This is such great advice everyone is giving! I went through the same thing 2 years ago and was terrified of losing benefits. One thing that really helped me was asking my new employer if they could start me at slightly fewer hours the first month while I got everything sorted with CalWORKs - that way I could ease into it and make sure all my paperwork was processed correctly. Most employers are understanding about this kind of situation. Also, once you start working, you might be eligible for the CalEITC (California Earned Income Tax Credit) on top of the federal one, which can be a nice bonus at tax time. The transition period can feel overwhelming but you're making the right choice for your family's future!

Miguel, congratulations on the job offer! Everyone here has given you excellent advice. I just wanted to add one more thing that helped me when I was in a similar situation - make sure to ask your caseworker (when you finally reach them) about any other support programs you might qualify for as a working parent. Sometimes there are local programs for things like transportation assistance or work clothing vouchers that can help with the transition. Also, if your job offers health insurance later on, don't feel pressured to drop Medi-Cal right away - you can often keep both for a while to make sure the employer coverage is good for your kids. The CalWORKs system is actually designed to support people transitioning to work, even though it doesn't always feel that way. You're taking a great step for your family's future!

Great advice from everyone here! I'm new to CalWORKs and was actually wondering about this exact same thing. My intake worker mentioned the IRT but I didn't really understand what it meant. Reading through all these responses has been super educational - especially the part about it being gross income, not net. I would have definitely made that mistake! One quick question - if I'm working part-time and my hours vary week to week, should I be calculating the IRT based on my highest earning month or my average? Sometimes I might go over the threshold one month but be under it the next. Thanks for all the helpful info everyone!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm also on CalWORKs and was confused about the IRT until I read through all these responses. One thing that helped me was asking my worker to write down both my CalWORKs and CalFresh IRT amounts during our phone call, because like you said, it's hard to remember everything when you're dealing with kids at the same time! I also learned the hard way that if you're getting any kind of irregular income (like occasional babysitting money or selling stuff online), that counts toward your IRT too. It's not just regular job income. The county workers don't always explain all the different types of income that count, so it's good to ask specifically about anything you're unsure about. Hope your new job goes well!

I went through something very similar last year! My mom sent me $200 through Zelle to help with my daughter's winter clothes and I was so worried about my redetermination. What really helped was that I immediately contacted my mom and asked her to write a simple statement explaining it was a one-time gift for winter clothing. Here's exactly what I did that worked: 1. Got a written statement from my mom with the date, amount, and specific purpose 2. Kept all the receipts from buying the winter clothes to show I used the money for what she intended 3. At my appointment, I brought it up first thing and said "I have some Zelle deposits to explain - they were one-time gifts from my mom for winter clothes" My worker actually seemed relieved that I was being upfront about it rather than waiting for her to ask. She looked at the documentation, made copies, and said it was clearly a legitimate gift that wouldn't count as income. The key is being proactive and having everything documented. Since your cousin sent the money for specific purposes (birthday present and school supplies), you should be fine as long as you can prove that's what the money was actually used for. Get that statement from your cousin ASAP and gather any receipts you have. You're handling this exactly right by preparing ahead of time!

I'm new to CalWORKs and this thread is so helpful! I have a question related to this situation - what if the gift was sent a few months ago but I forgot to keep the receipts showing how I spent it? My grandmother sent me $300 through Venmo in December to help with Christmas presents for my kids, but I didn't think to save all the receipts from Target and other stores. I still have her text messages where she mentioned wanting to help with Christmas, and I could ask her to write a statement now, but would it hurt my case that I don't have the actual purchase receipts? My redetermination is coming up in a couple weeks and now I'm worried they'll think I used the money for something else. Has anyone dealt with missing receipts before?

