Same thing happened to me about 3 months ago when I got approved for an increase after my annual review. The approval letter came first, then BenefitsCal showed "pending" for like 10 days, and I was so worried something went wrong. But sure enough, the higher amount hit my card exactly when the letter said it would. The systems really don't sync up well at all. Your letter is the official word - you can count on that increase being there July 1st!

This is so common it's not even funny! I've been on CalWORKs for 2 years now and literally EVERY time there's been any change to my case - increases, decreases, adding/removing household members - the BenefitsCal app shows "pending" for days or even weeks after I get the official letter. It's like they have two completely separate computer systems that hate talking to each other. Your approval letter is the legal document that matters, so if it says you're getting $845 starting July 1st, you're getting $845 starting July 1st. The app will eventually catch up, probably sometime in the next week or two. I've learned to just ignore what the app says and go by the paperwork they mail me!

To summarize what everyone is saying (there's a bit of confusion in some responses): 1. Federal tax refunds are EXEMPT income for CalWORKs purposes and exempt as a resource for 12 months after receipt 2. You should still REPORT the refund when you receive it, but clearly mark it as "tax refund" so it's properly coded as exempt 3. Your main focus should be on accurately reporting your self-employment income throughout the year on your SAR 7 forms 4. For your renewal, you'll need to complete a self-employment form (CW 10) detailing your income and business expenses 5. Keep all receipts and documentation - with cash work and no 1099s, good record-keeping is crucial Hope this helps clarify things!

Just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - when you file your taxes, make sure you keep a copy of your tax return! Your CalWORKs worker might ask for it during your renewal to verify your self-employment income matches what you've been reporting all year. Also, since you mentioned you do cleaning and babysitting, you might want to look into whether any of your regular clients should be giving you 1099s. If you make $600+ from any single household in a year, they're supposed to issue one. Not saying you need to chase people down for them, but just something to be aware of for next tax season. The earned income tax credit you mentioned is awesome - that's money back in your pocket that doesn't count against your CalWORKs at all. You're doing everything right by staying on top of this stuff before your renewal!

update us on what happens! i need to go in next month for my recertification interview and wanna know if u get anywhere with riverside office

I'm so sorry you're going through this Rebecca! I had a similar issue a few months ago where my benefits got delayed and I was about to lose my housing. One thing that really helped me was going to the office FIRST THING in the morning when they open - like be there at 7:45 AM before the 8:00 opening. The security guard told me that emergency cases (like missing payments) get priority if you're one of the first people there. Also, bring every single document you have - your ID, Social Security cards for you and the kids, any recent pay stubs, your lease agreement showing rent is due, and definitely that eviction notice if your landlord gave you one in writing. They can sometimes issue an emergency payment same day if you have all your paperwork ready. Don't give up - you've got this! Your kids need those benefits and you deserve to have someone actually help you instead of giving you the runaround.

Hey Elliott! I went through something similar last year when my income increased. One thing that really helped me was calling ahead before submitting my SAR7 to ask them to walk through the calculation with me over the phone. That way I knew exactly what to expect and could prepare mentally. Also, if you do end up losing CalFresh benefits, don't forget to look into local food banks and pantries - many don't have income requirements and can help bridge the gap. The food bank near me actually has really good fresh produce twice a week. Congrats on the better paying jobs though - that's a huge step forward even if benefits change!

I've been through similar income changes with CalFresh and wanted to share something important - even if your regular benefit amount goes down or stays at the minimum, you might still be eligible for other food assistance programs! Check if your area has any state or local programs that have different income limits. Also, when you submit your SAR7, double-check that all your expenses are accurately reported - not just rent and utilities, but things like phone bills if they're part of your shelter costs. Sometimes small details can make a difference in the final calculation. The transition period can be stressful but you're being proactive by planning ahead, which is really smart!

Update: Thank you all SO MUCH for the advice! I uploaded all my paystubs from the past 6 months to BenefitsCal and wrote a detailed explanation about my seasonal work. I also used that Claimyr service someone mentioned to actually get through to a supervisor (after trying for two days on my own with no luck). The supervisor was actually really helpful and said they would assign a different worker to my case who had experience with seasonal income calculations. She explained they can do a "reasonably anticipated income" calculation that takes my annual pattern into account instead of just looking at my current month. Fingers crossed this gets sorted out before my rent is due next week!

So glad to see your update! This is exactly why we need to share these experiences - so many people don't know about income averaging or reasonably anticipated income calculations. Your situation is a perfect example of why seasonal workers need advocates who understand the system. For anyone else reading this thread who works seasonal jobs, save this post! The advice about documenting everything, asking for supervisors, and using services like Claimyr to actually get through to someone helpful could save you months of stress. Really hoping everything works out for you before rent is due - keep us posted on how it goes with the new worker!