I've been following this thread and wanted to add my experience since I just went through this exact situation! I traveled to Arizona last month to help my cousin after she had her baby, and I was super nervous about the EBT card working there. Good news - your card will absolutely work! I used it at ATMs in Phoenix and Tucson without any problems. The fees were definitely higher though, usually around $3.50-4.50 per withdrawal. What saved me money was going to a Walmart and getting cash back when I bought baby supplies - only paid like $0.50 instead of those crazy ATM fees! Since you're only going for 2 weeks, you're totally fine with the residency rules. I was there for 12 days and had zero issues with my case. Just keep your receipts and maybe screenshot your account balance before you leave CA for your own records. One thing that really helped me was downloading the Walmart app before I went - you can find stores near you that do cash back with EBT, which saved me probably $20+ in ATM fees over my trip. Also, having cash ready was super helpful for those late-night diaper runs! Your sister is going to be so grateful to have you there. Those first weeks with a newborn are intense and having family support makes all the difference. Congratulations on becoming an aunt! Enjoy every moment with that little one.

I just wanted to add another perspective since I travel frequently for family emergencies. Your EBT card will definitely work in Arizona - I've used mine in over 10 different states and never had an issue with the actual card functionality. One thing I've learned is to check if your sister lives near any Native American casinos - they often have ATMs with lower fees than traditional banks, sometimes only $1-2 per transaction. It's not something most people think about, but if there's one nearby it could save you quite a bit. Also, since you're going to help with a newborn, consider that you might need to make emergency trips to pharmacies for things like baby Tylenol or diaper rash cream at odd hours. Having cash ready for 24-hour CVS or Walgreens runs will be really helpful since some smaller pharmacies don't take cards late at night. The 2-week timeframe is perfect - you're well within the guidelines and won't have any issues with your case. Just document everything and enjoy this special time with your new niece! It's so wonderful that you're able to be there for your sister during those first precious (and exhausting) weeks.

Welcome to the community! As someone who's been navigating these benefits for a while, I can definitely confirm what others have shared - your 16-year-old daughter's income should be completely exempt from both CalWORKs and CalFresh since she's under 18 and in school. I went through this same worry with my own son when he started his first job at 17. The anxiety is so real when you're afraid of losing benefits that help keep your family stable! The biggest lesson I learned is that transparency is everything - always report the income on your SAR7 even though it won't count against you. I like the suggestion others made about noting "STUDENT - EXEMPT" right on the form. Also, definitely keep a copy of her school enrollment or report card handy in case they need verification. Your daughter should be so proud of her first job! These early work experiences teach responsibility and valuable life skills. Don't let the benefit system discourage her from this amazing opportunity. From everything I've seen, as long as you report honestly and she maintains her student status, your benefits should remain unchanged. You're being such a great parent by researching this properly instead of just hoping for the best!

I'm so glad you asked this question because I was literally in the same exact situation just a few months ago! My 15-year-old started working at a local movie theater and I was TERRIFIED we'd lose our benefits. After going through the whole process, I can confirm what everyone else is saying - her income should be completely exempt since she's under 18 and in school. Here's what I learned: 1) Report it on your SAR7 no matter what - even though it's exempt, you still have to list it, 2) Write something like "MINOR STUDENT - EXEMPT" next to the income amount so there's no confusion, 3) Keep her school enrollment letter or report card handy just in case they ask for proof, and 4) Don't panic if your worker seems confused about the rules - some of them aren't familiar with student exemptions. My daughter has been working for 4 months now making about $300/month and our CalWORKs and CalFresh amounts haven't changed at all. The best part is seeing how proud and confident she's become from having her own job! Your daughter is being so responsible, and you're being an amazing parent by making sure you handle everything correctly. This community has been such a lifesaver for questions like this - so much better than trying to reach an actual caseworker!

