Hey! I'm also new to working while on CalWORKs and this thread has been super helpful. Just wanted to add that when I started my job, my worker told me to keep ALL my paystubs and any documentation about hours worked - they want to see everything during your next eligibility review. Also, if you have any gaps in employment or your hours vary a lot week to week (which sounds like might happen with your 22-25 hour range), make sure to explain that when you report. They prefer consistent reporting over surprises. Good luck with the Target job - retail can be tough but the experience is valuable!

Great job on landing the Target position! One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you understand how your work schedule might affect your WTW (Welfare to Work) requirements. Since you're working 22-25 hours per week, those hours should count toward your participation requirements, but you'll want to confirm with your worker that they have this documented correctly. Also, Target often offers benefits like employee discounts and sometimes health insurance options for part-time workers after a certain period - these benefits don't count as income for CalWORKs purposes, so don't worry about reporting those. One last tip: if your Target location offers direct deposit, I'd recommend setting that up. Having consistent pay dates makes it easier to track your monthly income totals for IRT purposes. Keep doing what you're doing - being proactive about understanding the rules will definitely pay off!

Hi Landon! I just wanted to add something that helped me a lot when I was navigating this system - if you end up having trouble with your application or need to appeal a decision, most counties have free legal aid organizations that can help. In LA County, you can contact Neighborhood Legal Services or Legal Aid Foundation. They helped me when my CalFresh application got denied the first time due to a paperwork issue. Also, once you get approved for benefits, sign up for the county's text message updates. They'll send you reminders about recertification deadlines and other important dates. Missing a recertification can cause your benefits to get cut off, and it's a huge hassle to get them reinstated. One last thing - if you're struggling financially while waiting for your application to be processed, look into local food banks and community resources. Many churches and community centers offer emergency food assistance that can help bridge the gap. The United Way has a good resource finder if you call 211. Good luck with everything!

Hey Landon! I've been reading through all the great advice everyone's given you, and I just wanted to add one more thing that really helped me when I first applied for benefits. When you go to your interview (whether in person or over the phone), write down all your questions beforehand and don't be afraid to ask the caseworker to repeat or clarify anything you don't understand. They're used to explaining things multiple times, and it's way better to ask during the interview than to realize later you missed something important. Also, if English isn't your first language or you have any disabilities that might make the process harder, you have the right to request an interpreter or other accommodations - don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it. The whole system can feel really intimidating at first, but once you get through the initial application and understand how everything works, it gets much easier to manage. You're asking all the right questions and clearly taking everyone's advice seriously, so I think you're going to do great! Welcome to the community, and feel free to come back here if you have more questions as you go through the process.

I'm pretty new to both this community and CalWORKs (just got approved about 6 weeks ago), and reading through this entire thread has been absolutely incredible! Dylan, I'm so relieved to hear you got everything resolved - that must have been such a stressful situation with rent coming due. What really stands out to me is how this wasn't actually an eligibility problem at all, but a technical issue between two separate systems that I had no idea even existed. Learning that there's a difference between the eligibility system and payment processing system is huge - it explains so much about why sometimes representatives say "everything looks good" but the actual problem persists. I'm definitely taking notes on all the specific terminology everyone shared here - "EBT issuance specialist," "payment processing supervisor," "imminent risk of homelessness," "payment issuance error" - because it's clear that using these exact phrases can completely change your experience from getting bounced around to actually reaching someone who can solve the problem. It's also really encouraging to see that the Claimyr service actually worked! As someone still learning to navigate all this, seeing real success stories from community members gives me so much confidence in the advice shared here. This thread perfectly shows why this community is so valuable - people don't just sympathize, they share actual step-by-step solutions that work in real life. I'm bookmarking this whole conversation because I know these tips could be lifesavers if I ever face similar issues. Thanks to everyone for creating such a supportive and informative space for those of us still figuring out these complex systems!

