Hey! I just went through this exact situation 6 months ago when my restaurant job went from full-time to on-call. You absolutely can and should apply for both programs right now! Don't wait for your first reduced paycheck - I made that mistake and it delayed everything by weeks. A few things that really helped me: 1. Get everything in writing from your employer about the schedule change - even a text or email helps 2. When you apply online through BenefitsCal, be super clear in the comments section that your income is about to drop significantly 3. Ask specifically about expedited CalFresh during your phone interview - with 2 kids you'll probably qualify and get food benefits within days One thing nobody mentioned - if you're having trouble reaching your worker later on, you can also walk into your county office. I know it's a pain but sometimes it's the only way to get someone to actually look at your case. Good luck mama, you got this! 💪

I'm going through something similar right now! My hours got cut from 35/week to maybe 15-20 and it's been really stressful. One thing I learned is that you should definitely apply online through BenefitsCal.org first, but also try to schedule an in-person appointment at your county office if possible. The workers there can sometimes explain things better than trying to figure it out over the phone. Also, since you mentioned you're a single mom with 2 kids, make sure you ask about the Maximum Aid Payment (MAP) for your family size when you apply for CalWORKs. With variable income from on-call work, some months you might get more assistance and some months less, but they calculate it based on your household size and county. One more tip - start keeping a simple notebook or phone notes of every hour you work and every dollar you earn. It makes reporting so much easier later on. The county workers really appreciate when you come prepared with organized records!

UPDATE: Finally got through to my worker! I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and it actually worked - got through in about 30 minutes instead of being on hold forever. My worker is expediting my claim because I have my rent due notice. She said there's been a huge increase in EBT theft in Fresno lately. She's also referring me to the Housing Support Program for emergency assistance while my claim is processed. THANK YOU everyone for the advice! I'm still stressed but at least I know what to do now. Will update when I hear about my claim.

So glad you got through to your worker and are making progress! This is exactly why we need to share information in this community - your experience will help others who face the same situation. One more tip while you're waiting: document EVERYTHING with photos and timestamps. Take pictures of your rent due notice, screenshot all your communications with your worker, and keep a log of every phone call you make. If there are any delays or issues with your claim, this documentation will be crucial. Also, once you get your benefits restored, consider asking your worker about setting up direct deposit for future payments if it's available in your county. Some people have found it's safer than using the EBT card for cash benefits, though I know not all counties offer it yet. Hoping you get your money back quickly! Keep us posted on how the Housing Support Program works out too.

You mentioned being $87 over the income limit for CalFresh. Just want to check - did they apply all possible deductions? Make sure they counted your housing costs (rent/mortgage, utilities), childcare expenses, and any medical expenses for elderly or disabled household members if applicable. Sometimes eligibility workers miss these deductions, especially if you didn't provide detailed information about your expenses on the application.

I went through something very similar when I was pregnant with my second child! Here's what I learned: You can absolutely apply for CalWORKs now while pregnant - don't wait. The Pregnant Woman Only program starts benefits in your third trimester, and since you're due in 2 months, you should qualify right away. For CalFresh, with those deductions others mentioned ($1850 rent + utilities + $600 childcare), you should definitely appeal that denial or ask for a recalculation. That's over $2400 in monthly deductions which should bring your net income way below the limit for a family of 3. Also, once you're approved for CalWORKs, you'll automatically get CalFresh too since the income limits work differently when you're receiving cash aid. So applying for CalWORKs might actually solve both problems! Make sure to specifically mention you want to apply for the "Pregnant Woman Only CalWORKs program" when you contact them.

Thanks everyone for all your help! I was finally able to reach my worker today and file the paperwork for the stolen benefits. She confirmed I can get my Cash Aid through direct deposit (thanks for the form name @helpful_person!) but CalFresh has to stay on EBT. I'm filling out the direct deposit form today and also filed a police report. Fingers crossed I get the stolen money back soon, but at least I know how to prevent this from happening again!

I'm so sorry this happened to you! EBT theft is unfortunately way too common. I just wanted to add that when you do switch to direct deposit for your Cash Aid, keep your EBT card in a safe place at home as a backup - sometimes there can be delays with direct deposits and having the card as a fallback can be helpful. Also, once you get your replacement benefits, consider splitting them between your bank account (Cash Aid) and keeping just a small amount on the EBT card for emergencies. Stay strong mama, you're doing everything right by being proactive about this!

This exact same thing happened to me last month after Presidents Day! My deposit was almost 8 hours late and I was so stressed because I had my car payment due. It's frustrating that they don't give us any heads up about potential delays during holidays. I've started setting aside $20-30 when I can just for situations like this, but I know how hard that is when every dollar is already spoken for. Really glad everyone's payments are starting to come through - the waiting is always the worst part!

This whole thread has been so helpful! I'm new to CalWORKs (just got approved last month) and had no idea that holiday delays were a normal thing. When my deposit didn't show up this morning I thought maybe my case got closed or something went wrong with my paperwork. Reading everyone's experiences really put my mind at ease. I'll definitely keep that Claimyr service in mind for future issues - sounds way better than sitting on hold for hours. And good to know about the emergency payment option too, though hopefully I'll never need it. Thanks everyone for sharing your knowledge and helping us newcomers understand how this all works!