I'm new to this whole CalWORKs thing and just started doing DoorDash a few weeks ago. Reading through all these comments is honestly overwhelming but also really helpful! I had no idea about the mileage tracking or that I could deduct expenses. I've just been reporting my gross earnings like an idiot. Should I be worried that I'm going to get in trouble for reporting wrong on my first SAR7? I literally just submitted it last week with my total DoorDash earnings and didn't mention any expenses because I didn't know I was supposed to. Now I'm freaking out that they're going to think I was trying to hide something or get more benefits than I deserve. Do I need to call them and tell them I made a mistake?

I've been doing gig work for over a year and went through this exact same confusion! The self-employment designation for 1099 work is actually standard across most benefit programs, not just CalWORKs. When you get that form, make sure to include EVERYTHING - gas, car maintenance, oil changes, portion of your phone bill used for the apps, car washes, even parking fees when you're waiting for orders. I use an app called MileIQ to track my driving automatically. Also pro tip: if you use your car for both personal and work driving, you can only deduct the percentage used for work. Keep a simple log of your work hours vs total driving time. The paperwork is annoying but once you get it set up, it's actually much better for your benefits calculation. Don't let them intimidate you - you're entitled to these deductions!

One more thing I forgot to mention - make sure you're clear with the county that you need both the identity theft resolved AND immediate aid. These are two separate issues, and sometimes workers conflate them. The fraud investigation can proceed on its own timeline, but they can't deny you emergency benefits if you qualify right now based on your current situation. Request what's called a "presumptive eligibility determination" - this is when they approve you for benefits based on the assumption that you'll be determined eligible once the investigation concludes. If you have kids and no income, you should qualify. They'll likely issue one month of aid while continuing to investigate. Did you apply for regular Unemployment Insurance too? That won't affect your CalWORKs eligibility, and you should be able to receive both since you were working before losing your job.

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare! Identity theft with benefits is unfortunately becoming more common. A few additional things that might help: 1. Contact your local Legal Aid office - they often have attorneys who specialize in benefits cases and can advocate for you for free. They know exactly which forms to file and how to pressure the county to act faster. 2. If you're in immediate crisis, look into your county's General Relief program. It's separate from CalWORKs and can provide emergency cash assistance while you're waiting for this to resolve. 3. Document EVERYTHING in writing. After every phone call, send a follow-up email to your caseworker summarizing what was discussed and any promises made. This creates a paper trail that's crucial if you need to escalate. 4. Contact your county Board of Supervisors office - they often have constituent services that can help cut through red tape when residents are getting the runaround from county departments. Stay strong and don't give up! The system is designed to be frustrating, but you have rights and there are people who can help you navigate this. Your kids need you to keep fighting for what you're entitled to.

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I've been dealing with the exact same issue for almost two weeks now - my CalWORKs case shows active but zero payment deposited. Reading everyone's experiences makes me feel less alone in this struggle. What really stands out to me is how many people discovered they had missing verification requests that were never properly communicated. It's like they set us up to fail and then blame us when payments get stopped! I'm definitely going to try the strategies everyone mentioned - calling right at opening, using the BenefitsCal app for uploads, and keeping detailed records of everything. The tip about taking photos of all documents and getting receipt numbers is something I wish I had known from the start. Thank you especially to those who came back with updates after getting their issues resolved. It gives the rest of us hope that there IS a way through this mess, even if we have to jump through ridiculous hoops to get there. We really shouldn't have to become welfare system experts just to access basic assistance, but I'm grateful we have each other to share what works. Solidarity to everyone still fighting for their payments! 💪

This thread is exactly what I needed to see right now! I'm dealing with the same situation - my CalWORKs payment was supposed to hit my EBT card 5 days ago and there's still nothing. My case shows active online but zero dollars deposited. I've been calling nonstop and either get disconnected or sit on hold forever. Reading through everyone's experiences, it sounds like missing verification requests that we never got notified about are super common. That's so messed up! How are we supposed to know what they need if they don't tell us properly? I'm definitely going to try some of the strategies mentioned here - especially calling right at 8am when they open and using the BenefitsCal app instead of email for documents. The tip about keeping a call log is smart too, I wish I had started doing that from day one. It's really frustrating that we have to become experts at navigating their broken system just to get the help we're approved for. But I'm so grateful for this community where people actually share real solutions that work. The mutual support here is what gets us through when the official system fails us. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and advice! 🙏

So glad you got everything sorted out! Your thoroughness definitely paid off - doing all those steps ensures there's no chance of missing important communications. Thanks for sharing the update, it's really helpful to see what actually worked. I'm sure other people will benefit from your experience, especially about the SAR 7 form requirement that not everyone knows about. Good luck with your redetermination interview!

This is such a comprehensive thread! As someone who's had to navigate these systems before, I really appreciate seeing all the different approaches laid out clearly. The combination of updating online AND submitting the SAR 7 form is definitely the way to go - I learned that lesson the hard way when I only did the online update and my worker didn't get the memo. One small tip to add: if you're using a prepaid phone that might change numbers frequently, consider getting a Google Voice number that forwards to your actual phone. That way you can give CalWORKs the stable Google Voice number and just update where it forwards to without having to go through this whole process every time. It's been a lifesaver for me since I switch between different phone plans sometimes. Great job being so thorough with your updates, @Clay - that's exactly the right approach to avoid any issues with your benefits!

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble reaching your caseworker by phone, you can also try visiting your local county office in person. I know it's not always convenient with little ones, but sometimes showing up in person gets faster results than waiting on hold for hours. When I had issues with missing benefits last year, I went in person with my kids and they were able to pull up my case right away and fix the problem on the spot. Plus they gave me a printed copy of my updated benefit calculation so I could see exactly what I was getting. If you do go in person, try to go early in the morning - that's usually when wait times are shortest.

I work at a county office and wanted to clarify a few things that might help everyone here. First, the diaper benefit is indeed automatic - if you have children under 3 and receive CalWORKs cash aid, it should be included in your monthly payment without a separate application. However, sometimes there are system glitches or data entry errors that cause it to be missed. If you're missing the benefit, here's what I recommend: 1) Check your most recent Notice of Action for a line item mentioning "diaper assistance" or similar wording, 2) If it's not there, contact your worker immediately, and 3) Ask specifically about retroactive payments - the policy varies by county but most will go back at least 90 days. One important note: the benefit does have some exceptions. If your child is in a subsidized daycare program that provides diapers, or if there are other duplicate services, you might not qualify. But most families with children under 3 should be receiving this automatically. Don't give up if the first person you talk to seems confused - ask to speak with a supervisor if needed.