One more thing - since your son is on SSI, remember that his SSI money is completely separate from your CalWORKs budget. The SSI recipient is excluded from the CalWORKs household size calculation, and their income/resources don't count toward CalWORKs eligibility. This is actually positive for you in this situation - as long as you can show the money was just passing through his account and wasn't actually new income to your CalWORKs household, you should be fine. The investigator was probably just making sure those deposits weren't unreported income that would affect your CalWORKs eligibility.

I've been through a similar fraud investigation and want to share what helped me get through it. First, the fact that you're still receiving payments is actually a really good sign - they typically suspend benefits immediately if they think there's actual fraud happening. Second, that system status issue is super common during investigations. My CalWORKs showed "pending" for almost 2 months even though I kept getting my deposits. Here's what I learned: keep calling your worker every few days (I know it's frustrating with the hold times), and if possible, try to visit the office in person. Sometimes they can update you on the investigation status faster face-to-face. Also, make sure you have copies of everything you sent the investigator - bank statements, those text messages from family members about the loans, anything showing the money was temporary help and not unreported income. The investigators deal with actual fraud cases all the time, so when someone is cooperative and has documentation like you did, they usually close the case pretty quickly. Just hang in there - it sounds like you handled everything correctly!

Update: I finally got through to my county office after trying for days! The worker I spoke with was much more helpful than the first one. They explained that they didn't apply the childcare deduction correctly - we pay my mother-in-law $300/week to watch our younger kids while we work, but the first worker didn't count it because it's paid to a relative! The new worker said they CAN count it if we provide the right documentation. They're reopening our case to recalculate! Also found out we qualify for more CalFresh than they initially approved. Fingers crossed this works out better!

This is exactly why I always tell people to ask for a different worker if the first one seems rushed or unhelpful! So many CalWORKs workers don't fully understand all the deductions available, especially the childcare rules for relatives. The fact that they missed a $1,200/month childcare deduction is huge - that's the difference between qualifying and not qualifying for most families. I've seen this happen so many times where families get denied because the worker didn't ask the right questions or didn't know all the rules. Your persistence really paid off! For anyone else reading this - always ask specifically about ALL childcare costs, even if paid to family members, and don't give up after the first denial if something doesn't seem right about the calculation.

Just wanted to mention that many counties are REALLY behind in processing applications right now. We applied in January and didn't get approved until March. Make sure you follow up constantly and keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit. They lost my husband's VA documentation twice and we had to resubmit it. So frustrating.

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share that I'm in a very similar situation! My partner is also a veteran receiving VA disability benefits and we have a toddler. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - I had no idea that VA disability benefits were exempt income for CalWORKs purposes. One thing I'm wondering about that I haven't seen addressed yet - does anyone know if there are specific deadlines we need to be aware of when applying? Like, if we're facing eviction next month, how quickly can we realistically expect to see benefits if we apply this week? The immediate need payment option that @Alicia mentioned sounds promising, but I'm curious about real-world timelines from people who've actually been through the process recently. Also, for those who successfully got approved - did you apply online through BenefitsCal or go to the office in person? I'm trying to figure out which route might be faster given our time crunch. Thanks so much for sharing all your experiences - it's giving me hope that we might actually qualify for help!

Thank you everyone for explaining! The county worker never mentioned this \

I'm sorry you're going through this - the CalWORKs system can be really confusing! Just wanted to add that you might also want to look into local food banks and community resources while you're job searching. Many areas have programs specifically for families dealing with unemployment that don't have the same restrictions as CalWORKs. Your local 211 service (dial 2-1-1) can connect you with emergency assistance programs, utility help, and job training resources that might be available in your area. Also, since you're already getting CalFresh and Medi-Cal, make sure you're signed up for all the associated benefits like the California Lifeline phone program if you need it. Hang in there!

One more thing - depending on what day of the month it is, they might not issue the increased benefits until next month's regular payment. If it's after the 15th (which I think it is), they might approve your case change but the actual increase won't happen until your next payment date. However, they sometimes issue a supplemental payment for the partial month. Ask specifically about that when you call - use the exact phrase "supplemental payment for adding a household member mid-month" so they know you're aware of the policy.

I'm going through something similar right now - my teenage daughter just moved back from her mom's place and I'm waiting for my case to update too. From what I've learned lurking in this community, the "pending" status is normal and can take several days even when workers say they'll process it same-day. One thing that really helped me was calling the county's CalWORKs hotline instead of trying to reach my specific worker. They have access to see exactly where your case is in the review process and can sometimes put a "rush" flag on it if you explain the eviction situation. Also, if you haven't already, make sure you have proof that your son is actually living with you now - utility bills, school enrollment, anything dated after he moved back. Sometimes that's what holds up the approval. The system definitely doesn't update automatically at midnight, so don't stress about checking it constantly. But do call first thing tomorrow morning and ask to speak with a supervisor if your worker isn't available. Good luck with your landlord situation - I know how scary those notices can be!