I'd suggest preparing for your call with your worker by gathering: 1. Recent pay stubs from both your regular job and DoorDash 2. Your most recent approval notice showing your benefit amount 3. Bank statements showing the reduced deposit 4. Any mail you've received from the county in the last 2-3 months Also, ask specifically about: - Whether they processed your address change correctly - If they're missing any required verification documents - Whether there was a change in your reported household composition - If there are any sanctions or penalties being applied It's much easier to resolve these issues when you have documentation ready.

I'm so sorry this happened to you! The same thing happened to my neighbor last year - her benefits dropped from $400 to $31 overnight with no explanation. It turned out the county had flagged her case for review because she reported working some temp jobs, but they never sent her the paperwork requesting additional verification. One thing that might help while you're waiting to reach your worker - check your BenefitsCal account online to see if there are any pending requests or notices you might have missed. Sometimes they post things there even if the mail doesn't reach you properly after an address change. Also, if you're really struggling to make rent next week, you might want to call 211 or check with local churches/community centers for emergency rental assistance while you sort this out with CalWORKs. Many places have one-time help available for situations exactly like this. Good luck - I really hope you get answers soon!

have u tried contacting ur local legal aid office? they help with calworks issues for free. my friend got help from them when her worker was saying she was over the income limit when she wasnt

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's incredibly stressful when you're already struggling financially and the system that's supposed to help you is making things worse. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is contacting your state assemblymember or state senator's office. They have constituent services staff who specifically handle problems with state agencies like CalWORKs. I had a similar issue where my worker was being completely unreasonable, and after calling my assemblymember's office, someone from their team contacted the county director directly. My case was reassigned within a week and the new worker immediately accepted the same documents the previous worker had rejected. You can find your representatives at findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov - just enter your address. Their staff deal with CalWORKs issues all the time and they know exactly who to contact to get things moving. Also, while you're working on getting a new worker, you might want to ask about the CalWORKs Immediate Need payment that someone mentioned earlier. Even if your regular benefits are delayed, you may qualify for emergency assistance to help with your rent deadline. Hang in there - you have rights and there are people who will help you enforce them!

So glad you got through to your worker and that she was helpful! It sounds like you're in much better hands than some of us have experienced. The fact that she proactively explained how the recertification will work differently from the temporary reduction is really encouraging. Just wanted to add - when you get that letter from your husband's employer about the seasonal work, try to get them to be as specific as possible about the typical work patterns (like "busy season typically runs X months with overtime, followed by Y months of reduced hours"). The more detailed documentation you have about the cyclical nature of his income, the stronger your case will be during recertification. You've got this! Sounds like you're doing everything right by staying on top of the reporting requirements and gathering the right documentation.

Really glad to see this worked out for you! Your experience shows how important it is to report IRT changes promptly - waiting could have made things much worse. For anyone else reading this thread, Isabella's situation is a perfect example of why documenting fluctuating income is so crucial. One thing I'd add - if your husband's employer is hesitant about writing a letter, you could also ask them to just verify on company letterhead that his position involves seasonal overtime periods. Sometimes employers are more comfortable with simple verification rather than detailed explanations. Also keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit - I always make duplicates of all documentation before my appointments just in case something gets lost in their system. Hope your recertification goes smoothly! You're clearly on the right track with all the preparation you're doing.

Just wanted to add - if you're having trouble reaching your caseworker by phone after you have the baby, you can also report the birth online through your county's CalWORKs portal if they have one set up. Some counties let you upload documents there too which can be faster than waiting on hold. Also, don't panic if your first increased payment seems off - sometimes they do adjustments the following month to make sure everything is calculated right. Keep all your paperwork and if something looks wrong after a couple months, definitely follow up. And one more tip - when you go to report the pregnancy now, ask them to put a note in your file about your due date so they can help remind you about reporting the birth when the time comes. Some workers are really good about checking in with clients around due dates!

Definitely report your pregnancy NOW! I wish I had known about the pregnancy supplement when I was expecting my daughter. I only found out about it after she was born and missed out on 3 months of extra money. When you call to report your pregnancy, make sure to ask specifically about the "pregnancy special needs" payment - sometimes they don't automatically tell you about it. You'll need a doctor's verification form but it's worth the extra $47/month. After your baby arrives, don't stress too much about getting the birth certificate right away. The hospital discharge papers work fine initially to add the baby to your case. I brought mine to the office the day after we got home from the hospital and they processed it same day. Also, once you report the birth, your next payment date might be different since they have to recalculate everything. Mine came a few days later than usual but it was the full increased amount. Good luck with everything and congrats on your upcoming arrival! 🍼

One more thing that might help you: after you submit your CalFresh application, you'll have an interview with an eligibility worker. During this interview, make sure to clearly explain your current situation - that you recently separated, your child's father doesn't live with you, and you're applying for CalFresh only. This will help ensure your case is processed correctly. For verification, they'll likely ask for something showing your current address (lease, utility bill) and possibly something documenting the separation if it's available. If you don't have formal separation documents, don't worry - a statement explaining your situation is usually sufficient for CalFresh purposes. The important thing is to be clear and consistent about your household composition.

Just wanted to add my experience - I was in almost the exact same situation 6 months ago. Separated from my daughter's dad and was worried about applying for CalFresh because I didn't want to mess up our co-parenting situation. Everyone here is right - CalFresh won't trigger child support enforcement at all. I've been getting benefits for 5 months now and my ex has never been contacted by anyone. The key things that helped me: 1) Only checked the CalFresh box on BenefitsCal, 2) Listed just me and my daughter as household members, 3) In the "other income" section I mentioned that her dad sometimes helps with expenses but made it clear he doesn't live with us. The eligibility worker was totally understanding during my phone interview and didn't ask any invasive questions about our relationship. My benefits were approved within 2 weeks and it's been a huge help with groceries. Don't let fear of child support issues stop you from getting the food assistance you and your son need!