I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's incredibly frustrating how the system works against families who are already doing things right! I went through almost the exact same thing last year and was completely blindsided by how differently Medi-Cal treats child support cooperation compared to CalWORKs. The advice everyone's giving about requesting that fair hearing with "aid paid pending" is absolutely critical - do this FIRST THING tomorrow morning! You only have 90 days from your notice date and this will keep your Medi-Cal active during the entire hearing process, which could buy you several months to figure things out. I also want to echo what others have said about talking to your ex immediately. When I had to go through this, I called my ex right away to explain that the county was forcing this cooperation just so I could keep my healthcare - it wasn't me going back on our agreement. That conversation was awkward but it saved our co-parenting relationship when the LCSA eventually contacted him. One thing that helped me was putting together a really detailed packet showing how well our informal arrangement worked for the kids - texts about shared expenses, our custody schedule, even photos of family events showing how stable everything was. The hearing officer actually seemed impressed that we'd maintained such a functional system for years. The whole thing is backwards and unfair, but there IS hope. You can get through this while protecting both your healthcare and your family relationships. Stay strong!

This is absolutely heartbreaking and I'm so angry for you! The fact that they can just blindside you like this after you already made an informed decision about the CalWORKs penalty is completely unacceptable. Nobody should have to find out they're losing their healthcare through a damn notice in the mail. I'm reading through all this advice and everyone is spot on - you need to request that fair hearing with "aid paid pending" IMMEDIATELY. Like tomorrow morning first thing. That 90-day deadline is no joke and keeping your coverage active during the hearing process could be the difference between having healthcare and not. What really pisses me off is that they're going to pursue child support for your kids anyway even though you specifically said you didn't want that! So you lose your medical coverage AND they still mess with your co-parenting arrangement. It's like the system is designed to punish people for trying to handle things maturely. Definitely warn your ex about what's coming. Your arrangement has been working for 2 years - don't let some bureaucrat destroy that by catching him off guard. When both parents can show the LCSA that you've got a stable system that benefits the kids, sometimes they back off a little. This whole thing is so backwards but don't give up! There are clearly people here who've fought this and won. Document everything about how well your system works and fight for what you've built. You shouldn't have to choose between healthcare and functional co-parenting.

I just wanted to add to this amazing thread of support! I went through this exact situation about 5 months ago when I started a seasonal job that put me over my IRT by about $140. Like so many others here, I was absolutely terrified that my CalFresh would get cut off immediately. Here's what happened in my case: - I reported on day 6 of my 10-day window (I called as soon as I worked up the courage!) - The worker was really patient and explained that the IRT is like an "early warning system" - it alerts them to review your case, but doesn't automatically disqualify you - I kept receiving my full benefits for about 5 weeks while they processed everything - They eventually reduced my benefits by only $31/month because they factored in my rent, utilities, and the fact that my job was seasonal with variable hours What really helped me was when the worker explained that they're looking at your long-term financial stability, not punishing you for getting a job. Since you mentioned this is new employment, they'll definitely consider that jobs often have adjustment periods with varying schedules or pay rates. The most reassuring thing was learning that your EBT continues working normally throughout the entire review process - there's no sudden cutoff. Don't let fear delay your reporting! You're being responsible by staying within that 10-day window, and based on everyone's experiences here, the outcome is usually much more reasonable than we imagine. This community really shows how many people successfully navigate this process!

I'm so grateful I found this thread! I was in almost the exact same situation about 2 weeks ago when I started a new job that put me over my IRT by about $240. Like everyone else here, I was absolutely panicking thinking my CalFresh would stop immediately when I reported. Here's what just happened in my case: - I reported on day 7 of my 10-day window (after reading horror stories online that made me super anxious!) - The worker was incredibly understanding and explained that going over IRT is just a "review trigger" - not an automatic disqualification - I'm still receiving my full benefits now (it's been 2 weeks since I reported) while they process my case - They sent me paperwork asking for pay stubs and information about whether this income will continue consistently What really helped ease my anxiety was when the worker explained that new jobs often have adjustment periods - sometimes training pay is different, or hours vary while you're getting established. They said they look at your projected ongoing income, not just one high paycheck. She also emphasized that I was doing exactly the right thing by reporting within the 10-day window, and that my EBT would continue working normally while they review everything. No sudden surprises or immediate cutoffs! Based on everyone's experiences in this thread, it sounds like I can expect to keep my current benefits for another 3-4 weeks while they finish processing, and then hopefully just a reasonable reduction rather than losing everything. This community has been such a lifesaver for understanding that this is a normal process thousands of people navigate successfully!

Hey Lauren! Welcome to the community and congratulations on your new job - that's such an amazing milestone! I'm also pretty new to CalWORKs myself, and reading through this entire thread has been incredibly helpful for me too. Everyone has given you such comprehensive, detailed advice about setting up childcare payments with your mom as the provider. Just wanted to add a couple things that might help from my recent experience: First, make sure you have your work schedule in writing from your employer when you submit the childcare authorization - they'll need to verify your exact hours and days. Second, if your county office has online portals for submitting documents, definitely use them and screenshot your submissions for your records. The payment rates everyone mentioned ($1,080-1,300/month) will really make a difference for your family, and it's wonderful that your baby will be cared for by grandma. This community has been such a lifeline for understanding how these programs actually work in practice. You're so well-prepared now thanks to all the amazing guidance here - definitely save this whole thread as a reference! Best of luck with your job starting Monday, you've got this!