I went through something very similar last year! The key thing is to act quickly and get all your documentation together. Since your combined income is around $3,108/month, you're likely over the CalWORKs limit but should still qualify for CalFresh. Here's what I'd recommend doing right away: 1. Call and report both incomes immediately (don't wait for SAR7) 2. Gather all recent paystubs for both you and your husband 3. Ask specifically about transitional benefits when you talk to your worker 4. Request a fair hearing if they try to discontinue benefits without proper notice The income limits change slightly each year, so make sure you're getting current numbers from your worker. Also, remember that CalWORKs has earned income disregards that might help reduce how much of your income counts against your benefits. Don't panic - even if CalWORKs ends, there are other programs that can help bridge the gap while your husband's hours potentially increase. You've got this!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share what I learned when I was in a similar situation with my family of 4. The discontinuance letters can be really scary, but don't panic! A few things that helped me: - When you call, ask them to explain exactly WHY they're considering discontinuing benefits. Sometimes it's just because they need updated income verification, not because you're automatically over the limit. - Make sure you understand the difference between gross income (what you earn before taxes) and net income (after deductions). Some calculations use gross, others use net. - If you do lose CalWORKs, ask about the Cal-OAR (California Ongoing Assessment of Recipients) program - it provides job training and support services even after cash aid ends. - Document everything! Keep notes of who you talk to and when, because sometimes different workers give different information. Your combined income of around $3,100 does put you close to the CalWORKs limit, but there are still deductions and disregards that might help. The earned income disregard alone could make a significant difference in your benefit calculation. Don't give up hope - there are often more options available than the initial letter suggests!

This thread has been such a valuable learning experience! I'm completely new to CalWORKs (just got my approval last week) and honestly had no idea about any of this - system outages affecting interviews, the importance of documenting everything, backup options if calls don't go through. @Tasia I'm so glad you were able to get through and that it was just a technical issue on their end! Reading about your experience and seeing how supportive everyone was with practical advice really helps ease the anxiety about navigating this system as a newcomer. I'm definitely going to start keeping detailed records and screenshots from the beginning. Thank you for sharing your story and the update - it's incredibly helpful for those of us just starting this journey to understand what we might encounter and how these situations typically get resolved!

This whole thread has been incredibly helpful to read through! I'm brand new to CalWORKs (literally just got my determination letter in the mail yesterday) and honestly had no clue that system outages could cause missed interview calls like this. @Tasia I can completely understand the panic you must have felt - I would have been absolutely terrified thinking I was going to lose my benefits before even getting started! It's such a huge relief that it turned out to be just a technical issue on their end and that your worker was understanding about the situation. Reading through all the documentation advice everyone shared - taking screenshots, keeping detailed logs, getting worker ID numbers - has been like getting a crash course in how to navigate this system properly. I'm definitely going to start organized from day one and implement all these strategies. What really stands out to me is how supportive this community is. Seeing everyone jump in with practical advice and share their own experiences shows what an amazing resource this is for people like me who are just starting this journey. Thank you @Tasia for sharing your story and keeping us updated on how it got resolved - it gives newcomers like me so much valuable insight into what we might encounter and how these situations typically work out. This community is truly a lifesaver for navigating what can feel like such an overwhelming system!

As someone brand new to this community and CalWORKs in general, this entire conversation has been incredibly enlightening! Anna, I'm so relieved to hear that everything worked out for you and that your worker was understanding about the situation. What strikes me most is how this thread perfectly demonstrates the value of being honest from the start, even when you're scared. I had completely wrong assumptions about how CalWORKs operates - I thought any additional income would automatically disqualify you, but learning about the earned income disregards changes everything. It's actually designed to help working families supplement low wages, not punish them for trying to make ends meet. The collective wisdom shared here by experienced members has been invaluable. From practical advice about reporting irregular income to reassurances about home visits, everyone has been so generous with their knowledge. This is exactly the kind of supportive community that makes navigating complex government programs less overwhelming for families in crisis. Thank you all for creating such a helpful space - I feel much more prepared now if I ever need to interact with CalWORKs myself!

I'm new to this community and wanted to thank everyone for such an informative discussion! Anna, I'm so glad you were able to get everything resolved with your worker - your experience really shows how much better things go when you're upfront and honest from the beginning. As someone who's never dealt with CalWORKs before, this thread has been incredibly educational. I had no idea about the earned income disregards or that the system is actually designed to help working families rather than exclude them. The way everyone here consistently emphasized transparency over fear really drives home an important lesson about navigating these programs. It's also reassuring to see how supportive this community is - from practical advice about reporting irregular income to tips for actually getting through to a worker on the phone. This is exactly the kind of knowledge-sharing that helps families make informed decisions during difficult times. Thank you all for creating such a welcoming space for people to ask questions and learn!