So glad to see your update! The online administrative assistant program sounds perfect for your situation. Just wanted to add a few tips from my experience: 1. When you meet with the education counselor, ask specifically about the time commitment and whether you can adjust your schedule if needed. Some programs are more flexible than others. 2. Make sure you understand exactly how your hours will be tracked - some online programs require you to log in at specific times, others are more self-paced. 3. Ask about job placement assistance after you complete the program. Many of these certification programs have partnerships with local employers. 4. Don't forget to apply for those supportive services everyone mentioned - the childcare assistance and even help with internet/computer costs if you need it for the online program. You're making a smart choice investing in training that will give you long-term career options rather than just rushing into any job. Best of luck with your meeting next week!

Hey! I'm new here but wanted to share what I learned when I was in a similar situation last year. The WTW program can seem overwhelming at first, but there are definitely options that work for single moms with young kids. A few things that helped me: - Ask specifically about "concurrent activities" - you might be able to combine things like adult education classes with work experience to meet your hours - If you're interested in healthcare, many counties have medical assistant or home health aide programs that are in high demand and lead to good-paying jobs - Don't let them pressure you into just job search activities if that's not what you want - you have the right to choose education/training if it makes sense for your goals One heads up - make sure you understand the "good cause" exemptions for when you might need to miss hours (sick kids, lack of childcare, etc.). Knowing these upfront can save you from getting sanctioned later. It sounds like you're on the right track now with getting more info from your worker. The online admin program sounds like a great fit for your situation! Keep advocating for yourself - you know your needs better than anyone else.

this happend to me back in january, total nightmare!!! make sure u check ur mail EVERY day after u report it cuz they sent me a form I had to send back in 10 days but i didnt see it till too late and had to start the whole process over again!!!!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! This is absolutely terrifying and I can't imagine how stressed you must be. I went through something similar about 6 months ago - not as much money stolen but still devastating. A few things that helped me: 1. When you go to your appointment tomorrow, bring a written statement explaining your immediate needs (rent due date, kids' food needs, etc.) - sometimes having it in writing helps them process it faster 2. If you have any text messages or emails from your landlord about rent, bring those too 3. Ask about getting a rushed replacement card - mine took 3 days instead of the usual 7-10 when I emphasized it was theft-related Also, I know this sounds crazy but start keeping a small notebook to write down every person you talk to, their name, the date/time, and what they told you. It helped me so much when I had to follow up because I could reference exactly who said what. You're doing all the right things and I really hope they help you tomorrow. Keep us updated - we're all rooting for you! 💙

Just wanted to update everyone - I finally got through to someone at the county office (took forever) and requested immediate need like you all suggested. They're processing it and said I should get emergency funds by Friday! They also helped me complete the homeless assistance application since I'm behind on rent. Thank you all SO MUCH for the advice. I'm still nervous about getting my regular benefits restored but at least this buys me some time with my landlord.

So glad you were able to get through and get help! This whole thread is super helpful - I'm saving it in case I ever miss my SAR7 deadline (which hopefully never happens but you never know). It's crazy how they don't tell you about these emergency options unless you specifically ask for them. Thanks for updating us on what happened, and I hope your regular benefits get restored soon without any issues!

I'm in a similar situation and just wanted to share what I learned from filing last year! Even though you don't have W-2s, you can still file using Form 1040. The key forms you'll need are your 1098-T from school (for education credits) and your child's Social Security info. I ended up getting back about $2,400 between the Child Tax Credit and American Opportunity Tax Credit. Don't let your aunt discourage you - definitely file! The worst case is you get nothing back, but the best case is a nice refund that can really help with school expenses or other needs.

I'm also a single mom on CalWORKs and was in the same exact position last year! I was so scared to file because I thought I'd owe money or something would mess up my benefits, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions I made. I got back around $2,800 total - mostly from the Child Tax Credit and some education credits since I was taking classes too. The process was way easier than I expected, and like others said, CalWORKs benefits don't count as income so you don't report them anywhere on your taxes. I used the free filing software through the IRS website and it walked me through everything step by step. Don't let anyone tell you not to file - you're literally leaving free money on the table if you don't! That refund helped me so much with textbooks and childcare expenses for the next semester.

Just following up - were you able to get this sorted out? Did you reupload the documents or get through to your worker?

That's such great news! I'm so glad you got it resolved and can breathe easy now. It's always nerve-wracking when you think you might have messed something up with your benefits. Thanks for updating us - it's really helpful to know how these situations actually turn out. Stories like yours give the rest of us hope that the workers are more understanding than we sometimes expect them to be.