I'm so deeply sorry for your loss, Ava. Losing your partner while caring for four children is one of life's greatest challenges, and trying to navigate the benefits system during grief makes everything feel even more overwhelming. You've received incredibly thorough and compassionate advice from this community. The key points are all correct - you'll need to report the Social Security survivor benefits within 10 days of receiving your first payment, and with $3,200 monthly versus your $2,786 IRT, your Cash Aid will likely be eliminated. But as many have pointed out, this represents your husband's ongoing care for his children. I want to add one suggestion that might provide some peace of mind: when you visit your eligibility worker, ask them to provide you with a written summary of all the changes that will occur. This should include when your Cash Aid will end, how your CalFresh will be recalculated, confirmation that your children will maintain Medi-Cal coverage, and details about zero grant status if applicable. Having everything in writing will help you feel more in control during this transition. Also, remember that it's okay to grieve this change even though it's ultimately positive. Loss of familiar support systems can feel scary even when new, better ones are coming. Your feelings are valid, and you're handling an incredibly complex situation with remarkable strength and foresight. Your children are so fortunate to have a mother who advocates so thoughtfully for their wellbeing during such a difficult time. You're doing everything right by asking these questions and planning ahead.

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ava. Losing your partner while raising four children is heartbreaking, and dealing with benefit changes during such a difficult time adds another layer of stress that no one should have to navigate alone. You've received incredibly comprehensive and caring advice from this community. Everyone is absolutely right about the reporting requirements and how the survivor benefits will affect your CalWORKs. With $3,200 in Social Security versus your $2,786 IRT, you'll likely lose your Cash Aid, but as so many have beautifully pointed out, this is your husband's way of continuing to provide for his children. One thing I'd add that might help with the emotional side of this transition: it's completely normal to feel anxious about change even when that change is ultimately better for your family. You've been relying on CalWORKs during one of the most difficult periods of your life, so of course it feels scary to lose that familiar support system, even when it's being replaced by something more stable. The practical advice you've received about zero grant status, keeping Medi-Cal, getting everything in writing, and asking for specific timelines is spot-on. You're being such an incredible advocate for your children by asking these questions and planning ahead. Remember that you don't have to navigate this transition perfectly. There might be bumps along the way, confusing notices, or timing gaps, and that's okay. You're doing your best during an impossible situation, and that's more than enough. Your children are so fortunate to have someone who cares so deeply about their security and stability.

Congratulations on getting your own place! That's such a huge accomplishment and step toward independence. I totally understand the anxiety about how it might affect your benefits - I went through the same worry when I moved out on my own last year. The key thing everyone's mentioned is absolutely right: you MUST report the address change within 10 days, but the move itself shouldn't hurt your eligibility at all. In fact, going from $600 rent to $1450 plus utilities will likely increase your CalFresh benefits significantly through the shelter deduction calculation. One thing I'd add that I learned the hard way - when you report the change, also mention if your household composition is changing. Since you're moving from living with your mom to living alone, that's technically a household change too, even though your case might already be set up as a separate household. Also, don't be surprised if they ask for additional verification after you submit everything. They might want proof that you're the only person living there, especially if it's a larger apartment. Just be prepared with your lease agreement and maybe a utility bill once you get one. The peace of mind of having your own space is so worth it, and it sounds like your benefits will actually help support this transition rather than hurt it. You've got this!

Hey congrats on the apartment! I'm actually going through something similar right now - just got approved for a place and was stressing about the same things. Reading through everyone's responses here has been super helpful! One thing I wanted to add that my caseworker told me - if you're moving from an "informal" rent situation (like paying family) to a formal lease, make sure you have documentation of what you were paying before. I had to get a signed statement from my aunt showing I was paying her $500/month because they needed to see the difference in housing costs for the CalFresh calculation. Also, the BenefitsCal online portal has a "messages" section where you can ask your caseworker questions directly if you're unsure about anything during the reporting process. I used it last week to double-check what documents I needed and got a response within 2 days. It's so nice to see everyone being so supportive and sharing their real experiences. This community is amazing! Good luck with your move - having your own space is going to be incredible and it sounds like your benefits will actually help make it more affordable than you thought.