Hey Lauren! Welcome to the community and huge congratulations on both your CalWORKs approval and landing that new job - what an amazing accomplishment! Reading through this thread as someone who's also navigating these systems, I'm blown away by how much incredible detail and support everyone has shared with you. You've basically gotten a masterclass in CalWORKs childcare payments! I just wanted to add one thing that really helped me when I was getting started - create a dedicated folder (physical or digital) for all your childcare documents. With everything from the CF 777 form to monthly attendance sheets to your mom's provider paperwork, it's easy to lose track of important documents. Having everything in one organized place saved me so much stress when I needed to reference something quickly or resubmit paperwork. Also, I learned to take a photo of every form before AND after filling it out - that way if something gets lost or there's a question about what was submitted, you have proof of exactly what information you provided. You're being so proactive getting this all sorted before Monday, and with all the fantastic guidance from this amazing community, I know everything is going to work out great. Your baby is so lucky to have such a caring mom and grandmother looking out for them. Best of luck with your new job - you've totally got this!

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago! My mom sent me $180 through Zelle for my daughter's back-to-school clothes and I was panicking about my redetermination just like you are now. Here's what I learned: the most important thing is to be completely transparent and come prepared with documentation. I got a simple email from my mom stating the date, amount, and that it was a one-time gift specifically for school clothes. I also brought the receipts from Target and Walmart showing I spent the money on what she intended. When I went to my appointment, I started by saying "I need to explain some Zelle deposits on my bank statement before we begin." My worker actually thanked me for being upfront about it and said it made her job much easier. She looked at my documentation for maybe 2 minutes, made copies, and confirmed it wouldn't count as income since it was properly documented as a one-time gift. The key is getting ahead of it rather than waiting for questions. Get that written statement from your cousin ASAP with the specific dates, amounts, and purposes (birthday present and school supplies). If you have any text messages where she mentioned wanting to help, screenshot those too - they help show the context. You're going to be fine! Being prepared and honest is exactly the right approach, and legitimate family gifts are protected under CalWORKs rules when properly documented.

I've been following this thread and wanted to share my experience from last year when I had a similar situation with my brother sending me $320 through CashApp for my son's school laptop and supplies. I was absolutely terrified about my redetermination, but here's what happened: I got a simple written statement from my brother explaining it was a one-time gift for educational expenses, gathered all my receipts from Best Buy and Staples, and brought screenshots of our text messages where he had offered to help. At my appointment, I immediately said "I want to explain some CashApp transfers on my bank statement" and handed over all my documentation. My worker looked through everything, asked a couple basic questions about the timing, and said "This is clearly documented as educational gifts - they won't affect your benefits." The whole thing took less than 5 minutes! What really helped was being super organized and upfront from the start. I think what workers appreciate most is when you're transparent and have everything ready to explain rather than seeming like you're trying to hide something. For your situation with the birthday present and school supplies, you should be completely fine. Those are exactly the kinds of specific, one-time family gifts that are excluded from income when properly documented. Get that statement from your cousin, gather your receipts, and go in confident - you're handling this exactly right!

Hey! I went through this exact situation about 6 months ago with my 3-year-old. You absolutely need to report this within 10 days - don't wait for your SAR7! I made the mistake of waiting and almost got hit with complications. When I transitioned from homeless to paying $1,100/month rent, my CalWORKs went from $927 to about $1,070. Not enough to cover rent obviously, but every bit helps. The key thing is when you call, don't just report the housing change - ask specifically about these programs: - CalWORKs Housing Support Program (helped me with first month's rent) - Homeless Assistance Program (covered my security deposit) - Moving assistance funds Also make sure they recalculate your CalFresh - mine went up by almost $180/month because of the utility allowance! That was honestly more helpful than the CalWORKs increase. One tip: if you can't get through to your worker, try calling right when they open at 8am or use the BenefitsCal online portal to submit the change. You got this! Having your own place is such a game changer even if the budget is still tight.

I'm actually going through something similar right now - just submitted my housing change report last week after being homeless for 8 months. One thing I learned is that you can also submit the change through the GetCalFresh website (getcalfresh.org) if you can't get through by phone - they forward it directly to your county office and give you a confirmation number for your records. Also wanted to mention that some counties have expedited processing for housing-related changes since they know how urgent these situations are. When you call, specifically ask if they can expedite your case review since you're transitioning from homelessness to housed. My worker told me this can sometimes speed up the benefit adjustment by a week or two. Really hoping everything works out with your new place! Having stable housing makes such a difference, even if the finances are still tight. Make sure to keep copies of your lease agreement and any receipts from move-in costs - you might need them for the various assistance programs people mentioned.