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Great news! Make sure to follow up if the benefits aren't restored within the 48 hours they promised. And for future reference, when uploading documents to BenefitsCal, it's sometimes better to use the mobile app to take photos rather than scanning - their system seems to process photos better than scanned documents in many cases.
Yes, the SAR7 is different from recertification. The SAR7 is a simpler mid-period report that verifies your continued eligibility by updating income, household composition, etc. Recertification is a more comprehensive review of your entire case that happens annually. And you're exactly right about the IRT (Income Reporting Threshold). It's the maximum amount your household can earn before you must report it, even if it's not your regular reporting month. Your IRT amount should be listed on your approval notices - it's based on your household size and is set at 130% of the Federal Poverty Level. If your income ever exceeds this amount, you must report it within 10 days. One thing to keep in mind: even though you only have to report certain changes during your report months, keeping your worker updated on things like address changes should be done immediately. Missing notices is one of the biggest reasons people lose benefits unexpectedly.
Update: I finally got through to my worker using that Claimyr service someone suggested. You were all right - they were projecting my income based on my hourly rate and weekly hours. My worker explained they use my hourly rate ($13.50) × hours per week (20) × 4.33 weeks = $1,169.10, which they rounded to $1,170.83 with some adjustment I didn't fully understand.She also explained about the income disregards, so my actual benefit reduction isn't as bad as I initially thought. Thanks everyone for your help! I'm going to be much more careful with tracking my income reporting going forward.
forgot to say make sure u check the box for expedited calfresh when u apply! if ur income is low enough and ur rent/utilities are high enough, they can approve u in like 3 days instead of 30. worth a shot
Your situation sounds rough, sending you positive thoughts. When my husband and I split, I also applied for benefits. One thing that tripped me up was the verification process. They kept asking for more and more documents! Make sure you respond quickly to any requests for verification or your application can get denied just for not responding in time. Also just a heads up that they usually send notices through the mail, so make sure your brothers' address is a secure place for you to receive mail. My benefits got discontinued once because I missed an important notice when I was between homes.
Thanks for the tip. Mail shouldn't be a problem at my brothers' place, but I'll make sure to check it regularly. Did they ever contact you by phone or email, or was it all through regular mail?
Ali Anderson
did u report it to the police too? my cousin didnt get her money back until she filed a police report
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Logan Stewart
•Filing a police report isn't required for EBT theft claims with CalWORKs, but it can sometimes help speed up the process or add credibility to your claim if it's being questioned. The county's fraud investigation unit works separately from local police though.
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Mikayla Brown
check you're benefits account online maybe they already added the money back but didn't tell you? happened to my sister last year
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Diego Castillo
•Just checked BenefitsCal again and nothing's been added back yet. Still showing a $0 balance which is making me panic. I appreciate everyone's suggestions though - at least now I have some numbers to call tomorrow.
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