Reading through this entire thread has been so eye-opening! I work at a local nonprofit that helps families navigate government benefits, and I'm constantly amazed by how much valuable information gets shared in peer support communities like this. @Skylar Neal - Wishing you the absolute best for your interview on Thursday! You've done such a great job preparing and asking the right questions. The estimate of $780 plus CalFresh sounds very realistic based on what you've shared about your household situation. I wanted to add one more resource that might help you and others - many counties have Family Resource Centers or community organizations that can provide application assistance for free. They can help you gather documents, complete paperwork, and even advocate for you if you run into any issues with your case. It's worth asking your eligibility worker about local resources when you have your interview. Also, for anyone dealing with language barriers, CalWORKs is required to provide interpretation services in your preferred language at no cost to you. Don't let language concerns prevent you from applying! This thread is such a beautiful example of community support. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge - you're making a real difference for families who need these resources. 💙

This thread has been such an incredible resource! I'm a case manager at a community health center and I regularly help clients navigate CalWORKs applications. The advice shared here is remarkably accurate and comprehensive. @Skylar Neal - Your interview is coming up and you sound so well-prepared! One small tip: if they ask about your future work prospects, mention that you're actively seeking additional hours or looking for supplemental work. This shows good faith effort toward self-sufficiency, which workers appreciate. I wanted to highlight something important that @Oliver Schulz mentioned - the SAR 7 reporting requirements. Many families lose benefits simply because they miss these deadlines or don't understand what changes to report. Generally, you need to report changes within 10 days if your income goes over your Income Reporting Threshold, but you don't need to report every small fluctuation. Also, for everyone applying - ask specifically about the Cal-Learn program if you're under 19 and don't have a high school diploma. It provides additional support for young parents to complete their education while receiving benefits. The peer support in this community is exactly what makes the difference between families successfully accessing help versus getting lost in the bureaucracy. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences so generously! 🙏

u shud also apply 4 WIC if u havent already. its seprate from calworks but gives u food 4 pregnant women and kids under 5. formula is expensive AF so get on that program now

I want to add something important that others haven't mentioned. The pregnancy special need payment is separate from the Maximum Aid Payment (MAP) increases. If you're in the second trimester and verified your pregnancy, you get both: (1) the $47 special needs payment AND (2) your MAP increases because your household size is considered one larger while pregnant. So you actually get more than just the $47 that people are mentioning. When I was pregnant last year, my cash aid went up by about $150 total between both changes.

Just wanted to add my experience from last month - my phone recertification took about 30 minutes and went pretty smoothly. One thing I wish I had known beforehand is that they ask very specific questions about your work schedule, not just your income. They wanted to know my exact days and hours worked, not just my total weekly hours. Also, if you have any medical expenses or transportation costs related to work, have those receipts ready too - my worker asked about those even though I hadn't claimed them on my SAWS 2. The worker also reminded me that if my work hours change significantly before my next recertification, I need to report that within 10 days. Overall though, having everything organized like others mentioned really does make the process much faster. Hope your interview goes well!

I had my phone recertification about 3 weeks ago and it took roughly 45 minutes. A few things that really helped me prepare: 1. I called right at 8 AM when they opened - only waited about 15 minutes to get through 2. Had all my documents spread out on my kitchen table so I could grab anything quickly 3. Made sure my phone was fully charged and used a landline as backup 4. Kept a pen and paper handy to write down any important info or reference numbers They asked me pretty much everything that was on the SAWS 2, but also some additional questions about my living situation and whether anyone else contributes to household expenses. One thing that caught me off guard was they wanted to know about any cash I had on hand that day - apparently that counts toward your asset limit. My case was approved the same day and my EBT card was loaded within 3 business days. The worker was actually really nice and explained everything clearly. Just make sure you speak up if you can't hear them well - the phone quality isn't always great. You got this!

I'm new to this community but wanted to reach out after reading your story - you're definitely not alone in this situation! As someone who's been through a similar experience with being separated but still legally married while applying for benefits, I can tell you that the system absolutely recognizes your circumstances. One thing that really helped me was keeping a simple journal or notes about your separation - dates when your husband moved out, times he's visited the kids, when/if he sends money, etc. Even informal documentation like this can be helpful during your interview to show the pattern of your living situation. Also, don't hesitate to ask about emergency assistance programs in your county while you're applying. Many have one-time emergency payments for rent or utilities that can bridge you while your regular benefits are being processed. Every county is a bit different, but it's worth asking specifically about these programs. You're being such a strong advocate for your children, and it's clear you're approaching this thoughtfully. The fact that you're researching everything beforehand shows you're going to navigate this successfully. Wishing you the best with your application - please keep us updated on how it goes!

I just wanted to add my support to all the amazing advice you've already received here! Your situation is actually very common, and you absolutely qualify for CalWORKs as a separated parent. I've helped several friends navigate this exact process. One thing I'd emphasize that others have touched on - when you apply, be very clear about your living situation and timeline. Saying something like "We separated on [date], he moved to [city], and I've been supporting the children alone since then" helps establish the facts clearly for your caseworker. Also wanted to mention that if you're feeling overwhelmed by all the paperwork, many counties have customer service representatives who can walk you through the application over the phone. Sometimes it's easier than trying to figure everything out online, especially when you're stressed about deadlines. You're doing everything right by researching this thoroughly and asking questions upfront. Your kids are going to be okay because they have a mom who's willing to fight for them and seek help when they need it. That takes real courage. Best of luck with your application - this community will be here to support you through the process!

This is such an important thread for anyone navigating CalWORKs! Ava, I'm so relieved you got your benefits restored - what a stressful situation to go through. Your experience really highlights some critical issues with the system that I think everyone should be aware of. The fact that you were discontinued for being just $47 over your IRT while they sent verification notices to the wrong address shows how easily people can fall through the cracks through no fault of their own. It's frustrating that the system seems designed to push people off benefits rather than help them maintain stability while working toward self-sufficiency. For anyone else reading this, I think the key takeaways are: 1) Always submit pay stubs immediately when reporting income changes, 2) Verify your address is updated across ALL county departments, not just one, 3) Know your exact IRT amount and track it carefully, and 4) Don't give up - sometimes going to the office in person is the only way to get real help. Thank you for sharing your update and showing that persistence pays off. Stories like yours help the rest of us know what to expect and how to advocate for ourselves in this complicated system!

This thread is such a valuable resource! Ava, I'm so glad you got your benefits restored - what you went through is exactly why I joined this community. As someone who's been on CalWORKs for about 6 months now, reading your experience has me double-checking everything about my own case. The fact that a $47 overage plus a mailing address error almost cost you your housing is absolutely infuriating, but your persistence in going to the office in person shows what it sometimes takes to get real help. I've bookmarked this thread because the advice about proactively submitting pay stubs and verifying addresses across all departments is so practical. One thing that really stood out to me is how helpful this community was in guiding you through the process - from calculating your income to suggesting you file for a state hearing to giving you that step-by-step plan for the office visit. It's proof that we're stronger when we support each other through these bureaucratic mazes. Thank you for taking the time to update us with the resolution. Stories like yours help the rest of us know what to watch out for and how to advocate for ourselves when things go wrong!