I'm so sorry for your loss, Jean Claude. Losing your mom is incredibly difficult, and you're absolutely handling this situation the right way by being proactive and honest about everything. What you're experiencing is actually very common - the EBT system operates on automated schedules that can take weeks to sync up with case changes, even when deaths are reported promptly like you did. The fact that you called the very next day shows you're doing everything correctly. When you go to the county office with the death certificate, definitely bring the EBT card with you. They'll close the case retroactively to your mom's date of death, and since you reported everything properly and haven't used the benefits, you won't owe anything back. This is clearly a system timing issue, not any fault of yours. I'd recommend asking for a receipt when you turn in the card and getting written confirmation that you properly reported the death. The county workers see this scenario regularly and understand it's just how their systems work. Please don't let this add extra stress during an already overwhelming time. You're being incredibly responsible and thoughtful when you have so much else to handle. Take care of yourself.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Jean Claude. Reading through your post and all these responses, it's clear that you're handling an incredibly difficult situation with such care and responsibility. As someone new to this community, I'm struck by how supportive everyone has been and how common this EBT timing issue actually is. It sounds like the automated benefit loading system really doesn't sync up well with case changes, which creates exactly the situation you're experiencing. From everything I've read here, you've done absolutely everything right - reporting her death immediately and not touching the benefits shows complete integrity. The consistent advice seems to be bringing both the death certificate and EBT card to the county office together, and making sure to get written documentation when you turn everything in. I hope this gets resolved quickly and smoothly for you so you can focus on taking care of yourself during this grieving process. You're clearly a thoughtful person who wants to do the right thing, and that's evident in how you've approached this whole situation. Wishing you peace during this difficult time.

Thanks everyone for the replies! I think I'm going to start keeping better records of everything and make sure what we report monthly matches what goes on the tax return. I'll bring copies of our 2024 return to our next redetermination appointment in September just to be safe. Better to be upfront than deal with overpayments later! I really appreciate all the advice.

Just wanted to add my experience - I've been on CalWORKs for 3 years and my husband does landscaping work (self-employed). They asked for his tax returns during our very first application but haven't asked since then. However, our worker did tell us that they randomly audit cases and can request documentation going back several years. What really helped us was creating a simple spreadsheet to track his monthly income and expenses. We keep all receipts in a shoebox and update the spreadsheet weekly. This way, when we fill out the monthly reporting forms, we have exact numbers that will match our tax return at the end of the year. Also, don't forget that you can deduct mileage for work-related driving! For handyman work, that's usually driving between job sites. It's 65.5 cents per mile for 2023 taxes. Keep a log of work miles - it can significantly reduce your net income calculation.

Hey Gabriel! I just went through this exact situation 6 months ago. Definitely report your pregnancy NOW - don't wait! You're missing out on the pregnancy special needs payment ($47/month) for every month you don't report it. I reported mine at 6 months and still got 3 months of back payments. Here's what worked for me: Called my caseworker, told them I was pregnant, and they sent me a form for my doctor to fill out. Once I returned that, they added the pregnancy supplement to my next payment. After my baby was born, I went to the office with the hospital discharge papers within a week. They had me fill out the SAR 3 form right there and added my son to my case same day. My cash aid went from $607 to $817 starting the next month. Pro tip: If you can't reach your caseworker easily, try calling first thing in the morning (8 AM) or right after lunch (1 PM). Those seem to be the best times to actually get through. And don't stress about the birth certificate - hospital papers work fine to get things started! You've got this mama! 💕

Hi Gabriel! Congrats on your pregnancy! 🎉 I just wanted to add something that helped me when I was in your exact situation last year - when you call to report your pregnancy tomorrow, ask them to email or mail you a copy of the pregnancy verification form ahead of time if possible. That way you can bring it with you to your next doctor's appointment instead of having to make a separate trip just for the form. Also, I noticed someone mentioned the diaper stipend ($30/month) - definitely ask about that when you report the birth! It's not automatic and some caseworkers forget to mention it, but it really helps with costs. You have to request it specifically. One more thing - if you're planning to breastfeed, WIC will give you extra food benefits for nursing mothers, and if you need formula later, they cover that too. The WIC office is usually much easier to reach than CalWORKs when you need to report changes! Best of luck with everything - you're going to do great! 💕

Andre, this is such wonderful news! 🎉 Congratulations on getting that approval text - what an incredible relief that must be after all the stress and waiting! It's so great to see your worker actually followed through when she said she'd try to get it approved that day. Since you already have your CalFresh EBT card, you're definitely in the best position possible - they can just activate the cash aid portion on your existing card which should speed everything up significantly. I'd recommend checking your balance Thursday evening just in case they process it early, and definitely Friday morning too. The backdated payment from your application date 3 weeks ago is going to be such a huge help for catching up on rent and other bills! Make sure to save that approval text and take screenshots of everything for your records. This whole thread has been so inspiring to follow, and it's amazing to see how supportive and helpful everyone in this community is. We're all celebrating this victory with you! Can't wait to hear when those funds finally hit your account. Welcome to the CalWORKs family - you've got this! 💪

Andre, congratulations on getting approved! 🎉 That's such exciting news! I'm a newcomer to this community but I've been reading through your whole journey and I'm so happy to see everything worked out for you. It sounds like you got one of the good workers who actually follows through - that makes such a difference! Having your CalFresh EBT card already set up is definitely going to speed things up since they can just load the cash aid onto the same card. I'd suggest checking your balance Thursday evening just in case it processes early, and definitely Friday morning. The backdated payment from your application date should give you some extra cushion too which will be so helpful! Make sure to save that approval text for your records. This community seems so supportive and welcoming - I'm glad I found it! Can't wait to hear when those funds hit your account! 🤞

I'm in a really similar situation right now! I just started a part-time job at $16/hour getting about 18-20 hours per week while receiving CalWORKs for me and my two kids. I was so worried about losing all my benefits when I had to report it. What I found out from my worker is that they actually WANT you to work and the system is designed to make sure you're better off working than not working. Like others said, they don't count every dollar - there's that $225 they don't count at all, then they only count half of what's left. One thing that really helped me was asking my worker to do a "what if" calculation before I officially reported. They could estimate how my grant would change based on my expected income. Maybe ask about that when you submit your SAR 7? Also, definitely look into the childcare program! I qualified and it's been amazing - my kids are in a great daycare program and I don't pay anything. It actually motivated me to ask for more hours at work since I had reliable childcare. You're doing the right thing by working and reporting properly. The first few months are the hardest while you figure out how everything works together, but it does get easier!

Hey Emma! I just wanted to add that you should also ask about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) when you file your taxes next year. With your income level and having a child, you'll likely qualify for both federal and California EITC, which could mean a substantial refund. Many people don't realize this benefit exists! Also, since you mentioned barely having anything left after rent and gas, look into local food banks and WIC if you haven't already. WIC specifically helps with nutritious foods for you and your daughter, and it doesn't affect your CalWORKs benefits at all. Every little bit helps when you're making this transition from benefits to work. You're being really responsible by planning ahead and asking these questions. The fact that you're working AND making sure to report everything properly shows you're doing everything right. Hang in there - the adjustment period is tough but you're setting yourself and your daughter up for a better future!