Update: Had my interview today and got APPROVED! The worker said exactly what some of you mentioned - they counted my IHSS income for the month I received it, but since I could prove I no longer had a client (showed the text from my coordinator), they determined I had no reasonably anticipated income going forward. I'll get my CalWORKs benefits next week and CalFresh loaded tomorrow! Such a relief. For anyone in a similar situation, definitely apply right away and clearly explain your situation. Thanks everyone for the help!

Congratulations on getting approved! That's such great news and I'm sure it's a huge weight off your shoulders. Your story really shows how important it is to clearly explain your situation to the eligibility worker and bring documentation when you have it. For others reading this who might be in similar situations - this is a perfect example of why you shouldn't assume you'll be denied just because you received income earlier in the month. The system does look at your current and future circumstances, not just what happened in the past. Thanks for updating us with the positive outcome!

This story makes me SO MAD. The system acts like we're criminals for having family in other states or needing to travel! I had a similar investigation when my car broke down in Nevada and I was stuck there for 3 weeks. The worker accused me of "abandoning California residency" even though I had an apartment and job here! The whole thing is ridiculous - we're allowed to TRAVEL. Having a baby is a legit medical reason to get help from family. The system is broken when they treat normal life situations like fraud. Good luck with your case - stand your ground and don't let them intimidate you!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress, especially with a newborn and toddler! This is actually more common than you think. I went through something similar when I had to stay with my sister in Oregon for 2 months after my c-section because I had complications and needed help. Here's what worked for me: I gathered EVERYTHING that showed I never stopped being a California resident - my lease agreement, utility bills that stayed in my name, bank statements showing I was still paying my CA rent, even receipts from stores near my apartment before I left and after I got back. The key thing is to show this was TEMPORARY and MEDICAL. Your pregnancy complications are a legitimate reason under CalWORKs rules. Don't let them make you feel like you did something wrong - you were taking care of your health and your children! If they won't listen, definitely ask for a supervisor or file an appeal. And document everything - write down the date/time of every conversation and what was said. You've got this mama! 💪

Just wanted to add that you should also ask about the CalWORKs car repair program if you have transportation issues! Many people don't know about it but they can help with emergency car repairs up to like $1000 if you're working or in their job training program. With 6 kids, reliable transportation is so important for getting to appointments, school, work, etc. Also make sure to get copies of all your benefit calculations at the interview - sometimes there are errors and it's easier to catch them if you have the paperwork right away.

Hey Sean! I'm in a similar situation - single mom with 5 kids and just got approved for CalWORKs last month. Yes, your CalFresh will go down but honestly the total amount you get is SO much better. My CalFresh dropped from about $1200 to around $750, but I got $1600 in CalWORKs cash aid so we're way better off overall. The hardest part was just adjusting my budget since I was used to having it all be food money. Now I have to be more careful about how much of the cash I spend on groceries vs other necessities. But having that flexibility to pay for things like school fees, clothes, and unexpected expenses has been amazing. Also definitely ask about ALL the other benefits - the childcare assistance alone has saved me hundreds! Good luck with your interview!

UPDATE: I finally got through to someone at the county! Used that Claimyr service and it actually worked. The worker said my claim was approved 5 days ago but there was a system error preventing it from being loaded onto my card. They're manually processing it now and I should have the funds within 48 hours. She also fixed my BenefitsCal account - apparently it was blocked for security reasons after the theft, exactly like some of you said. Thanks everyone for your help and suggestions!

This is such a relief to read your update! I've been following your situation and was really worried about your rent deadline. It's incredible that the county had already approved your claim 5 days ago but didn't tell you - that's exactly the kind of communication breakdown that makes this process so much harder than it needs to be. For anyone else dealing with similar issues, this really shows how important it is to keep pushing and trying different approaches. The Claimyr service seems to be a game-changer for actually getting through to someone who can help. I'm definitely bookmarking that for future reference. Hope you get your funds loaded soon and can finally get some peace of mind! Thanks for updating us - it gives hope to others going through the same nightmare.

Update: Finally got through to my worker (used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and it actually worked). She said CalFresh should be back within 7 days and for Cash Aid they're expediting it because I have kids, so hopefully within 10-14 days. She also approved a small immediate need payment that I can pick up tomorrow! Not the full amount but enough to help with some bills until everything gets sorted. Thanks everyone for the advice!

So glad to hear you got some help! This is exactly why I always tell people to ask specifically about immediate need payments - most workers don't mention it unless you know to ask. For future protection, definitely set up those text alerts for your EBT card transactions. I get a text every time my card is used and it's saved me twice when I caught unauthorized charges within minutes. Also, never carry your EBT card and your PIN written down together - I learned that the hard way. Keep your PIN memorized and maybe write it down somewhere safe at home. Hope your benefits get fully restored quickly!