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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?
wat i dont get is why u took out all ur money at once??? thats kinda on u tbh. not tryna be mean but i always take mine out in small amounts for this exact reason
I needed it all for rent which was due soon. I don't normally withdraw it all at once, but I was in Sacramento visiting my sister who's been sick and needed to pay rent as soon as I got back. Not really helpful to blame me when I'm already stressed about this situation.
That comment wasn't helpful. Many families need their full benefit amount for essential expenses like rent. The important thing now is getting through the replacement process properly. Focus on getting that police report number and submitting the CW 2216 form with your ATM receipt to your home county as quickly as possible.
I want to add one more important detail: when submitting your CW 2216 form, you'll need to sign an affidavit under penalty of perjury. Be 100% accurate about all details (time, place, amount, circumstances). Any discrepancies between your statement and the police report could result in denial. Also, while you're waiting for replacement, ask specifically about these emergency options: 1. Immediate Need payment (one-time emergency payment) 2. Homeless Assistance if you're at risk of eviction 3. Emergency food referrals through CalFresh Document every call attempt you make (date, time, number called). This might help if there are delays in processing your replacement request.
Be careful bout reporting. My cousin's girlfriend didnt report her income right away and ended up with an overpayment. They made her pay back like $2000!!! The system is designed to TRAP US i swear!!!
That's not exactly how it works. You don't have to report every single dollar right away - you report on your SAR7 which is due every 6 months. The exception is if your income goes over your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT), which they tell you on your approval notice. For a family of 2, that's usually around $2,400-ish per month. Working one day a month for $200 is nowhere near that threshold, so regular SAR7 reporting is fine.
Thank you all SO MUCH for the helpful answers! I feel confident now to take that one day a month job without worrying about losing my cash aid. Its good to know they have that $225 disregard - i wish they explained this stuff better when we applied! Going to start looking for more part-time opportunities too since it sounds like I can actually work more and still keep some benefits while being better off overall.
If you do end up getting married and your CalWORKs decreases, make sure you connect with your Welfare to Work specialist right away. With lower cash aid, you might qualify for more supportive services like additional childcare hours or transportation assistance. I actually ended up qualifying for their education program after my benefits decreased from getting married, and they're helping me get my medical assistant certification now. Sometimes one door closes and another opens!
LordCommander
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.
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Zoe Wang
That's great! Just remember that if your hours ever change significantly (especially if they decrease), report it right away with proof from your employer. CalWORKs can adjust your benefits up if your income goes down, but they need documentation.
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