Hi Eve! I just wanted to add my experience as someone who went through this exact same dilemma about 18 months ago. I had 2 older kids and a newborn whose dad was providing around $700/month in support, and I was so worried that including the baby would hurt my eligibility for my older children. What I learned is that the CalWORKs system is actually really well-designed for mixed situations like ours. Not only do you have to include all household members (as everyone has correctly explained), but it usually works out better financially than you'd expect. In my case, even after the income reduction from child support, my total grant amount was higher with all three kids included than it would have been with just the two older ones. One thing I wish I'd known earlier is to ask specifically about the "pass-through" payment when you meet with your caseworker. Sometimes a portion of child support payments can be passed directly to your family without reducing your CalWORKs grant, depending on how it's structured and your county's policies. Also, make sure you understand the difference between voluntary support and court-ordered support when you're reporting income - the way they're calculated can be slightly different. Since your baby's father wants to help voluntarily, you're actually in a pretty good position compared to families dealing with unpredictable or court-mandated payments. Don't stress too much about the complexity - once you're in the system and have an assigned caseworker, they'll help you navigate all these details. The hardest part is just taking that first step and applying with everyone included!

Hey Eve! I'm a single mom who just went through this exact situation a few months ago - I had 3 kids and a newborn whose father wanted to provide support. I was SO confused about the same thing you're asking about! Everyone here has given you absolutely perfect advice - you definitely have to include ALL your kids, including your newborn. But here's what I wish someone had told me: it's actually not as scary as it sounds! With your baby's father providing $800/month, after that $250 disregard, you're only looking at $550 counting as income. But adding that 4th child to your case increases your maximum grant by way more than that amount gets deducted. What really helped me was calling ahead and asking if I could do a "benefit calculation estimate" over the phone before I even applied. Some counties will do this informally so you know exactly what to expect. Also, since you're postpartum and recently lost your job, definitely mention that when you apply - you might qualify for expedited processing. The whole process ended up being way more straightforward than I expected. Just be completely honest about everything from day one, and remember that voluntary support from a cooperative father is actually easier to work with than court-ordered situations. You've got this! Feel free to message me if you have any other questions about the process.

I just went through this exact same confusion a few months ago! Like everyone said, EDD and CalWORKs are totally separate systems. The EDD letter you got is probably just routine wage verification - they cross-check what your employer reported against their records, and sometimes there are small discrepancies that need to be cleared up. Don't worry about it affecting your Cash Aid as long as you're staying current with your CalWORKs reporting. I'd suggest calling the specific number on the EDD letter (usually has shorter wait times than their main line) or trying that Claimyr service if you keep getting stuck in phone hell. The most important thing is making sure you know your IRT amount and report to your CalWORKs worker if you go over it. That's what can actually affect your benefits. The EDD thing is probably just paperwork cleanup that won't impact anything once you respond to their letter. You're doing everything right by asking questions and staying on top of it!

Hey Chloe! I see you're getting great advice here, but I wanted to add something that might help. I'm a case manager and I deal with these kinds of questions all the time. The EDD letter is almost certainly unrelated to your CalWORKs benefits - it's probably just wage verification like others have mentioned. What I always tell my clients is to handle each system separately: respond to EDD about whatever they're asking for, and keep doing your CalWORKs reporting like you have been. One quick tip that might save you some stress - when you call that number on the EDD letter, have your Social Security number, the letter, and your most recent pay stub handy. They'll probably ask for basic info to verify your identity and wages. Usually these calls take less than 10 minutes once you actually get through to someone. You're doing everything right by staying under your IRT and reporting on your SAR7. Don't let the bureaucracy scare you - working while on Cash Aid is exactly what the program is designed to support! Keep it up!

Update: I went to the county office today and applied for General Assistance. The worker was actually really helpful and explained everything. She said based on my situation I'll probably get around $340/month, and they might be able to process it within 7-10 days because of my emergency situation. I also asked about my CalFresh application and it turns out they were missing verification documents! They never contacted me about it. I provided everything they needed while I was there, and the worker said she put a note that I qualify for expedited processing. Hopefully I'll get food benefits in the next 3 days. Thanks everyone for your help! I would have never known about General Assistance without your advice.

This is such great news! I'm really happy you were able to get help today. It's frustrating that they never contacted you about the missing documents for CalFresh - this happens way too often and people end up waiting unnecessarily. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation, Alexis's experience shows how important it is to go to the office in person when possible. Phone systems are overwhelmed, but caseworkers can often help resolve multiple issues at once when you're there face-to-face. Also want to emphasize what Samantha mentioned about keeping track of reporting requirements once you start receiving GA. The job search activities they require aren't too burdensome - usually just documenting that you applied to a certain number of jobs per week or attended job training. But they do check, so keep good records. Hope your CalFresh comes through quickly with the expedited processing!