i added my gf and her kid last year and they wanted everyting for both!!! so bring EVERYTHING you can think of - lease, birth certificates, id's, ssn cards, bills, paystubs, marriage license, bank statements, everything!!!! the welfare office in our county kept asking for more and more stuff and it took like 3 months to finally get them added and get the right benefits. so frustrating!!!

Hey Jade! Congratulations on your new baby and marriage! 🎉 I just went through this exact process 6 months ago when I added my partner and our baby to my case. Here's my advice based on what worked for me: **Bring copies of everything, not just originals!** They kept some of my documents and I'm so glad I had copies. **For timing on reporting changes:** Don't wait for your SAR7 - report household changes within 10 days. I know it seems scary but it's actually better to report right away. They'll do the income calculation and you might be pleasantly surprised - with the baby added, your family size increases which means higher income limits. **Important tip nobody mentioned:** Ask specifically about transitional childcare benefits when you're there. Even though your baby is young now, getting on the waitlist early is smart because there's often a waiting period. Also, bring a snack and water bottle - these appointments can take HOURS! Good luck mama, you've got this! 💪

Thanks everyone for all this info! I'm definitely going to request a review of my case since it sounds like they shouldn't have counted my tax refund as income. And I'll plan for the lower CTC amount just to be safe with my budget. This community is always so helpful - I learn more here than from my actual caseworker half the time!

I'm so glad you found this helpful! It's really frustrating when we get wrong information from workers who are supposed to be helping us. I've been on CalWORKs for 2 years now and I swear I've gotten different answers about the same question from like 4 different people at my county office. For the case review, you can start by calling your worker directly and asking them to remove the overpayment because tax refunds are exempt income. If they give you pushback, ask to speak to a supervisor. You can also file a formal complaint with the county if needed. And yeah, definitely budget for the lower CTC amount - better to be pleasantly surprised than disappointed! Those monthly payments in 2021 were amazing but I'm not holding my breath for them to come back anytime soon.

u got lucky they had someone at the dropbox! at my county office the dropbox is just like a mail slot in the wall lol. no receipts or nothing. glad u got ur SAR-7 in on time tho!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm new to CalWORKs and had no idea there were so many backup options when the BenefitsCal system fails. I've been stressed about submitting my first SAR-7 next month and was worried about what would happen if I ran into technical issues. Reading about the dropboxes, fax options, and the importance of documenting everything really helps me feel more prepared. It's frustrating that we have to deal with these system problems, but at least now I know I'm not alone and there are workarounds. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions!

I went through something similar last year with my CalFresh benefits. After months of frustration, I finally found out my worker had checked a box in the system indicating I was receiving "transitional benefits" when I wasn't supposed to be. This locked my benefit amount at the minimum level. The system problems you're describing with having to call every month to activate your benefits could be related to what they call an "issuance code" problem. It's basically a flag in their computer system that's preventing the automatic issuance. Did you by any chance also apply for CalWORKs at the same time as CalFresh? Sometimes when the systems try to coordinate between programs, these weird glitches happen. Worth asking specifically about this when you call.

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this mess! As someone who's been navigating the system for a while, I can tell you that the conflicting information from workers is unfortunately super common. It sounds like multiple issues are happening at once: First, the Emergency Allotment confusion - those really did end in 2023, so that worker was completely wrong to tell you about getting EA payments. The $10 you're getting is likely a minimum benefit supplement. Second, your $40 benefit for a family of 4 with $2,450 rent is definitely incorrect. With that high of housing costs plus the $800 childcare expenses you mentioned, your benefits should be WAY higher. The system probably isn't applying your shelter deduction correctly. Here's what I'd suggest: When you call tomorrow, ask to speak with a "case specialist" or "eligibility supervisor" rather than a regular worker. Tell them you need both an "EBT issuance code review" for the loading problem AND a "benefit recalculation due to unreported expenses." Having the right terminology really helps get you to someone who can actually fix things. Also, bring up that you applied for both CalWORKs and CalFresh simultaneously - that dual application process sometimes creates system flags that cause ongoing issues even after one program is denied. Good luck and don't give up! Your family deserves the correct benefit amount.

im confused about one thing - does wic cover diapers? i thought they did but maybe thats different from calworks?

Update: I called the county office using that Claimyr service someone recommended above, and got through in about 15 mins! The worker confirmed I can definitely use my Cash Aid for diapers. She also said I wasn't getting the diaper benefit but should be eligible. She's adding it starting next month and said I'll get an extra $30. Not a fortune but every bit helps! Thank you all for your help and suggestions!