years now, I can confirm that the SAR7 timing issue trips up SO many people. The system really should display a message like "Your SAR7 will be available starting [date]" instead of just... nothing. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're in a county that uses the mobile app, sometimes clearing your app cache or logging out and back in can help if the SAR7 still isn't showing up when it should be. I've had to do this a couple times when the app seemed "stuck" on old information. Also, for anyone reading this who might be in a similar situation in the future - some counties have different reporting schedules (quarterly vs monthly), so make sure you know which one applies to you. Your worker should tell you, but it's worth double-checking because missing the wrong deadline thinking you're on a different schedule is a nightmare to fix!

This whole conversation has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm currently in my second month of CalWORKs and have been dreading the SAR7 process after hearing horror stories from friends about the system being confusing. Reading everyone's step-by-step instructions and real experiences has made me feel so much more prepared. I had no idea about the timing restrictions - that the form only appears during your actual reporting month. My worker definitely didn't explain that clearly! I'm going to make sure I know my exact reporting schedule and set up those email notifications that Maya mentioned. The advice about taking screenshots of the confirmation page is brilliant - I work in tech and know how unreliable systems can be, so having that backup proof just makes sense. I'm also going to try the 8am calling strategy if I run into any issues. Thank you all for being so generous with sharing your knowledge and making this process feel less intimidating for those of us who are new to navigating the system!