I'm also new to this community and CalWORKs (just got approved about 2 months ago), and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! Dylan, I'm so glad you were able to get this resolved - the stress of having your case show active but no actual payment must have been overwhelming, especially with rent due. What really opened my eyes is learning about the distinction between the eligibility system and payment processing system. I had no idea these were separate systems that could get disconnected! This explains so much about why sometimes when you call, representatives say "everything looks fine" but your actual issue isn't resolved - they're probably only seeing the eligibility side. I'm definitely saving all the specific terminology everyone shared - "EBT issuance specialist," "payment processing supervisor," "imminent risk of homelessness" - because it's clear that knowing these exact phrases can make the difference between getting transferred around endlessly versus reaching someone who can actually access the right system to help. It's also really encouraging to see that the Claimyr service actually worked for you! Sometimes you see suggestions online and wonder if they're legitimate, but hearing real results from community members gives me confidence in the advice shared here. This is exactly why communities like this are so essential - you get practical, tested solutions from people who've actually navigated these challenges successfully. Thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge and creating such a supportive space for newcomers like me!

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who just applied for CalWORKs and is still waiting for my first appointment, I was really worried about all the documentation requirements. Reading through everyone's experiences has helped me understand that the process varies but isn't as scary as I initially thought. I'm particularly grateful for Emily's professional perspective about the "least intrusive verification" guidelines - it's reassuring to know there are actual rules about when they can request certain documents rather than it being completely up to the worker's discretion. And the advice about keeping records of unusual transactions and being upfront during interviews seems to be consistent across everyone's experiences. One question for those who've been through this - should I start organizing my documents in a specific way now, or is it better to wait until they tell me exactly what they need? I tend to be an over-preparer and don't want to stress myself out unnecessarily, but I also want to make sure I'm ready when my appointment comes up. Thanks to everyone for being so open about sharing their experiences - this community is amazing for helping newcomers like me feel less overwhelmed by the process!

As someone who's been on CalWORKs for about 18 months now, I can definitely relate to that anxiety about recertification requirements! I just completed mine in Fresno County last month and they didn't ask for bank statements at all - just the usual income verification and household documents. From reading through all these responses, it seems like the key takeaway is that bank statements are only requested when there's a specific need to verify something, not as a standard requirement. The birthday money you mentioned is such a small amount that it shouldn't be an issue at all. One thing that really helped me prepare was making a simple timeline of any financial changes or unusual deposits in the months leading up to my recertification. Even though they didn't ask for details, having that mental preparation made me feel more confident during the interview. It sounds like you're being really thoughtful about preparing, which will definitely work in your favor. Hope your recertification goes smoothly! This community has been such a lifesaver for getting real experiences and advice from people who actually understand what we're going through.

I just went through my redetermination last week with a very similar situation! My aunt sent me $180 through Apple Pay to help with my son's school field trip expenses, and I was so nervous about explaining it. Here's what I learned: CalWORKs workers see these situations ALL the time, and they can usually tell pretty quickly if someone is being honest or trying to hide something. What worked for me was: 1. I called my aunt right after I got my redetermination notice and asked her to email me a simple statement: "I sent [your name] $180 on [date] as a one-time gift to help cover my nephew's school field trip costs." 2. I screenshotted our text conversation where she had originally offered to help with the field trip 3. I brought the permission slip and payment receipt from the school showing the field trip cost At my appointment, I literally opened with: "I need to explain a deposit on my bank statement before we start." My worker actually smiled and said she appreciated when people are upfront about things like this. The whole explanation took maybe 3 minutes, she made copies of my documentation, noted it in my file as a "documented one-time gift," and we moved on to the rest of the redetermination. You're going to be fine! The fact that you're preparing ahead of time and asking for advice shows you're handling this responsibly. Get that statement from your cousin, gather your receipts if you have them, and be confident - legitimate gifts between family members are protected under CalWORKs rules when properly documented.

I'm going through my first redetermination next month and this whole thread has been incredibly educational! Reading everyone's experiences really shows how important it is to be proactive and organized with documentation. One thing I'm taking away is that CalWORKs workers actually seem to appreciate when people come prepared and are upfront about explaining transactions rather than waiting to be questioned about them. It sounds like the key is having proper documentation (written statements from the gift giver, receipts when possible, and any text messages or other context) and being honest from the start of the appointment. For anyone else in a similar situation, it seems like the magic phrase is something like "I need to explain some deposits on my bank statement" right at the beginning, followed by presenting your organized documentation. The fact that multiple people here had smooth experiences when they took this approach is really reassuring. Thanks to everyone who shared their actual experiences - it's so much more helpful than just reading the policy rules online. This community is amazing for getting real-world advice from people who've actually been through these situations!