I'm so sorry this happened to you! EBT theft is becoming such a widespread problem and it's absolutely devastating when you're already relying on those benefits. I actually went through this same nightmare about 2 months ago - woke up to find my entire $765 in cash aid completely wiped out by transactions in Arizona (I live in the Bay Area). The panic and frustration you're feeling right now is so valid. Here's what worked for me to get through it as quickly as possible: **Immediate action items:** - Change your PIN right now if you haven't already - Go to your county CalWORKs office first thing tomorrow morning (don't just call - show up in person with all your documentation) - Ask specifically for "emergency replacement benefits" - you have to request this directly, they won't always offer it **What to bring to the office:** - Your EBT card and ID - Screenshots of the fraudulent transactions - Your claim number from the EBT hotline - Any CalWORKs paperwork you have I was able to get $450 back as emergency aid within 6 days, which literally saved me from eviction. The full investigation took another 8 days after that, so 14 days total to get everything back. The key is having ALL your paperwork submitted correctly the first time - the EBT 2259 form, police report (you can file online in most counties), signed affidavit, and copies of your card. Any missing docs will delay everything. You WILL get your money back! California has really improved this process. Stay persistent but polite when following up. You've got this! 💪

I'm so sorry this happened to you! EBT theft is absolutely terrifying and frustrating, especially when you're counting on that money for basic needs like rent. I haven't personally experienced this, but I've been following this thread and want to say how helpful everyone's advice has been. It sounds like the key things are: 1. Go to your county office in person ASAP (tomorrow morning!) with all your documentation 2. Specifically ask for "emergency replacement benefits" - don't wait for them to offer 3. Make sure you have ALL the required paperwork submitted at once to avoid delays 4. File that police report online if possible to save time The fact that multiple people here got their money back within 10-14 days (and emergency aid within a week) is really encouraging. It sounds like California has genuinely improved this process compared to the horror stories from a few years ago. Change your PIN immediately and definitely consider withdrawing your cash benefits the day they deposit from now on. It's frustrating we have to take these extra precautions, but clearly EBT cards don't have the same fraud protection as regular bank cards. You've got a solid plan based on everyone's advice here. Stay persistent and you WILL get through this! Please keep us updated on how it goes - I think a lot of people would benefit from hearing about your experience.

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! I just went through a similar investigation about 3 months ago when my ex moved out and I didn't report it within the 10-day window either. The anxiety was absolutely terrible, but I wanted to share what helped me get through it. First, don't panic about your benefits being cut during the investigation - mine continued the whole time while they reviewed everything. The investigator explained that they only suspend benefits if they find clear evidence of intentional fraud, not just because there's an investigation. Here's what made the biggest difference for me: - I got a notarized statement from my ex with specific move-out dates and his new address - My landlord wrote a letter confirming he observed the household change - I gathered utility bills showing the usage difference after he left - I took photos of his empty closet space before the home visit The whole process took about 6 weeks for me, and like others have said, my benefits actually increased once they confirmed it was just me and my kids in the household. The investigator was professional and fair once I showed I was being cooperative and honest. One thing that really helped my stress was understanding that these investigations are triggered automatically by their computer systems - it wasn't personal or because someone reported me. It was just a routine follow-up on a household composition change. Stay organized, respond quickly to their requests, and remember you're telling the truth! You've got this and it will be resolved soon. Sending you strength during this difficult time!

I'm really sorry you're dealing with this stress, but please know that you're not alone and this situation can definitely be resolved! Reading through all the responses here, it sounds like you're already on the right track by gathering documentation and being honest about your situation. One thing I wanted to add that I don't think was mentioned - if you have any bank statements or credit card statements from around the time your ex moved out, those can also help establish the timeline. Things like if you stopped buying groceries for two people, or if there were any moving-related expenses, or even just showing that your spending patterns changed when he left. Also, I know this whole process feels overwhelming, but try to remember that the investigator's job isn't to "catch" you doing something wrong - it's to verify that your benefits are calculated correctly based on your actual household situation. Since you're being truthful, this investigation could actually end up benefiting you with increased assistance once they confirm it's just you and your kids. Keep documenting everything, respond promptly to their requests, and don't hesitate to ask questions if you're unclear about anything they need. You've got a whole community here rooting for you, and based on everyone's experiences, this will likely be resolved in your favor within the next few weeks. Hang in there!