IMPORTANT: Even though you're still receiving benefits, DOCUMENT EVERYTHING! Save bank statements, keep a journal of all communication with welfare office, save emails, and document EVERY phone call attempt. Take screenshots of your BenefitsCal account showing status. If they suddenly decide you have an overpayment, you'll need all this evidence to appeal. The system is DESIGNED to trip people up and then demand repayment!!! Protect yourself!!!

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.

After reviewing your situation more, I strongly recommend requesting a redetermination and specifically asking about these options: 1. Verify they're applying the correct earned income disregard (the $450 + 50% of remaining) 2. Ask about the Housing Support Program or Homeless Assistance Prevention - even if you're not homeless, if your housing costs exceed 80% of your total household income, you might qualify for some temporary assistance 3. Check if your children qualify for the diaper stipend (if any are under 3) 4. Make sure you're receiving the maximum utility allowance in your CalFresh calculation Also important: they should have given you a written breakdown of why you were denied. If you didn't get this, request it immediately as it's your right to understand exactly how they calculated your eligibility.

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!

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!